This rather static Ingmar Bergman film seems to live up to the clichéd image of his films. Set in the maternity ward of a hospital, it's the story of three pregnant women (Eva Dahlbeck, Ingrid Thulin and Bibi Andersson) and their different attitudes to impending motherhood. It looks like a play put on film but isn't, as it was taken from a short story by Ulla Isaksson, who then co-wrote the script with Bergman. It's all a bit introspective and navel-contemplating with too few strong dramatic high points. Worthy, but not a lot of fun, it's a rare mediocrity from the middle of Bergman's finest period.


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