Arquivo

An adaptation by Stiller and Ragnar Hyltén-Cavallius of the book of the same name by Selma Lagerlöf. The film launched Greta Garbo who was only nineteen years old. This is a long and turbulent tale about a priest who renounces priesthood and starts a search for the values of morals and redemption beyond the framework of religion. Garbo is one of these women to offer him spiritual salvation and a re-encounter with faith. Excessive focus on a character and the episodic structure led a writer to comment that "Stiller has been seeing too many poor quality series". Ten years later, Stiller cut scenes and re-edited the film. The Atonement of Gösta Berling was more often cited by other directors than actually seen by the public. The film introduced technical innovations that aroused the admiration of the critics, especially because of the costumes and scenery, essential to a blend of beauty of image and psychological complexity, so very dear to the film maker.