Vargtimmen (1968)

Erland Josephson: Baron von Merkens

Photos 

Quotes 

• Baron von Merkens : "The Magic Flute" is the great example and I shall prove it to you at once. Tamino's guides have just left him in the dark courtyard outside the temple of wisdom and the youth calls out in the deepest despair, "O endless night, when will you be gone? When will the daylight greet my sight?" Seriously ill, Mozart feels these words with a secret intensity. And the chorus and orchestra answer with "Soon, fair youth or never." The loveliest and perhaps the most disturbing music that has ever been written. Tamino asks, "Does Pamina still live?" The invisible chorus replies, "Pamina still lives." Listen to the strange, illogical but brilliant division: Pami-na. Pami-na. It's no longer the name of a young woman. It's a formula, an incantation, a naive text. In short, a work composed to order and yet the high manifestation of art.

• Baron von Merkens : Does our artist not agree?

  Johan Borg : Forgive me. I call myself an artist for lack of a better name. In my creative work there is nothing implicit except compulsion. Through no fault of mine, I've been pointed out as something quite extraordinary, a calf with five legs, a monster. I have never fought to attain that position and I shall not fight to keep it. Megalomania? Yes I've felt it waft about my brow at times, but I think I'm immune . I have only to think of the utter unimportance of art in the world we live in to bring it down to earth , although the compulsion is there all the same.

  Corinne von Merkens : There speaks an artist!

• Baron von Merkens : Let us speak candidly. You're here looking for Veronica Vogler. I should mention, before you meet her, that Veronica has been my lover for years. Your shared past has kindly been detailed for me. I can assure you I'm suffering. Tonight I shall be by your bed. Every word, every kiss, every movement of your bodies... I will be spared nothing. Come, I'll show you the way.

  [the baron walks up the wall and onto the ceiling, then begins sobbing] 

  Baron von Merkens : It's only my jealousy. Please go away.

• Baron von Merkens : I bought a painting from a then well-known artist... No comments, dear Ernst. Then I hung it upside down in my salon and invited the artist over with others who appreciated a good joke. We had a good laugh at the time. God, how we laughed. What do you say, Mr. Artist? Wasn't that a funny joke?