A Woman's Face (1938)

A Woman's Face Poster
Original Title: En kvinnas ansikte

A cynical woman with a disfigured face—a hardened criminal—gets an opportunity to change her ways when she meets a sympathetic plastic surgeon. She leaves her old life behind, but soon her old friends catch up with her.

Introduction
"A Woman's Face" is a remarkable Swedish drama movie launched in 1938. The film, also referred to as "En Kvinnas Ansikte", was directed by Gustaf Molander and led by distinguished Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman in the function of Anna Holm. The story portrays the transformation of Anna, a cynical, cold-hearted female with a disfigurement, into a kinder and compassionate character post-surgery.

Plot Overview
In this compelling narrative, Anna Holm is deeply shocked by a prominent scar on her face from a fire throughout her youth. Consequently, she turns to a life of blackmail and criminal offense, leading a gang whose primary objective lies in making use of the wealthy. Due to her physical disfigurement, Anna is misanthropic and cold-hearted, thinking that she can only endure through control and criminal offense due to her appearance's constraints.

Her course crosses with the kind-hearted Dr. Wegert (Anders Henrikson), a brilliant cosmetic surgeon who provides to operate on her, assuring to give her a "new face". Dr. Wegert changes Anna's life in the most literal sense. Her new face brings unprecedented possibilities and experiences, triggering her to reconsider her dubious ways.

Character Transformation
As the plot unfolds, Anna is gradually reintroduced to empathy, compassion, and love. She experiences kindness for the very first time from the medical professional, strengthening the transformation that ends up being more evident once her face is surgically reconstructed. With her new face, Anna experiences a change in her behavior, interests, and attitude towards individuals and life in general. Anna even ends up protecting a child from her previous criminal companion, Torsten Barring (Georg Rydeberg), representing her total transformation.

Performances and Themes
Ingrid Bergman is the pounding heart of 'A Woman's Face,' providing a performance that brings depth and psychological complexity to Anna. Her improvement is represented subtly, going from embittered and sinister to caring and strong, matching her physical change.

The movie's overarching theme seems to focus on the principle of self-regard and identity, enriched by the physical transformation experienced by Anna. It underscores how appearances can affect one's self-perception and subsequent behavior, while likewise highlighting the redemption and second chances elements.

Conclusion
"A Woman's Face" is an expressive drama that explores the extraordinary improvement of a disfigured, embittered lady into a caring and loving person. With its focused plot and stirring efficiencies, chiefly by Ingrid Bergman, the film provides not simply home entertainment however an extensive expedition of identity, ruthlessness, compassion, redemption, and the human capacity for change. Seriously acclaimed upon its release, it was consequently remade in Hollywood in 1941 with Joan Crawford. The 1938 variation, however, stands out because of Bergman's impressive representation of a lady facing her self-regard versus the backdrop of a physical deformity.

Top Cast

  • Ingrid Bergman (small)
    Ingrid Bergman
    Anna Holm
  • Tore Svennberg (small)
    Tore Svennberg
    Barring
  • Anders Henrikson (small)
    Anders Henrikson
    Allan Wegert
  • Georg Rydeberg (small)
    Georg Rydeberg
    Torsten Barring
  • Gunnar Sjöberg (small)
    Gunnar Sjöberg
    Harald Berg
  • Hilda Borgström (small)
    Hilda Borgström
    Emma
  • Karin Kavli (small)
    Karin Kavli
    Vera Wegert
  • Erik 'Bullen' Berglund (small)
    Erik 'Bullen' Berglund
    Nyman
  • Sigurd Wallén (small)
    Sigurd Wallén
    Miller
  • Gösta Cederlund (small)
    Gösta Cederlund
    "Greven" Severin
  • Magnus Kesster (small)
    Magnus Kesster
    "Vackra Herman"