I tried to enjoy the critically acclaimed Ingmar Bergman film "Skammen" (Shame). However, I was unable to relate to the characters and left the movie feeling indifferent. The film began with the overly emotional Jan and the fearsome and critical Eva. There was no explanation for this behavior yet the characters changed throughout the film. Jan and Eva had a role reversal because of the harsh realities of the war. However, because you could not understand their actions before, you could not relate to them after their transition. Bergman's choice of black and white cinematography was beneficial in creating a bleak and desolate country depraved by war. The camera angles on some of the "war" scenes and the final shot on the boat were also praise worthy. I do not agree with his choice to limit music and sound in the film, especially since Jan and Eva were musicians. If Bergman had used more sound and created understandable characters, my experience with Shame would have been more positive.
