Media gallery for
The Touch

Bergman, Elliott Gould (David Kovac), Bibi Andersson (Karin Vergues), Sven Nykvist, and Max von Sydow (Andreas Vergeus) during the filming of The Touch.

Elliott Gould (David Kovac) became the first non-nordic actor to participate in a Bergman film. He was at the time married to the actress and singer Barbra Streisand, with whom Bergman would a few years later plan to film The Merry Widow.

Bergman managed to persuade a reluctant Bibi Andersson (Karin Vergerus) to play Karin even though the actress didn’t think the role suited her.

Bergman, Bibi Andersson (Karin Vergeus), and Elliott Gould (David Kovac) during the filming of The Touch.

Katinka Farago has been called "Bergman’s right hand" and was one of his most loyal collaborators, first as script supervisor and later as production manager, between 1955 and After the Rehearsal in 1984.

The Touch started a debate about product placement when Filmrutan’s critic wrote: ’The decor of the interiors appears to be advertising for a furniture store. (To some extent it is a commercial, as a striking number of brands are prominently displayed.)’

The spouses Karin (Bibi Andersson) and Andreas Vergerus (Max von Sydow).

Elliott Gould (David Kovac) poses in front of the figurehead that forms the basis for the production company Cinematograph’s logo.

When Karin (Bibi Andersson) leaves Andreas to search for David in London, she meets David’s pregnant sister Sara (Sheila Reid).

Elliott Gould (David Kovac), Bibi Andersson (Karin Vergeus), and Max von Sydow (Andreas Vergeus) during the filming of The Touch

At first, Karin Vergerus (Bibi Andersson) seems uninterested in the future – she lives wholly in the present.

The unstable lover David (Elliot Gould) and the dry husband Andreas (Max von Sydow).

"You’re a daughter of lechery!" The love affair between Karin (Bibi Andersson) and David takes a turn when David (Elliott Gould) starts to act increasingly strange, aggressive and indifferent.

Bergman, Bibi Andersson (Karin Vergeus), Max von Sydow (Andreas Vergeus), and Maria Nolgård (Maria Vergeus) during the filming of The Touch.

Mago’s costume sketch for The Touch was donated to the Ingmar Bergman Archives by Elliott Gould in 2011.

Page from Bergman’s shooting script.

Workbook no 26 includes script drafts and thoughts regarding The Touch and Cries and Whispers. Dated April 16th, 70 – May 10th, 71.

The introductory preface of The Touch: ’It’s difficult to write a film script but I wonder if it isn’t at least as difficult to read it. The words can never express what the finished film wants to mediate. Sometimes they are too many and lie in cluttered piles over the spontaneous experience. Sometimes they are too few and leave the reader in the most embarassing way.’

Page from Workbook no 26: ’The script was completed under internal resistance. It was named The Touch. It may as well be called that as anything else.’

In the film’s opening scene, Karin’s (Bibi Andersson) mother (Barbro Hiort af Ornäs) dies at the hospital. Hiort af Ornäs had at this point participated in 17 Bergman productions, and there would be another two.

A tender moment in David (Elliott Gould) and Karin’s (Bibi Anderssons) stormy relationship.