Fanny och Alexander (1982)

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (written by)

Release Date:

17 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

En film av Ingmar Bergman

Plot:

The title characters are children in the exuberant and colorful Ekdahl household in a Swedish town early in the twentieth century...

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Abusive Stepfather | Christmas | Beaten | Pregnant

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Kristina Adolphson	...	Ekdahlska huset - Siri
Börje Ahlstedt	...	Ekdahlska huset - Carl Ekdahl
Pernilla Allwin	...	Ekdahlska huset - Fanny Ekdahl
Kristian Almgren	...	Ekdahlska huset - Putte Ekdahl
Carl Billquist	...	Ekdahlska huset - Police Superintendent Jespersson
Axel Düberg	...	Ekdahlska huset - Witness to Bishop's death
Allan Edwall	...	Ekdahlska huset - Oscar Ekdahl
Siv Ericks	...	Ekdahlska huset - Alida
Ewa Fröling	...	Ekdahlska huset - Emilie Ekdahl
Patricia Gélin	...	Ekdahlska huset - Statue (as Patricia Gelin)
Majlis Granlund	...	Ekdahlska huset - Miss Vega
Maria Granlund	...	Ekdahlska huset - Petra Ekdahl
Bertil Guve	...	Ekdahlska huset - Alexander Ekdahl
Eva von Hanno	...	Ekdahlska huset - Berta
Sonya Hedenbratt	...	Ekdahlska huset - Aunt Emma
Olle Hilding	...	Ekdahlska huset - Old Clergyman
Svea Holst	...	Ekdahlska huset - Miss Ester
Jarl Kulle	...	Ekdahlska huset - Gustav Adolf Ekdahl
Käbi Laretei	...	Ekdahlska huset - Aunt Anna von Bohlen
Mona Malm	...	Ekdahlska huset - Alma Ekdahl
Lena Olin	...	Ekdahlska huset - Rosa
Gösta Prüzelius	...	Ekdahlska huset - Doctor Fürstenberg
Christina Schollin	...	Ekdahlska huset - Lydia Ekdahl
Hans Strååt	...	Ekdahlska huset - Clergyman at Wedding
Pernilla August	...	Ekdahlska huset - Maj (as Pernilla Wallgren)
Emelie Werkö	...	Ekdahlska huset - Jenny Ekdahl
Gunn Wållgren	...	Ekdahlska huset - Helena Ekdahl (as Gun Wållgren)
Inga Ålenius	...	Ekdahlska huset - Lisen
Marianne Aminoff	...	Biskopsgården - Blenda Vergérus
Harriet Andersson	...	Biskopsgården - Justina
Mona Andersson	...	Biskopsgården - Karna (Maid)
Hans Henrik Lerfeldt	...	Biskopsgården - Elsa Bergius
Jan Malmsjö	...	Biskopsgården - Bishop Edvard Vergerus
Marianne Nielsen	...	Biskopsgården - Selma (Maid)
Marrit Ohlsson	...	Biskopsgården - Malla Tander (Cook) (as Marrit Olsson)
Kerstin Tidelius	...	Biskopsgården - Henrietta Vergerus
Anna Bergman	...	Teatern - Hanna Schwartz
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Teatern - Filip Landahl
Nils Brandt	...	Teatern - Mr. Morsing (actor)
Lars-Owe Carlberg	...	Teatern - Glee Singer
Gus Dahlström	...	Teatern - Props Man
Ernst Günther	...	Teatern - Rector Magnificus
Hugo Hasslo	...	Teatern - Glee Singer
Heinz Hopf	...	Teatern - Tomas Graal (actor)
Maud Hyttenberg	...	Teatern -Miss Sinclair (Actress) (as Maud Hyttenberg-Bartoletti)
Sven-Erik Jacobsson	...	Teatern - Glee Singer
Marianne Karlbeck	...	Teatern - Miss Palmgren
Kerstin Karte	...	Teatern - Prompter
Tore Karte	...	Teatern - Office Manager
Åke Lagergren	...	Teatern -Johan Armfeldt (Actor)
Sune Mangs	...	Teatern - Mr. Salenius (Actor)
Per Mattsson	...	Teatern- Mikael Bergman (Actor)
Lickå Sjöman	...	Teatern - Grete Holm (Actress)
Runo Wallin	...	Teatern
Georg Årlin	...	Teatern - Colonel
Daniel Bell	...	Teaterorkestern
Gunnar Djerf	...	Teaterorkestern
Folke Eng	...	Teaterorkestern
Ebbe Eng	...	Teaterorkestern
Evert Hallmarken	...	Teaterorkestern
Nils Kyndel	...	Teaterorkestern
Ulf Lagerwall	...	Teaterorkestern
Börje Mårelius	...	Teaterorkestern
Karl Nilheim	...	Teaterorkestern
Erland Josephson	...	Jacobis hus - Isak Jacobi
Stina Ekblad	...	Jacobis hus - Ismael Retzinsky
Mats Bergman	...	Jacobis hus - Aron Retzinsky
Viola Aberlé	...	Jacobis hus - Japanese Woman
Gerd Andersson	...	Jacobis hus - Japanese Woman
Ann-Louise Bergström	...	Jacobis hus - Japanese Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matthias Bolliger	...	Teatern (uncredited)
Marie-Hélène Breillat	...	Jacobis hus (uncredited)
Krister Hell	...	Young man who helps Isak with coffer (uncredited)
Linda Krüger	...	Biskopsgården - Pauline (uncredited)
Marie-Louise Sid	...	Teatern - Dancer (uncredited)
Peter Stormare	...	Young man who helps Isak with coffer (uncredited)
Pernilla Wahlgren	...	Biskopsgården - Esmeralda (uncredited)

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman		written by

Produced by
Jörn Donner	....	producer
Renzo Rossellini	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Daniel Toscan du Plantier	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Daniel Bell

Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist

Film Editing by
Sylvia Ingemarsson

Art Direction by
Susanne Lingheim

Set Decoration by
Anna Asp

Costume Design by
Marik Vos-Lundh		(as Marik Vos)

Makeup Department
Cecilia Drott	....	wig maker
Kjell Gustavsson	....	wig maker
Barbro Haugen	....	makeup artist (as Barbro H Haugen)
Anna-Lena Melin	....	makeup artist
Leif Qviström	....	makeup artist
Mariann Virdestam	....	wig maker

Production Management
Katinka Faragó	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Schildt	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gunilla Allard	....	props
Jan Andersson	....	props
Olle Berg	....	carpenter
Kenneth Blomqvist	....	carpenter
Anna Marie Davidsson	....	painter
Christer Ekelund	....	props
Tua Ekholm	....	painter
Jan Eriksson	....	carpenter
Kenth Eriksson	....	painter (as Kent Eriksson)
Annmargret Fyregård	....	assistant set decorator
Ylva Hammar	....	painter
Teddy Holm	....	painter
Johan Husberg	....	props
Cecilia Iversen	....	painter
Dick Jacobsson	....	painter
Lisbeth Jansson	....	painter
Nisse Johansson	....	carpenter
Andrew Jones	....	painter
Donald Karlsson	....	painter
Lena Karlsson	....	painter
Bengt Landegren	....	painter
Kaj Larsen	....	technical director
Berth Martinsson	....	carpenter (as Bert Martinsson)
Percy Nilsson	....	construction grip
Rolf Persson	....	head painter
Ulrika Rindegård	....	assistant set decorator
Björn Sinclair	....	carpenter
Bertil Sjölund	....	carpenter
Anna Skagerfors	....	painter
Anders Söderlund	....	carpenter
Tom Stocklassa	....	painter
Hans Strandberg	....	carpenter
Bengt Svedberg	....	painter
Jakob Tigerskiöld	....	draughtsman
Sigrid William-Olsson	....	painter

Sound Department
Björn Gunnarsson	....	sound mixer
Björn Gunnarsson	....	sound
Lars Liljeholm	....	sound mixer
Lars Liljeholm	....	sound
Bo Persson	....	sound mixer
Bo Persson	....	sound
Owe Svensson	....	sound mixer
Owe Svensson	....	sound

Special Effects by
Bengt Lundgren	....	special effects

Stunts
Johan Thorén	....	stunts (as Johan Torén)

Camera and Electrical Department
Torbjörn Andersson	....	electrician
Daniel Bergman	....	grip
Ulf Björck	....	electrician
Arne Carlsson	....	still photographer
Tony Forsberg	....	camera operator: second unit
Ragnar Hansson	....	electrician
Kent Högberg	....	electrician
Lars Karlsson	....	assistant camera
Ted Lindahl	....	electrician
Dan Myhrman	....	assistant camera
Ulf Pramfors	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ingabritt Adrianson-Ejenstam	....	costume assistant (as Ingabritt Adriansson)
Anne-Marie Broms	....	costume assistant (as Anne Marie Broms)
Wiveca Dahlström	....	tailor
Ann Katrin Edmark	....	tailor
Görel Engstrand	....	costume assistant
Solveig Eriksson	....	tailor
Rosemarie Karlsson	....	tailor
Maria Lindmark	....	costume assistant
Elsie-Britt Lindström	....	costume producer
Ann-Christin Lobråten	....	costume assistant (as Annchristin Lobråten-Hjelm)
Kristina Makroff	....	costume producer
Robert Nordlund	....	costume producer
Lena Persson	....	tailor
Kjell Sundqvist	....	costume producer
Niclas Svartengren	....	tailor
Caroline Von Rosen	....	tailor
Lenamari Wallström	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Mikael Lönndahl	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Frans Helmerson	....	musician
Marianne Jacobs	....	musician
Per Lyng	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Åke Dahlbom	....	driver

Other crew
Ingrid Bergman	....	administrator
Mildred Brandt	....	hostess
Lars-Owe Carlberg	....	administrator
Kerstin Eriksdotter	....	script supervisor
Berit Gullberg	....	press officer
Arne Högsander	....	dolls
Hellen Igler	....	accountant
Eva Ivarsson	....	location manager
Benita Lundqvist	....	production secretary
Nils Melander	....	laboratory technician
Marie Rechlin	....	teacher
Fredrik Von Rosen	....	administrator
Brita Werkmäster	....	location manager
Christian Wirsén	....	laterna magica
Mercedes Björlin	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cinematograph AB (as Cinematograph)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (for)
• Gaumont (for)
• Personafilm (for)
• SVT Drama (for) (as SVT 1)
• Tobis Filmkunst (for) (as Tofisfilm)

Distributors

• Sandrew (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Gaumont (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (1983) (UK) (theatrical)
• Embassy Pictures Corporation (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Artificial Eye (2002) (UK) (DVD) (TV version)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Finn Innovation Products (1998) (Finland) (VHS)
• Forum Film (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Ifa Argentina (Argentina)
• Pole Vídeo Comunicações Ltda. (Brazil) (VHS)
• Suomen Kunnallispalvelu (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Walhalla (1983) (Finland) (theatrical)
• YLE Teema (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Freskkvartetten  orchestra
• Stockholms Regionmusikkår  orchestra

Also Known As:

Fanny and Alexander (USA)
Fanny et Alexandre (France)
Fanny und Alexander (West Germany)

Runtime:

188 min | Sweden:312 min (TV version)

Country:

Sweden | France | West Germany

Language:

Swedish | German | Yiddish | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Philippines:R-13 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Norway:16 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Europa Studios, Bromma, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Cinematograph AB

Trivia:

The part of Bishop Edvard Vergérus was written by Ingmar Bergman with Max von Sydow in mind. When the screenplay was completed, von Sydow was contacted about playing the role, which would have been his first in a Bergman film since Beröringen (1971). Von Sydow was willing and, in fact, very excited about playing the role. However, Bergman was not aware of this, since von Sydow was in Los Angeles at the time, and could only be reached through his agent who, acting in what he perceived as von Sydow's interest, told Bergman and his producers that von Sydow would only play the role if he could have a percentage of the film's profits, in addition to his salary. The producers, already stretched to their financial limits, of course balked, and told the agent that, sadly, there could be no such compromise, and began looking for other actors to play the pivotal part. By the time von Sydow had learned why his beloved role had been taken from him, Jan Malmsjö had already been cast as the Bishop, and von Sydow lost his chance to star in what would later be known to be Bergman's "last film" (although he would play key roles in Goda viljan, Den (1992) and Enskilda samtal (1996) (TV), both written by Bergman). Von Sydow was furious about the incident, and, by certain accounts, still harbours a bitter grudge about it to this day.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Among the Christmas decorations in the Ekdahl house, there is a garland of miniature flags of Scandinavian countries, including the Finnish flag. The Finnish flag was in fact only designed and adopted after Finnish independence in 1917, a decade after the events of the film.

Quotes:

Ekdahlska huset - Alexander Ekdahl: [to his stepfather] Alexander does not wish the Bishop a good night.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 50 Films to See Before You Die (2006) (TV)

A Real masterpiece

Most of the ideas revealed through mystery by Bergman in Fanny och Alexander have already been addressed by others. The first time I saw this film was in 1984, on tv and with a much shorter version than the one released in England in 2002, which is the full 300-plus minute original.

That day I was scared -really scared- watching the scene where Alexander is been helped to let out his most evil thoughts by Ishmael, a completely mysterious character with supernatural insight. And then, a blackout. You can imagine: if I was truly scared this left me breathless.

Then, almost twenty years passed until I found this remarkable jewel, in its full version, perfectly digitised and audio-enhanced in dvd. I bought a dlp projector and used a previewing room to show it to my students. I didn't know what was going to happen. But that doubt was worth the waiting.

I think it's very difficult to say any other thing than breathtaking to underline what this film accomplishes. It's the reflected work of years of understanding and hard work between Bergman and Nyvqvist. One of the most powerful, beautiful, fearful and perfect films of all times. An exaggeration, like. Yes, but I think that there are no words to explain how plainly perfect this work is. The way it was written. The way it was directed. The way it was lighted. The way it was designed. The way each and every character plays his or her role. The details -not a Bergman's new- to which they paid the most dedicated attention to. The luxurious use of available light. The setting of the story. The amazing locations. Everything in this film was perfectly studied, down to the colour shifts that would take place in every shot!, forget about whole scenes!

The troubling minds of all those characters whose lives are at crossroads. The powerful and eventful lives of just one familiy. The small and big affairs that affect them. Gratitude and hate. Honour and shame. Guilt and love. Fear and joy. Selfishness and generosity. Every long scene exudes with tension, pure fun or pleasure; with increasing uneasiness and abrupt changes of demeanor. With a richness that could only be found where a very skillful eye -trained to see what most disregard as common- finds beauty and harmony. And a sound that is as exhilarating as the narrative depiction.

When the maxim of making "every frame a Rembrandt" comes to my mind, this film makes me think Bergman pushed the envelope a little further: he gives (or I'd rather say, Nyvqyst) the tratment of Van Der Meer or Bosch or Cezanne or Michelangelo to some scenes. (Think the kids playing at the nursery, the housemaidens sewing socks, the meadow and the boat, the transfixing scene of Alexander in the attic with his mother).

And a story told from the eyes of two kids worth a ton of gold. Alexander's (Bertil Guve, when he was twelve-thirteen) enormously powerful and convincing role can certainly be compared to any big-theatre-role actor.

Superb. Don't think you've seen the whole thing until you get the 5 hour full-story.