Fanny and Alexander

Rating:
Summary: The greatest film ever made.
Review: Only a handful of films have changed the way I see the cinema, the arts and life. This is first among them.

Rating:
Summary: Bergman's finest contribution to the history of cinema...
Review: The upper-class Ekdahl family is a warm and vibrant family and this shines through in their extravagantly decorated home in which they are about to celebrate Christmas Eve. They have the Christmas feast in the kitchen with the servants, and this is something some servants find inappropriate. However, the family is very close to everyone who is a part of the family or friends of the family. The mother Helena (Gunn Wållgren), who is on the later part of her life, has three mature and married sons, Gustav Adolf, Carl, and Oscar. Gustaf Adolf (Jarl Kulle) is a funny and happy fellow who is constantly cheating on his wife, who is aware of his cheating, but maintains a civil manner and still loves her husband. The family smarts went to Carl, (Börje Ahlstedt) who is a scientist with nihilistic life philosophy. Carl suffers from depression which is frequently expressed toward his loving wife in an emotionally abusive manner. Oscar (Allan Edwall) is the theater director full of love, which he shares as often as he can with his dear children, Fanny and Alexander. However, Oscar does not feel well, and he hides his poor health from the family as he believes that life must go on. Oscar passes out when he is rehearsing Shakespeare's Hamlet and dies a short time after. Fanny deals much better with the death of her father than Alexander, who does not know how to deal with the pain and anguish from his father's death. The warmth and love that the family has keeps the family together, despite many family issues, which all surfaces as the audience is brought to the issues through Bergman's story telling. A year after Oscar's death Emilie (Ewa Fröling), Oscar's wife, is remarrying the Bishop Edvard Vergerus (Jan Malmsjö). The Bishop who asks Emilie to leave all her past, issues, and belongings at home when they move into the Bishop's rustic home. However, Fanny and Alexander cannot leave their past behind them and they often end up being punished by the callous Bishop, who proclaims that his strictness is an act of love from God.

Fanny and Alexander is a film that dissects socially learned morals and values in the shadow of family secrets and issues. These secrets and issues are often the emotional engine behind the human motivation which produces certain manners and behaviors from the Ekdahl family members and those around them. For example, Carl's depression is partially inherited from his financial difficulty that is hampered by his mothers reluctance to give him money, which enhances his nihilistic self-perspective and deepens his negative self-worth. Bergman displays his vast insights into psychology and the human psyche in Fanny and Alexander as he displays the production of numerous emotional states such as happiness, anger, desire, anguish, and many more. These emotional states are clearly acted out by a terrific cast as they face several hurdles throughout the film. In addition, the misé-en-scene is outstanding, since it elevates the understanding for the different emotional states provided in the different homes. A great example is the comparison between the Ekdahl's home which has several strong colors and the art that awakens different emotions, which brings life to the home and the Bishop Vergerus' home that is very sparingly furnished with thick white prison-like walls, which almost suffocates any expression of feelings. The cinematography maximizes the use of the camera in order to enhance the emotional states of each scene. When all aspects of film making are put together in Fanny and Alexander it leaves the audeince with a brilliant cinematic experience.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: This ORIGINALLY THREE HOUR LONG film was extended for Swedish Television a couple of years after its release. I've seen both versions and must say that the story makes much more sense in the five hour version, and I hope that's the one we eventually will get. However, some stuff (15 to 20 minutes or so) could have been left out in the extended version without having affected the story line, but all shots are nevertheless enchantingly beautiful. Bergman has said that this film (apparently his last for cinema) sums up all his work as a director, and I have no doubt that his career in film couldn't have ended on a higher note. The movie is flawless and powerful, plus on DVD we'll be able to watch it in the widescreen format!

Rating:
Summary: Bergman's Powerful Farewell
Review: Though I give Fanny and Alexander only 4 stars, I can totally understand reviewers who give it 5 stars. I did so only because I prefer more "artsy" or "ambiguous" Bergman such as Persona or Cries and Whispers. But Fanny and Alexander is by far the best mainstream film I've ever seen, and this is Bergman's most accessible. I can't believe how thoughtful and thought-provoking this film and others like it are, in comparison to average Hollywood fodder. Even young Bertil Guve and Pernilla Allwin give stunning performances as the title characters, portraying emotion and expression as genuinely as any of the adult characters. I won't even begin to analyze the plot, the film being over 3 hrs. long; see it for yourself. I will just say that Fanny and Alexander is among filmdom's best. Kudos to the master for going out in style!

Rating:
Summary: Haunting
Review: When I saw this film for the first time I had an almost visceral reaction to it. Its haunting imagery has stayed with me ever since. I was quite young at the time (weren't we all) and new to foreign films. I was dazzled and excited by what an evening "at the movies" could offer me. I am almost reluctant to see this film again as I am afraid it will not have the same impact now as it did then. Kind of like your first love...never to be repeated with the same intensity...

Rating:
Summary: Bergman's sunny Swedish fantasy-memoir is delightful
Review: While Bergman films usually make me want to stick my head in the gas oven, (even during the opening credits) "Fanny and Alexander" is completely different. This is a funny, touching and sometimes fanciful film about the childhood of a boy (Alexander, said to be Ingmar himself) and his sister Fanny. They are two children of a large clan of theatrical people. Funny uncles, amusing fathers, dramatic and sexy moms make for one fun childhood romp. That is, until Daddy dies and we see Alexander in one of the funniest scenes, tromping behind the funeral cortege, muttering Sh*!, Da&n! F*** as a mantra under his breath in march time. Then Mommy, who has only one foot ever so lightly on the ground at any time, marries a dour bishop and the movie begins to look like the seamier parts of "David Copperfield."

The film is set in the medieval-looking university town of Uppsala and the city is a wonderful stage for the dramatic events. This film is entirely different from any other of Bergman's, so if you feel he is too depressing (even dangerously so!) then try this film. It is one of my great favorites.