Search - Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]

Though he made allusions to his own life in all of his films, Fanny and Alexander was the first overtly autobiographical film by Ingmar Bergman. Taking his time throughout (188 minutes to be exact), Bergman recreates several episodes from his youth, using as conduits the fictional Ekdahl family. Alexander, the director's alter ego, is first seen at age 10 at a joyous and informal Christmas gathering of relatives and servants. Fanny is Alexander's sister; both suffer an emotional shakedown when their recently-widowed mother (Ewa Froling) marries a cold and distant minister. Stripped of their creature comforts and relaxed family atmosphere, Fanny and Alexander suddenly find their childhood unendurable. The kids' grandmother (Gunn Wallgren) "kidnaps" Fanny and Alexander for the purpose of showering them with the first kindness and affection that they've had since their father's death. This "purge" of the darker elements of Fanny and Alexander's existence is accomplished at the unintentional (but applaudable) cost of the hated stepfather's life. Ingmar Bergman insisted that Fanny and Alexander, originally a multipart television series pared down to feature-film length, represented his final film, though within a year after its release he was busy with several additional Swedish TV projects, and he returned to make one more theatrical release movie before his death - the 2003 Saraband. Oscars went to Fanny and Alexander for Best Foreign Film, Best Cinematography (Sven Nykvist), Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction/Set Decoration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Pernilla Allwin - Fanny Ekdahl
Bertil Guve - Alexander Ekdahl
Gunn Wållgren - Helena Ekdahl
Börje Ahlstedt - Helena's son Prof. Carl Ekdahl
Allan Edwall - Oscar Ekdahl

1983	Best Cinematography (winner)	British Academy of Film and Television	Sven Nykvist
1983	Best Foreign Film (winner)	French Academy of Cinema	Ingmar Bergman
1983	Best Cinematography (winner)	Los Angeles Film Critics Association	Sven Nykvist
1983	Best Director (nominee)	Directors Guild of America	Ingmar Bergman
1983	Best Director (nominee)	Golden Globe	Ingmar Bergman
1983	Best Art Direction (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Anna Asp
1983	Best Cinematography (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Sven Nykvist
1983	Best Costume Design (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Marik Vos-Lundh
1983	Best Director (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Ingmar Bergman
1983	Best Foreign Language Film (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Ingmar Bergman
1983	Best Original Screenplay (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Ingmar Bergman
1983	Best Director (winner)	New York Film Critics Circle	Ingmar Bergman

Though he made allusions to his own life in all of his films, Fanny and Alexander was the first overtly autobiographical film by Ingmar Bergman. Taking his time throughout (188 minutes to be exact), Bergman recreates several episodes from his youth, using as conduits the fictional Ekdahl family. Alexander, the director's alter ego, is first seen at age 10 at a joyous and informal Christmas gathering of relatives and servants. Fanny is Alexander's sister; both suffer an emotional shakedown when their recently-widowed mother (Ewa Froling) marries a cold and distant minister. Stripped of their creature comforts and relaxed family atmosphere, Fanny and Alexander suddenly find their childhood unendurable. The kids' grandmother (Gunn Wallgren) "kidnaps" Fanny and Alexander for the purpose of showering them with the first kindness and affection that they've had since their father's death. This "purge" of the darker elements of Fanny and Alexander's existence is accomplished at the unintentional (but applaudable) cost of the hated stepfather's life. Ingmar Bergman insisted that Fanny and Alexander, originally a multipart television series pared down to feature-film length, represented his "retirement" work, though within a year after its release he was busy with several additional Swedish TV projects. Oscars went to Fanny and Alexander for best foreign film, cinematography (Sven Nykvist), costumes and art direction/set decoration. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]...
17	Kramer vs. Kramer (PG)
24	Grand Canyon (R)
S	El Norte [Special Edition] [Widescreen] [Criterion Collection]
3	The Merchant Ivory Collection: Heat and Dust
1	An Unmarried Woman (R)
9	Jane Eyre
15	Ordinary People (R)
1	Shoot the Moon (R)
52	Wall Street (R)
3	Cries and Whispers [Criterion Collection] (R)
4	Black Robe [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (R)
2	Hangin' With the Homeboys (R)
4	The Waterdance (R)
4	Tex [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (PG)
4	Lost in America (R)
13	Vision Quest (R)
3	Harry and Tonto (R)
1	A Woman Under the Influence (R)
These movies have the subject or theme of Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]...
4	Days of Heaven (PG)
7	Chocolat (PG-13)
2	Cria Cuervos [Criterion Collection]
S	The Children Are Watching Us [Criterion Collection]
1	Children's Classics, Vol. 1: The Little Princess/Mickey/The Old Swimmin' Hole/Reg'lar Fellers
1	The Mirror (NR)
1	My Mother's Castle (PG)
8	The Last Picture Show [Special Edition] (R)
3	Hope and Glory (PG-13)
31	To Kill a Mockingbird
19	Stealing Home (PG-13)
1	Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 2 (NR)
9	Cinema Paradiso [Widescreen] (NR)
16	Chariots of Fire [Fullscreen] (PG)
These movies share cast/crew with Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]...
3	Cries and Whispers [Criterion Collection] (R)
1	Smiles of a Summer Night [Criterion Collection]
1	Autumn Sonata [Criterion Collection] (NR)
1	Scenes From a Marriage [Criterion Collection]
S	Early Bergman Box Set [Criterion Collection]
2	Winter Light
S	Sawdust and Tinsel [Criterion Collection]
These movies were the source of Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]...
1	Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]
These movies cover the same subjects as Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]...
1	Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]
These movies are similar to Fanny & Alexander [Criterion Collection]...
3	Cries and Whispers [Criterion Collection] (R)
5	Wild Strawberries [Criterion Collection]
S	Skin of Man, Heart of Beast (NR)
S	Les Destinees (NR)
S	The Sea (R)