Fanny and Alexander
This is early 20th century Sweden. Alexander and Fanny Ekdahl, the siblings of their paternal grandparents Helena Ekdahl, lead an exuberant and joyful life together with their extended family. Helena’s husband, now deceased, became best friends with Isak Jacobi (a Jewish puppetmaker). Gustav Adolf also opened a liaison with Maj, one of their family maids. Alma, Gustav Adolf, loves Maj. This is an example of the openness in family culture. Alexander, the youngest of the siblings, has been able to inherit the family’s passion for storytelling from his grandparents, who were actors themselves and also run their theater. Fanny and Alexander’s lives are forever changed when Oscar, their father, passes away shortly after Christmas 1907. Emilie decides to marry Bishop Edvard vergerus. She first saw him as an officiate at Oscar’s funeral. Emilie also desires a father figure to support her children. Emilie feels that the life she will lead after marriage is a different one than the Ekdahls’. However, Emilie doesn’t know how to adapt to the strict, harsh and difficult life Edvard demands. Fanny, Alexander and Emilie end up in the solitary and humourless home of the bishop. Alexander fights with his stepfather, tries his best to obey Edvard while still being himself, Emilie attempts to find a way for her to control her destiny. Edvard won’t consent to divorce and Emilie would be his “desertion”. –Huggo
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Actors: Allan Edwall, Bertil Guve, Erland Josephson, Ewa Fröling, Gunn Wållgren, Jan Malmsjö, Pernilla Allwin
Country: France, Sweden, West Germany
