saig mutallimov This picture is in the spirit of magical realism, where the elements of mysticism are interwoven, which play a role in the search for the answers posed by the author about the existence of God, about the crisis of religion and the value of family and love. The author of the film does not usually put points, but shows the final situation.This episode smooths out suspicion from the previous situation, there is no disharmonious sense of the possibility of tragic events and there is no optimistic mood at the same time. Everything is natural and everything can be.The picture really deserves the "Oscar" in the category "Best Foreign Film" and for Ingmar Bergman it became the third gift from the Academy.In the cinemas was a shortened version of the film little more than 3 hours, the full directors version is 4 series with a total time over 5 hours.Strong and beautiful film from Ingmar Bergman, I recommend to view. 9 out of 10.

hannadunakin Fanny and Alexander is truly an extraordinary film that is worth one's time. I cannot stress enough how much of a masterpiece this film was, and I won't let anyone tell me otherwise. The film version (which is what I saw) was actually the cut version. It was originally made as a four-part TV movie, that if watched all at the same time, would be a total of about 6 hours. Although very long, if it's at all like the movie, count me in!The beginning of the movie is a little slow. All the characters are being introduced, so the story isn't developed until Oscar Ekdahl passes away unexpectedly. Now before I continue, it's important to note that the Ekdahl family is very close. The one who keeps the family together is the grandmother Helena Ekdahl. She is passionate towards keeping her family together, especially during the holidays, which is like a marvelous party in the Ekdahl household. The Ekdahl family is so loving and wonderful, that they even consider their "help" family. The beginning of the film is based around Alexander and his imagination and thoughts. Fanny isn't truly introduced until Oscar's death, which was Fanny and Alexander's father. With almost no time to mourn, their mother Emilie Ekdahl marries the towns bishop, Bishop Edvard Vergérus, in hopes of starting a new life, little did she know, a completely new life is what she would get. Emilie, Fanny, and Alexander moved into the bishop's home where he lives with his mother, sister, sick aunt, and maids. The bishop makes it very clear that his new family could not interact with their "old" family, the Ekdahl's, and from there, things begin going down hill. Emilie thought that she would have the same loving and cherishing marriage and family like she did before, but she was wrong. Especially when she discovers the relationship between Alexander and the bishop. Alexander is abused and mistreated frequently, with no reason, and Fanny is always forced to watch. After such discovery, Emilie also finds out she is pregnant with the bishop's child.This movie made me cry, laugh, yell, and feel every emotion possible. I was hesitant to watch this film because I'm not a fan of reading subtitles, but Fanny and Alexander has definitely opened several cinema doors for me. I can safely say that this will not be my last foreign film. As much as I loved Ingmar Bergman's directing in this movie, I need to acknowledge the camera work by Sven Nykvist. He made the brilliant choice of having many wide shots of characters, which I thought really set the mood of each scene. Not only that, but he took advantage of the small spaces he had in some of the scenes by moving the camera around a lot. What was also outstanding was how the lighting was chosen throughout the entire film. It was always bright and cheerful in the Ekdahl household, but in the bishop's house, it was always dark and scary. Some beautiful art that shouldn't be left unnoticed.What I found quite interesting though was the fact that Fanny came first in the title of the movie, because the focus was mostly on Alexander, what he did and thought. Sometimes we would learn a little bit about Fanny, but only through Alexander. Might I remind you that Fanny isn't even really introduced until her father's death, and to top it off, she rarely speaks. So why was the decision made to put Fanny before Alexander? Is there a symbol or significant scene about Fanny that I missed? All in all, I would recommend this movie to any cinema lovers. It is a must see. If you didn't like foreign films before, you will after watching this film. It is powerful in so many aspects, and I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Prismark10 Clocking in at 3 hours this is a long movie and it is rambling as well. Ingmar Bergman with his cinematographer Sven Nyqvist has made a gorgeous looking film, the art and set direction is exemplary.The film is set in a Swedish town in the early years of the 20th Century. The focus is on the Ekdahl household, a theatrical and gregarious family, there is warmth and bawdiness.Fanny and Alexander have a seemingly idyllic family life but things change when their father Oscar dies from a stroke. Now the children become more important in the film, almost soon their mother Emilie marries the Bishop Edvard, who lives an austere lifestyle with his family. The children are not happy under this stern household which is a contrast to the warmth and love that had previously existed.In its kernel, the film is not that far departed from David Copperfield. The priest is really Mr Murdstone, who has charmed the beautiful widow but has a heart of darkness that Alexander immediately senses. As Edvard cannot gain the children's respect he becomes a brute. The film also borrows from magical realism especially in the latter part as a Jewish family comes to the rescue of the children and revenge is taken against Edvard who refuses to let their mother go.The film is leisurely paced, the second half is more interesting plot wise, although you end up shouting at the screen at Emilie. Why does she want to marry so soon and accepts Edvard's conditions. She really did not care for her children's well being at all and puts them all at risk.In some ways this is Bergman's most accessible film, light and darkness but it is also too long, even self indulgent.

a_wemme I've seen this movie twice in my life. The first time I was 18 years old, I came home an afternoon after school and Fanny and Alexander was on TV. Having heard of it endlessly throughout my childhood (pretty much unavoidable as a Swede), I was intrigued. After a few minutes, I decided I couldn't stop watching. I was completely mesmerized. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I had never seen anything like it before. I ended up watching the whole three hours (cinematic release, unfortunately) and postponing whatever plans I had. And it stayed with me. Fastforward a few years and last week, I watched this movie again, this time of older age, having seen several other Bergman movies, having read books about him and with an education in film studies. And how I cried. There is something about Ingmar Bergman that has an amazing capacity to mediate and depict feelings and thoughts I never knew how to put word to. This masterpiece, as the climactic final chapter to Ingmar Bergmans magnificent directing career, has everything. It leads you through life and death, through love and hate, through magic and disbelief, through hope and despair. Bergman has a reputation of being difficult and slow, and rightfully so (although many of his other films are fantastic too). But Fanny and Alexander is easier than his others, yet also more graceful and whole. Only once before have I experienced characters in a film resonating profound feelings and emotions of mine, and that was in Persona, another Bergman movie. Seeing so many of his actors once again on screen, this time of old age, many today deceased, join together because "everything must carry on as usual". I experienced a chilling encounter with life, mortality but also the hope in spirituality and beauty. Having dived into the great well of beautiful art that is Bergmans life and career, I am of course biased. But even before having inserted myself in his works, I found this movie absolutely magnificent. And I hope you might too.