Review of Fanny and Alexander (1982) by Michael O — 19 Mar 2009

(television version).

An absolute masterpiece. A testament to the great Swedes powers as a cinematic magician. It's fascinating how different an experience this was than the horrendous, butchered theatrical film. The 3 hour movie cuts nearly two hours out, is turgidly cut, strips the film of its magic (literally), everything the filmmaker sought to communicate was lost. I've read he was very reluctant to even chop it down for theatrical distribution.

I cannot imagine how butchered the movie version of SCENES OF A MARRIAGE is. Is it any good? I'll stick to Bergman movies the way they were meant to be seen.

It's remarkable how the movie is put together like a grand piece of theater. Each set is beautifully made and painstakingly detailed to match each costume, all in masterful orchestration to the film's mood and subtext. The monologues are deep and revealing, as if looking into the strangest, truest parts of your own soul. The acting is anything you'd expect from Bergman, those Swedes can act! The cinematography is kinetic and lyrical.

This is one of the most haunting and important bildungsromans in all of cinema. A departure from a life and imagination we're accustomed to. It's a strikingly unique tale.

(theatrical release review).

Incredibly boring. I can't think of a filmmaker's life I'm the least interested in seeing other than Bergman's. Rest assured, there's a few scenes I'm still haunted by, this is made after all by a master, but he should stick to small chamber dramas instead.