Review of Fanny and Alexander (1982) by Nick P — 11 Nov 2007

A few lines from the speech of Gustav Ekdahl near the end of the movie summarize the whole of Bergman's aesthetic achievement. His often grim yet always honest, ruthlessly honest view of the world of human relationships and the fragile web on which they stand appears here mixed with a touch of hopefulness, a glimmer as it were breaking through the dark of night. Honesty to himself, artistic honesty -- paradoxical though the expression may sound in a time when we have learned to regard art as synonymous with artifice, distraction and deception -- is in my view the defining characteristic of his long career. It is what makes Bergman one -- and perhaps the last -- of a kind.

I quote here a passage from Gustav Ekdahl's final speech, knowing it is long -- but hopefully never too long:

" My wisdom is simple... We Ekdahls have not come into the world to see through it. We are not equipped for such excursions. We might just as well ignore the big things. We must live in the little world. We will be content with that and cultivate it and make the best of it. Suddenly death strikes. Suddenly the abyss opens. Suddenly the storm howls, and disaster is upon us. All that we know-- But let us not think of all that unpleasantness. We Ekdahls love our subterfuges. Rob a man of his subterfuges and he goes mad and begins lashing out. Damn it all, people must be intelligible! Otherwise we don't dare to love them or speak ill of them. We must be able to grasp the world and reality so that we can complain of their monotony with a clear conscience. Don't be sad, dear splendid artists! Actors and actresses, we need you all the same! It is you who must give us our supernatural shivers, or better yet, our innermost diversions... The world is a den of thieves, and night is falling. Evil breaks its chains and runs through the world like a mad dog. The poison affects us all, us Ekdahls and everyone else. No one escapes, not even Helena Viktoria or little Aurora. So shall it be. Therefore let us be happy while we are happy. Let us be kind, generous, affectionate and good. It is necessary and not at all shameful to take pleasure in the little world. Good food... gentle smiles... fruit frees in blossom, waltzes...

[He moves towards the cradles and picks one of the babies up].

"I hold a little empress in my arms. It's tangible yet immeasurable. One day she will prove everything I just said wrong. One day she will not only rule the little world, but everything. Everything".