Announced with some fanfare as the final feature-length film to be directed by Ingmar Bergman, the autobiographical Fanny & Alexander turned out to be one of the legendary filmmaker's very best. One would be hard-pressed to imagine a more fitting culmination to such a distinguished career, but Bergman still had many stories to tell, albeit mostly for Swedish television. This 1982 saga begins as the well-to-do, loving Ekdahl family gathers to celebrate Christmas, only to be struck by tragedy when the father dies soon thereafter. Ten-year-old Alexander (Bertil Guve) and eight-year-old Fanny (Pernilla Allwin) suffer terribly after their widowed mother (Ewa Fröling) marries an outwardly pleasant clergyman (Jan Malmsjö) who turns out to be a sadistic tyrant, and it takes the efforts of their indomitable grandmother (Gun Wallgren) and her Jewish friend (Erland Josephson) to liberate the children. Bergman's cinematic memoir is certainly realistic, but it also has the enchantment of a fairytale, as comedy, tragedy, romance, and fantasy are skillfully blended to create a perfect evocation of time and place. Sven Nykvist's cinematography provides one unforgettable image after another, while Daniel Bell's superb music perfectly underscores the moods Bergman creates so powerfully with his innate storytelling abilities. Criterion's newly remastered DVD edition restores this remarkable motion picture to all its glory, and for cineastes its release is one of the major events of the year. What's more, it's available in two versions in this five-disc boxed set--the theatrical version (also sold separately for $29.95) and an expanded five-hour-plus TV version that fleshes out the characters and storylines. In addition, the set includes a feature-length "making-of" documentary, audio commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie on the feature film, a one-hour interview with Bergman, the new documentary "The Bergman Tapestry," and more. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Blu-ray Review—Nov. 22, 2011—Criterion, 3 discs, 618 min., in Swedish w/English subtitles, not rated, $59.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1982's Fanny & Alexander sports a fine transfer with mono sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to those on the DVD release, including the five-hours-plus TV version (in addition to the 188-minute theatrical version), a feature-length “making-of” documentary (110 min.), audio commentary on the theatrical version by film scholar Peter Cowie, the 1984 conversation “Ingmar Berman Bids Farewell to Film” with filmmaker Bergman and film critic Nils Petter Sundgren (60 min.), “A Bergman Tapestry” segment featuring interviews with cast and crew (40 min.), galleries (stills, costume sketches, and model footage), a booklet (featuring essays by documentarian Stig Bjorkman, novelist Rick Moody, and film scholar Paul Arthur), and a trailer. Bottom line: one of Bergman's finest shines on Blu-ray with a definitive extras package.] (E. Hulse)
Fanny & Alexander
Criterion, 5 discs, 610 min., not rated, DVD: $59.95 Volume 20, Issue 1
Fanny & Alexander
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