If the uncut Fanny and Alexander is Bergman's greatest work, as I think, it's because it's his most inclusive. He shows almost everything: all his moods, conflicts, styles and many of his favorite actors.
Powerful story where Bergman juxtaposes two different ways to live: opening yourself to the world and accepting its richness along with injustices, or closing yourself out and trying to create your own reality.
An immensely pleasurable epic, and swansong by Bergman as a film director. I haven't seen the TV series yet, but once you get past the first 25 minutes of setting up the piece and making the introductions to the characters, you're caught, hook, line and sinker, for the full 189 minutes, in its investigations of the truth behind the familial ties that bind, and the powers of them amongst love, mercy and the supernatural. A remarkable script superbly acted, plotted and shot. It certainly deserved its 4 Oscars, and dare I say, had it been an American film, it probably would have won a heap more. Intensely recommended.
Emerges as a sumptuously produced period piece that is also a rich tapestry of childhood memoirs and moods, fear and fancy, employing all the manners and means of the best of cinematic theatrical from high and low comedy to darkest tragedy with detours into the gothic, the ghostly and the gruesome. (Review of Original Release)
The results are quite frightening and far superior to the lengthy gloom and doom that fill many earlier Bergman films. A magical movie, Fanny and Alexander is likely to be the achievement for which Bergman will be most remembered. (Review of Original Release)
A masterpiece. If the uncut Fanny and Alexander is Bergman's greatest work, as I think, it's because it's his most inclusive. He shows almost everything: all his moods, conflicts, styles and many of his favourite actors. The movie is astonishingly beautiful. The cinematography is by Bergman's longtime collaborator Sven Nykvist. Excellent period piece, beautiful color,rather complex, several stories in one.
With the 4 oscars, movie Bergman's on of the greatest work.
Costumes, attitudes, relationships reflex the sweden life in the early 20th century. It's historical and dramatical epic movie.
Fanny and Alexander is one of those movies that has a strong 100 Metascore, yet not worth giving a 10/10 on. However, that doesn't mean this is a bad movie.
This film is what I would consider an epic piece of art. There are so many themes running through the characters in this film, it would be impossible to cover them all in a book let alone a review. There is something here for everyone. You will find something to connect with, something to enrage you, and something to make you somber. There were certainly some scenes in this movie that I did not enjoy, that took me out of the film I did watch the theatrical version. Perhaps I need to watch the television version for more context. I did enjoy this movie throughout and would recommend it to anyone looking for a thoughtful, artistic film.
To tally blah art picture, with a snail's pacing, self-conscious settings, and way too indulgent delivery. The lead characters are cute but monotonous. The storyline doesn't really go anywhere, and this just feels too overwrought.
This film sums up the worst of dull, tedious, over-promoted art-house fare for me.