27/10/2009

Ingmar Bergman’s former house in Fårö, most of its furniture and most of his personal belongings have been sold to the Norwegian multi-millionaire and art benefactor Hans Gude Gudesen, who will transform it into an arts centre.

The Norwegian archaeologist, scientist and inventor who made his fortune in information technology contacted Bergman’s daughter Linn Ullmann (that the director had with actress Liv Ullmann), who had arranged for the sale of her father’s estate, according to his wishes.

When the legendary Swedish director died in 2007, he said in his will that he wanted his estate and its belongings to be sold to the highest bidder and for the money to be shared equally between his nine children. Although the sale prize was undisclosed, Bergman’s beloved Fårö retreat was valued at around €3-4m.

Bergman first visited the island of Fårö in Sweden in 1960, when location scouting for his film Through a Glass Darkly. He lived there for over 40 years until he died at age 89. Linn Ullmann told The New York Times that she is now looking for an artistic director to run the non-profit artistic centre on Fårö and plans to open it officially in the summer 2010.