25/06/2007

The British filmmaker famous for his Shakespeare interpretations on film and stage, has chosen the Bergman Week at Fårö (June 26- July 1) for the Swedish premiere of his film version of The Magic Flute [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (see news).

Paying tribute to Sweden’s biggest living legend, the actor/director said: “Bergman makes the seemingly rarified environment of the theatre talk eloquently, and relevantly, about the ‘big world’ outside. I have found that a great inspiration.”

During his stay at Bergman’s famous retreat, the director of Henry V will introduce a special screening of Fanny and Alexander, his favorite Bergman film. “I saw Fanny and Alexander for the first time when I was 22. Like so many others, I was transported by the landscape, inside and out, by the color, by the natural elements, by the music, by the characters and by Bergman’s magnificent, compassionate orchestration of them all. It is a quite beautiful film. A masterwork”, he said. Branagh’s The Magic Flute will be released in Sweden on August 10 by NonStop Entertainment.

The fourth Bergman Week will be inaugurated tomorrow with a screening of one of Bergman’s finest and favorite works, Persona, with the presence of the Swedish legendary actress Bibi Andersson who appeared in 30 Bergman films and theatre plays. Other films screening during the week include Red Road [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by UK filmmaker Andrea Arnold, which won the first Ingmar Bergman debut Award at the last Göteborg Film Festival.

The Göteborg Film Festival is one of the organizers of the Bergman celebration on Fårö Island, with Gotland University, Fårö Future and Film i Gotland. Among the highlights of last year’s event was a heated discussion between actress Harriet Andersson (on stage) and Ingmar Bergman (sitting in the audience), as well as the presence of Oscar winning filmmaker Ang Lee.