Beyon Blond Celebrates Bergman

Los Angeles, April 1, 2008.  The program, which will take place at 7pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood,  is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in cooperation with the Consulate General of Sweden and the Swedish Institute in Stockholm. 

The retrospective will also include the premiere viewing of a touring exhibition of biographical materials: “The Man Who Asked Hard Questions.” Bergman has been described as the man who asked the hard questions. Yet, there is not one single answer to the question of what turned Bergman into Bergman. The installation presents thirty-two interpretations of Ingmar Bergman’s multifaceted universe. 

“We are proud to have this special opportunity to pay tribute Sweden’s legendary film icon in Los Angeles,” said Nina Ersman, Consul General of Sweden.

The weekend program will also feature a pre-screening panel discussion with actor Börje Ahlstedt and documentarian Marie Nyreröd, a long-time acquaintance of Bergman and the director of “Bergman Island.”  Ahlstedt worked extensively with Bergman in films like Fanny and Alexander (1982), The Best Intentions (1982), Sunday's Children (1992) and Saraband (2003). Ahlstedt has also worked with the directors Bo Widerberg and Kay Pollak.

Ingmar Bergman is one of the world’s foremost filmmakers, not just through the extent of his work, but for the religious, moral and existential questions he kept returning to for six decades in such masterpieces as The Seventh Seal, Through A Glass Darkly, Persona, Cries and Whispers, and  Fanny and Alexander.  Bergman died last July at the age of 89.  He had received Academy Award nominations in the Writing, Directing and Best Picture categories; and three films he directed garnered the Oscar® for Best Foreign Language Film

Screening Schedule

Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
“Fanny & Alexander” (1982), Academy Award winner (1983); Foreign Language film (Sweden), Art Direction (Anna Asp), Cinematography (Sven Nykvist), Costume Design (Marik Vos)

Saturday, April 5, at 7 p.m.
“The Virgin Spring” (1960), Academy Award winner (1961): Foreign Language Film (Sweden), Costume Design  (Marik Vos)

“Through a Glass Darkly” (1961)
Academy Award winner (1961): Foreign Language Film (Sweden), Academy Award nominee (1962): Writing – Story and screenplay written directly for the screen (Ingmar Bergman) 

Sunday, April 6, at 7 p.m.
“Cries and Whispers” (1972)
Academy Award winner (1973): Cinematography (Sven Nykvist)
Academy Award nominee (1973): Best Picture (Ingmar Bergman, producer), Costume Design (Marik Vos), Directing (Bergman), Writing – Story and screenplay based on factual material or material not previously published or produced (Bergman)

“Autumn Sonata” (1978)
Academy Award nominee: Actress in a Leading Role (Ingrid Bergman), Writing – Screenplay written directly for the screen (Ingmar Bergman)

Beyond Blond, Swedish Lifestyle Month, is presented for its fifth year in southern California  April 4-May 4 with a series of events focused on the business of sustainable energy, biotech and life sciences, Information technology, and the media and entertainment industry. 

For further details and full program go to: www.beyondblond.org