Fanny and Alexander

Fanny and Alexander, or Fanny och Alexander, was for me a marvelous, thrilling and exquisite film. Set in Sweden with a slew of Swedish actors I found it to be immensely thought-provoking and first-rate story-telling. There were dream sequences, reality, dancing, wonderful sets and lighting, and certainly quite regal and sprawling as far as the amount of different emotions that were displayed within the film. Released in 1982 and part of The Criterion Collection director Ingmar Bergman made an intense and rightfully award winning film. It was the winner of the 1984 Academy Award for Best Language Film. I always enjoy watching foreign films because there is always such depth in content and conversation. You learn so much and see how beautifully specific and thoughtful they are with every small detail. Watching this film ignites my urge to travel and explore, and I do know personally some half Swedish, half Trinis, and although we are different cultures, we have more similarities than one may think. I know I was smiling when hearing the forms of punishments for children of being flogged by the switch or ruler and also taking castor-oil, for I also had such strict upbringing. The sights and sounds and lovely architecture and boating intrigued me as well. Oh how I wish now, to visit Sweden!

I found it interesting that the title would accompany both names when the film was mostly about Alexander; however after reading up a bit more on this film, I found out that it was mostly autobiographical and perhaps he wanted to include his sister in the series of unfortunate circumstances which arose. The dialogue, conversation and actually entire script was such a delight because it touched on reality and what we deem it to be, on paranormal incidences and things we cannot explain, as well as on our moral beliefs and decision-making. I did not enjoy most of the transitions though, I feel that they were mostly always loud and startling at the beginning of every scene, but perhaps it was Bergman's strategy to jolt the senses of his audience from time to time. I found the strange, breathing puppets, the whimsical and eccentric characters, and the constant deliberation of good and evil all quite astonishing! I liked that there was order and reverence and truth to this family and that they were really at heart good people as they embraced even their maids. I found that some moments were uncomfortably disturbing with its sensuality as well as depictions of certain characters faces or imperfections, however I do believe that a good director has done his job if he is able to evoke different emotions and have the ability to make an audience member squirm in his/her chair.

It was fascinating the way the film compared life to an actor's role; when they say:

"Some roles are nice, and other's not so nice…there are strange roles to play. Some you cannot control and can shatter reality. Some remain broken, some don't bother to mend it, and nothing makes sense anymore…"

And, "The unknown makes people angry, it's better to blame it on mirrors and magic, because it makes people laugh…you must be gentle with people Alexander."

One of my favourite moments was when Alexander's uncle who was a fun-loving character with a twisty moustache gave a lovely but long speech about life and celebrating it, I was able to capture some of it, which went:

"The world is a den of thieves, and night is falling. Evil breaks its chains and runs through the world like a mad dog. The poison affects us all… no-one escapes… so it shall be… therefore let us be happy, while we are happy. Let us be kind, generous, affectionate and good. It is necessary, and not at all shameful… to take pleasure in the little world. Good food, gentle smiles, fruit trees in bloom, waltzes."

The last moment of the film was also quite poignant and ended quite brilliantly, with darling 10 year old Alexander, lying with his head on his grandmother's lap, she is reading from a play that she has to learn to perform in theatre and she says:

"Everything can happen. Everything is possible and probable. Time and Space do not exist, on a flimsy framework of reality. The imagination spins, weaving new patterns."

It makes me reminiscent of what life really is, or in fact what we make it out to be. Of our education at school, by our family, our cultures, our downfalls and those that become victorious by always being resilient, being able to dust themselves off, endure the pain, and still be able to hobble forward with the light within us all that reminds us that nothing can break us instead the more trust and patience we have, the greater our sufferings, the greater also our rewards shall be. J