Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Fanny & Alexander (1982) is an expansive family drama set in early twentieth‑century Sweden that follows siblings Alexander and Fanny Ekdahl as they move from a warm, boisterous theatrical household into a cold, authoritarian home. The film opens in the lively Ekdahl world — full of actors, extended family, seasonal revelry and mischievous storytelling — and then plunges into grief and tension when their father dies and their mother, Emilie, marries the severe Bishop Edvard Vergérus. The children’s carefree life is replaced by strict rules, spiritual repression and escalating cruelty, and the story traces their struggle to keep imagination, love and dignity alive. You’ll meet a vivid ensemble of characters: the affectionate matriarch Helena, the eccentric Jewish puppet‑maker Isak who offers refuge, the indulgent Uncle Gustav Adolf and beloved maid Maj, each supplying warmth and humor that contrast sharply with the bishop’s bleak household. Alexander, a born storyteller and sensitive soul, becomes the emotional center as he confronts authority, grief and the challenge of protecting his sister and mother. Watching the film is a richly textured experience — at times exuberant and comic, at times darkly austere and unsettling. Expect lavish period detail, intimate family moments, sudden bursts of theatricality, and scenes that blend childlike fantasy with painful realism. The film moves between cozy domestic joy and claustrophobic oppression, building to moments of intense emotion and catharsis. Overall, Fanny & Alexander is both a grand family saga and a poignant meditation on art, faith, power and the sanctuary of imagination. Viewers will come away moved by its emotional depth, won over by its memorable characters, and impressed by its tonal range — from warmth and humor to haunting severity.

Actors: Bertil Guve, Pernilla Allwin, Kristina Adolphson

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Runtime: 188 min

Genre: Drama

100 /100 8.1 /10 9.1 /10