Den goda viljan (1992)

Director:

Bille August

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

10 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In 1983 after completing the Oscar winning "Fanny And Alexander", Ingmar Bergman retired from international cinema. Now, after 10 years of writing and reflection, he finds he has "one last story to tell"

Plot:

The story of Ingmar Bergman's parents. In 1909, poor theology student Henrik Bergman falls in love with Anna Åkerbloom...

Plot Keywords:

Theology | Forbidden Love | Edited From TV Series

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Samuel Fröler	...	Henrik Bergman
Pernilla August	...	Anna Åkerblom Bergman
Max von Sydow	...	Johan Åkerblom, Anna's father
Ghita Nørby	...	Karin Åkerblom, Anna's mother
Björn Kjellman	...	Ernst Åkerblom, Anna's brother
Börje Ahlstedt	...	Carl Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
Björn Granath	...	Oscar Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
Gunilla Nyroos	...	Svea Åkerblom, Oscar's wife
Michael Segerström	...	Gustav Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
Eva Gröndahl	...	Martha Åkerblom, Gustav's wife
Mona Malm	...	Alma Bergman, Henrik's mother
Keve Hjelm	...	Fredrik Bergman, Henrik's paternal grandfather
Margaretha Krook	...	Blenda Bergman, Henrik's aunt
Irma Christenson	...	Ebba Bergman, Henry's aunt
Sif Ruud	...	Beda Bergman, Henrik's aunt

Also Known As:

The Best Intentions (UK) (USA)
Con le migliori intenzioni (Italy)
Den gode vilje (Denmark)
Die besten Absichten (Germany)
Hyvä tahto (Finland)
Les meilleures intentions (France)

Runtime:

Argentina:180 min | Spain:181 min | Sweden:180 min | USA:182 min

Country:

Sweden | Germany | UK | Italy | France | Denmark | Finland | Norway | Iceland

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-10 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | Peru:14 | Germany:6 (f)

Filming Locations:

Dillnäs, Södermanlands län, Sweden

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

The first time a husband and wife both won awards at the Cannes Film Festival in separate categories for the same film, Bille August winning the Palme d'Or for Best Film and his wife Pernilla winning for Best Actress.

Movie Connections:

Edited from "Den goda viljan" (1991)

Beautiful, compelling and thought-provoking film

In this film, we meet Henrik Bergman, a good but flawed man who seeks to serve God. We are also introduced to Anna, his future wife and mother of Ingmar Bergman. Henrik makes do with very little, but will not sacrifice his pride in order to enjoy a better life. He is a man of deep convictions. Anna, on the other hand, is accustomed to the finer things life has to offer, and will not be denied her desires.

Henrik and Anna have to clear many hurdles, some of their own making, before they marry and move to a forbidding town in northern Sweden where they gracefully undertake their duties as the new religious leaders. It is specially in this part of the movie that we are shown the human frailties of those who represent the church and guide the flock. The best intentions (although the title does not necessarily refer to this) do not saints make. One has to strive to become a better person on a daily basis, and realize one's shortcomings. The characters in this movie do, and it makes one able to better relate to them.

Like the locomotives one sees so often steaming through the glorious landscapes of this story, this movie starts chugging slowly at first - although never boring -- and barrels full steam ahead during the second half. The entire movie is 181 minutes. I recommend it highly, giving it 9/10.