Ingmar
Bergman (1918- ), Swedish motion-picture director and producer, possibly
the most distinguished figure in Scandinavian cinema. Born in Uppsala
and educated at Stockholm University, Bergman has directed, produced,
and written films that range from light comedy to profound psychological
and philosophical drama. His comedies—which include Lesson in Love
(1954), Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), and The Devil's Eye (1960)—are
especially marked by lyrical treatment of their explicit sexual content.
Among his dramatic films, The Seventh Seal (1957) is a somber allegory
of the relationship of humanity to God and to death. His themes are frequently
conveyed through the use of Christian symbols and are imbued with a sense
of dark mystery. Wild Strawberries (1957) and Persona (1966), both profound
studies of the human psyche, use the typical Bergman techniques of flashbacks,
dream sequences, and visions. His trilogy—Through a Glass, Darkly
(1961), Winter Light (1962), and The Silence (1963)—explores such
difficult metaphysical questions as the existence of God, the loss of
faith, the capacity for giving and receiving love, and the tormenting
human inability to communicate. The Virgin Spring (1959), Through a Glass,
Darkly, and Fanny and Alexander (1983) won Academy Awards for best foreign
language film. Bergman's films also include The Magician (1958), Hour
of the Wolf (1968), Scenes from a Marriage (1973), The Magic Flute (1974),
Face to Face (1976), and Autumn Sonata (1978).
In the early 1980s Bergman announced his intention to retire from filmmaking, and since the mid-1980s he has focused chiefly on theatrical directing. His screenplay The Best Intentions, essentially the story of his parents' courtship, was filmed in 1992 by Danish director Bille August, and Bergman published a rewritten version as a novel in 1993.
Other writings by Bergman include his autobiography, The Magic Lantern (1988), and a film memoir, Images: My Life in Film (1993). His many honors include the prestigious Irving Thalberg Memorial Award, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1970.
(Source: Microsoft¨ Encarta¨ Online Encyclopedia 2000 © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)
