The Best Intentions
| The Best Intentions | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bille August |
| Produced by | Ingrid Dahlberg |
| Written by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Starring |
Pernilla August Samuel Fröler Max von Sydow |
| Cinematography | Jörgen Persson |
| Distributed by |
The Samuel Goldwyn Company (US) Artificial Eye (UK) |
Release dates |
|
Running time |
323 minutes (television) 174 minutes (theatrical) |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
The Best Intentions (Swedish: Den goda viljan) is a 1992 Swedish drama film directed by Bille August and written by Ingmar Bergman. It is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of the complex courtship of Bergman's parents, Erik and Karin (who are renamed Henrik and Anna in the film but retain the "real" surnames), and the difficult early years of their marriage, up to the point where Anna is pregnant with their second son, effectively Bergman himself. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
The film is a cut-down version of a four-part Swedish television series. The theatrical version was released as a Region 2 DVD in April 2010 and as a Region 1 DVD in 2011.
Plot
Henrik Bergman is a student of theology who comes from a poor family. On the other hand, the family of his best friend Ernst Åkerblom is wealthy. Although Henrik is in a relationship with Frida, a waitress, he falls in love with Ernst's sister Anna Åkerblom. Anna's family doesn't consider him fit to join the family, so he stays with Frida. Some years later, Anna's father is deceased, Anna suffers from tuberculosis and Henrik has finished his studies. Now the wedding can take place. Anna follows her husband to a small village in the north of Sweden. Their different characters and his low income cause constant tensions between them. When he turns down a job offer for a prestigious position in Uppsala, the situation exacerbates.
Cast
- Samuel Fröler as Henrik Bergman
- Pernilla August as Anna Åkerblom Bergman
- Max von Sydow as Johan Åkerblom, Anna's father
- Ghita Nørby as Karin Åkerblom, Anna's mother
- Björn Kjellman as Ernst Åkerblom, Anna's brother
- Börje Ahlstedt as Carl Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
- Björn Granath as Oscar Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
- Gunilla Nyroos as Svea Åkerblom, Oscar's wife
- Michael Segerström as Gustav Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
- Eva Gröndahl as Martha Åkerblom, Gustav's wife
- Mona Malm as Alma Bergman, Henrik's mother
- Keve Hjelm as Fredrik Bergman, Henrik's paternal grandfather
- Margaretha Krook as Blenda Bergman, Henrik's aunt
- Irma Christenson as Ebba Bergman, Henrik's aunt
- Sif Ruud as Beda Bergman, Henrik's aunt
- Lena Endre as Frida Strandberg, Henrik's first fiancée
- Ernst-Hugo Järegård as Professor Sundelius
- Hans Alfredson as Rev. Gransjö
- Anita Björk as Queen Victoria
- Sten Ljunggren as Svante, Robert's father
Accolades
The film won the Palme d'Or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.[1] Pernilla August won the award for Best Actress at the same festival.[1]
At the 28th Guldbagge Awards Pernilla August won the award for Best Actress and Ingmar Bergman won the award for Best Screenplay.[2] It was also nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Jörgen Persson) and Samuel Fröler was nominated for Best Actor.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Festival de Cannes: The Best Intentions". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- 1 2 "Den goda viljan (1992)". Swedish Film Institute. 22 March 2014.
External links
- The Best Intentions at the Internet Movie Database – theatrical version
- The Best Intentions at the Internet Movie Database – television version
- The Best Intentions at the Swedish Film Institute Database
- Cannes profile
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