Saturday, August 5, 2023

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Swedish title: Fanny och Alexander
dir. Ingmar Bergman

It was Bergman’s first Swedish film after his self-imposed exile abroad. It has strong autobiographical elements so it’s not surprising that he shot it in his native Uppsala. Most of the locations are in the historic district surrounding the Uppsala Cathedral but the building portraying the Ekdahls family house is in Stockholm. The film received numerous accolades including four Oscars: for Best Foreign-language Film, Best Cinematography (Sven Nykvist), best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Anna Asp), and Best Costume Design (Marik Vos).

Streetlamps being lit – Valvagatan, Uppsala, Sweden.

The Ekdahls house exterior – Väpnargatan 1, Stockholm, Sweden. This is the Royal Court Stables built between 1890 and 1894. It’s a castle-like complex around a large courtyard with a monumental gate building. Parts of the building are still used by the Swedish royal family. Princess Madeleine and her family have an apartment there. Guided tours are offered for some parts of the complex.

The theater – S:t Eriks torg 5, Uppsala, Sweden. It’s not actually a theater but a parish building with the cathedral towering behind it.

Isak (Erland Josephson) leaving his shop – S:t Eriks torg 13, Uppsala, Sweden.

On his way to the Ekdahls Isak passes by the Domtrapphuset, S:t Eriks gränd 15, Uppsala, Sweden. The house with the staircase dates back to the 13th or 14th century, and is considered the oldest standing building in Uppsala. The staircase, also known as the Judgment Stairs, was first mentioned in 1376. Today the building’s basement houses a restaurant called Domtrappkällaren.

People celebrating Christmas in the street – S:t Eriks torg, Uppsala, Sweden.

Oscar (Allan Edwall) is carried out of the theater after having a stroke – Akademigatan, Uppsala, Sweden. Then they move to S:t Eriks torg.

Oscar’s funeral – Domkyrka, Uppsala, Sweden. Uppsala Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Uppsala, the primate of the Church of Sweden. The cathedral dates back to the late 13th century and, at a height of 118.7 meters (389 ft), it is the tallest church in the Nordic countries. Originally a Roman Catholic church, it was used for coronations of Swedish kings for a long period following the Protestant Reformation. It houses the tombs of Swedish monarchs, including Eric IX, the patron saint of the nation, Gustav Vasa and John III. Carl Linnaeus, Olaus Rudbeck, Emanuel Swedenborg, and several archbishops are also buried here.

The market – Fyristorg and Dombron, Uppsala, Sweden.

Bishop Vergerus’ (Jan Malmsjö) house – S:t Eriks torg 10, Uppsala, Sweden. The building is actually the county museum, called the Uppland Museum or Upplandsmuseet in Swedish. It is housed in the Akademikvarnen, a former water mill, constructed in 1768. The mill remained in operation until 1946. It was converted into a museum in 1957-1959.

Vergerus walking with Emilie, Fanny and Alexander – S:t Eriks torg at Akademigatan, Uppsala, Sweden.

Helena Ekdahl’s (Gunn Wållgren) summer house – Björkuddsvägen 14, Velamsund, Sweden. The house is now owned by the Malaysian Embassy, and is not open to casual visitors.

Isak rides to the rescue – Dombron, Uppsala, Sweden.

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