The Belgian filmmaking brothers Dardenne have become the modern fixtures of contemporary European cinema. With astonishingly precise imagery and with carefully selected actors little else is to be desired. Although their films are scarce in dialogue, their lyrical portrayals of people on the outskirts of society are unmistakably and uniquely dardennesque. Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne are special guests at this year's edition of the Bergman Week—indeed their first visit to Sweden! 

A hundred years have passed since the death of Swedish author and playwright August Strindberg. The contribution to the Strindberg Centennial is a focus on Strindberg in relation to Bergman. Author Peter Birro talks about the relationship between the two titans—and his own to them. The American Demon Theater has used Bergman's A Spiritual Matter and Strindberg's The Stronger to create a dramatic monologue encounter. In accordance with tradition the Bergman Week ends with an annual rauk event—this summer a radio theater at the impressive limestones of Gamlehamn. The Dutchman was the first Strindberg play adapted by Ingmar Bergman for radio in 1953.

Another focus for this years' Bergman Week is Fanny and Alexander. Thirty years after the film's premiere, two Swedish directors, Stefan Larsson and Linus Tunström, are invited to talk about their work with transferring Bergman's huge film fresco to the stage. Next year's exhibition theme "Child and Childhood" is presented through "The Drawing Room", an exhibition revolving around granny's parlor from Fanny and Alexander. Filmmaker Stig Björkman shows excerpts from his film Fanny, Alexander and I and there will be a screening of film professor Leif Furhammar's fascinating collage film Fanny, Alexander and other Bergman Children. There seems to have been quite a few—in the films of Bergman, too!

Erland Josephson, the male actor who, alongside Max von Sydow, has been most closely associated with Ingmar Bergman's films, passed away in February. An immense loss for every admirer of this autodidact multi-genius. His memory will be celebrated through a "radio cinema" event presenting his play A Swedish Summer Night, a piece inspired by the making of Andrei Tarkovsky's film The Sacrifice in which Josephson plays the leading role. There will also be a screening of The Sacrifice, filmed on Gotland in 1986.

As always the music plays a vital role during the Bergman Week. Besides the inauguration program, a musical theme has been put together at Bergman's private cinema in Dämba, where three films with focus on music and dance will be screened, all three Bergman favorites: Andrzej Wajda's The Conductor, Wim Wenders' Pina and All the Mornings of the World by Alain Corneau. The Magic Flute, Bergman's very own musical blockbuster, will also be shown. The film will be introduced by the opera singers Håkan Hagegård and Elisabeth Erikson, the actual Papageno and Papagena of the film.

Program information:

Bergman Week 2012

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