Fanny and Alexander
A lavish historical drama where childhood wonder meets gothic terror, painting a vibrant tapestry of familial warmth and religious austerity through the eyes of a young boy haunted by ghosts and magic.
Fanny and Alexander
Fanny and Alexander

Fanny och Alexander

17 December 1982 Sweden 188 min ⭐ 7.8 (843)
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Cast: Bertil Guve, Pernilla Allwin, Jan Malmsjö, Ewa Fröling, Gunn Wållgren
Drama Fantasy Mystery
Imagination vs. Reality Religious Authoritarianism Family and Legacy The Supernatural and Memory Childhood and Trauma
Budget: $6,000,000
Box Office: $6,800,000

Fanny and Alexander - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

Cameos of Bergman's children

Several of Bergman's real-life children appear in the film, including Mats Bergman (Aron) and Anna Bergman (Hanna Schwartz), emphasizing the film's theme of family legacy.

The 'Not for Pleasure Only' inscription

The Swedish text 'Ej blott för nöjes skull' on the toy theater is a direct reference to the motto of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where Bergman spent much of his career.

Hamlet Parallel

The plot heavily mirrors Shakespeare's Hamlet, with Oscar dying during a rehearsal of the play and returning as a ghost, while the Bishop takes the role of the usurping Claudius.