Fanny and Alexander Blu-ray Review
DigiPack Fanny och Alexander
Score: 75
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Criterion's ‘Fanny and Alexander’ Blu-ray offers outstanding video and audio quality, presenting Bergman's magnum opus with comprehensive bonus features—highly recommended.
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Disc Release Date
Video: 72
Criterion's Blu-ray release of Ingmar Bergman's *Fanny and Alexander* features a meticulously restored 1080p transfer with MPEG-4 AVC encoding. The 2K digital restoration, supervised by original film timer Nils Melander, significantly enhances detail, color reproduction, and contrast, while preserving the film's authentic grain structure. Visual clarity is exceptional across various lighting conditions, elevating both the television and theatrical versions to a fresh, vibrant experience that outshines previous DVD releases.
Audio: 75
The Swedish DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and LPCM 1.0 tracks deliver a richly nuanced, crystal-clear audio experience, enhancing both dialogue and ambient sounds with excellent dynamic range, free of pops or distortions—offering a deeply engaging and faithful auditory presentation for Bergman’s masterpiece.
Extra: 75
Ideal for cinephiles, the 'Fanny and Alexander' Blu-ray extras include a comprehensive commentary by Peter Cowie, an in-depth making-of documentary, insightful interviews with cast and crew, and a range of visual galleries—all presented in high-quality HD with optional English subtitles, preserving the film's rich production history.
Movie: 80
Ingmar Bergman's 'Fanny and Alexander,' meticulously presented by Criterion on Blu-ray, explores the cruelty of adulthood through the magical eyes of a child. With stunning cinematography by Sven Nykvist, this 3-disc set includes both the 189-minute theatrical cut and the original 322-minute television version, enriched by extensive documentaries and insightful essays.
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Video: 72
The Blu-ray release of Ingmar Bergman’s "Fanny and Alexander," presented by Criterion, is a meticulous digital restoration treated with great technical care. Encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and presented in 1080p, both the theatrical and television versions were transferred from the original 35mm camera negatives using an ARRISCAN film scanner, ensuring high fidelity to the source material. Critical aspects like color grading were supervised by original experts such as film timer Nils Melander, utilizing advanced software systems like Image System's Phoenix and Nucoda, Quantel's iQ, Foundry's NUKE, and Autodesk's Flame. Manual restoration processes effectively eliminated thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker, employing MTI's DRS system and Pixel Farm's PFClean system for thorough results.
The high-definition transfer of the television version in particular shows substantial improvements. Details are markedly enhanced, especially in darker sequences, with greatly stabilized contrast levels. The most striking enhancement is in color reproduction; the entire palette appears elevated and stabilized, bestowing the film with a vibrant new look that exceeds previous releases. This transfer retains the film's original grain structure with precision, evident during close-ups where the grain is well resolved and unaltered. Compression artifacts are minimally present, only noticeable in fleeting moments during the prologue. Key points for viewers to note are the absence of edge flicker and significant damage such as scratches or large cuts, which might have been present in previous DVD releases.
Presented in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio, the Blu-ray expounds an exquisite level of detail. Both versions reveal intricate design elements of the Ekdahl family's ornate home and the Bishop’s stark house. The transfer’s contrast handling is notable throughout, displaying bright whites and natural hues, as intended by cinematographer Sven Nykvist. While the black levels are generally strong, sporadic fluctuations do not detract from the overall exceptional visual quality. The set maintains a faithful representation of primary colors, particularly reds, within a naturalistic light framework, resulting in an image that is both technically refined and visually engaging.
Audio: 75
The Blu-ray release of "Fanny and Alexander" presents a meticulous audio experience with distinctive translations and considerate remastering. The television version includes a Swedish DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track, while the theatrical edition features a Swedish LPCM 1.0 track and an English Dolby Digital 1.0 dub, all accompanied by optional English subtitles. Both soundtracks have been remastered at 24-bit from the original 35mm magnetic tracks, with manual removal of clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum, and crackle attenuation via AudioCube's integrated workstation.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track offers nuanced dynamics, enhancing the film's fantasy sequences significantly. Both the DTS-HD and LPCM tracks are devoid of audio imperfections such as pops, clicks, or dropouts. Dialogues and ambient sounds are notably crisper compared to the DVD release, delivering an immersive experience. Despite these tracks being mono, they offer a remarkably spacious audio presence, housing subtleties that elevate the narrative’s emotional core.
The uncompressed PCM mono soundtrack is exceptional, focusing the sound design centrally to mirror the film's dialogue-driven drama. The soundtrack captures every tonal inflection with clarity, ensuring dialogues reveal characters' fears, joys, and heartaches with high intelligibility. The mix leverages room acoustics convincingly to fill scenes with natural ambience and detailed auditory elements. Although bass is minimal, the lower frequencies provide enough depth to enhance the understated score, delivering a satisfying listening experience worthy of Ingmar Bergman's profound storytelling.
Extra: 75
Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Fanny and Alexander" shines with an impressive array of extras that delve deeply into the film's creation and legacy. Noteworthy is the insightful audio commentary by Peter Cowie, offering a comprehensive analysis of Bergman's techniques and personal influences. The extensive making-of documentary provides a rare glimpse into Bergman's meticulous filmmaking process, effectively capturing his artistic relationship with cast and crew. Additionally, "A Bergman Tapestry" supplements these insights with reflective interviews from key production members, while "Ingmar Bergman Bids Farewell to Film" gives audiences a poignant view of the director's career and personal reflections. The high-definition presentations of costume sketches, set models, and stills further enrich this collection, making it indispensable for cinema enthusiasts.
Extras included in this disc:
- Trailer: Theatrical trailer with optional English subtitles.
- Commentary: Audio commentary by Peter Cowie.
- The Making of Fanny and Alexander: Documentary on the film’s production.
- A Bergman Tapestry: Documentary with interviews from cast and crew.
- Ingmar Bergman Bids Farewell to Film: Conversation with the director.
- Stills Gallery: Behind-the-scenes photos.
- Costume Gallery: Sketches and final costume photographs.
- Set Models: Stills of set models and designs.
- Booklet: Illustrated booklet with essays.
Movie: 80
Ingmar Bergman’s "Fanny and Alexander," recipient of four Oscar Awards including Best Film and Best Cinematography, is a masterful blend of autobiographical narrative and rich visual storytelling. Anchored by the Ekdahl family's two-year odyssey, it delves into themes of childhood magic transitioning to harsh adulthood, revealing deep-rooted existential reflections reminiscent of Bergman's distinctive style. The film contrasts the warmth and complexity of familial bonds with the cold sterility of oppressive environments, a duality embodied in Sven Nykvist's exquisite cinematography. The vibrant, lush interiors of the Ekdahl household sharply juxtapose the bishop's stark, lifeless abode, accentuating the emotional landscapes that define the characters' tumultuous journeys.
Central to the narrative are siblings Fanny and Alexander, particularly Alexander, whose lens offers a childlike yet profound perspective on life's dichotomies. Bergman's meticulous direction captures transience and mortality, making past and present emotions coexist seamlessly. Symbolic constructs like Alexander's puppet theater and the recurring motif of doors as stage curtains underscore life’s inherent theatricality and the perpetual dance between reality and illusion. These elements enrich the narrative, imbuing everyday interactions with layers of purpose and meaning.
The Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray edition presents both the abbreviated 189-minute theatrical cut and the comprehensive 322-minute television version. The longer version retains much of the fantastical elements critical to understanding Bergman's full vision. Packaged in a tri-fold box with a 34-page illustrated booklet, it includes invaluable extras such as documentaries and scholarly essays that provide depth and context to Bergman’s intricate work. This release cements "Fanny and Alexander" not just as a cinematic masterpiece but as an essential study in storytelling complexity and visual grandeur, befitting Bergman's eminent legacy in film history.
Total: 75
Ingmar Bergman's "Fanny and Alexander" stands as a cornerstone in cinematic history, often heralded as his magnum opus. The Criterion Collection's 3-disc Blu-ray set offers both the theatrical release and the original five-hour television version, exemplifying unparalleled fidelity to the source material. The set beautifully captures the film’s intended warmth, color, and emotional depth, delivering an exceptional audio and visual experience. Enhanced by meticulous remastering, both versions appear superb, presenting the film in its best possible quality.
The narrative delves into the life of a bourgeois family at the turn of the century, grappling with profound themes of time, mortality, and the essence of art. This exploration is rendered even more poignant by Criterion's comprehensive bonus content. Although the bonus section may seem modest at first glance, it provides an exhaustive examination of the film’s production. Each element from Bergman's creative process to behind-the-scenes insights is meticulously explored, rendering this set indispensable for aficionados and scholars of Bergman’s oeuvre.
Warm, colorful, witty, and incredibly moving, Ingmar Bergman's "Fanny and Alexander" is undoubtedly one of the great films of our time. Criterion's 3-disc set contains both the theatrical release and the original five-hour television version of the film. Both look wonderful on Blu-ray, the best they ever have. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 90
Further restoration involved the manual removal of thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker using MTI's DRS system and Pixel Farm's PFClean system, while Image...
Audio: 100
The Swedish DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track boasts a strong range of nuanced dynamics that enhance the fantasy sequences very well....
Extras: 100
Booklet - a 34-page illustrated booklet featuring Stig Bjorkman's essay "In the World of Childhood" (the author is a Swedish film critic and filmmaker); Rick Moody's essay "Bergman's Bildungsroman" (the...
Movie: 100
Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander is largely an autobiographical film that chronicles a unique transition, the one where children slowly leave behind the magical world their imagination creates while...
Total: 100
Warm, colorful, witty and incredibly moving, Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander is undoubtedly one of the great films of our time....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Comparatively, both appear petty much identical in terms of quality, with neither having a significant edge over the other....
Audio: 80
Room acoustics are convincing as the small bustles of familial activity fill the room with laughter and excitement, and the mid-range is surprisingly expansive during these moments, supplying the film...
Extras: 80
In this three-disc package, the first is reserved for the five-hour cut of the film, but the second contains an insightful commentary while the third features the remaining supplements....
Movie: 100
In either case, both are highly recommended as masterpieces, the pinnacle of a lengthy career from one of the world's greatest filmmakers to have ever lived....
Total: 80
Intended as his swan song, the film examines the life of a bourgeois family at the turn of the century and touches on deep, philosophical fancies about time, mortality and the significance of art in human...
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Actors: Bertil Guve, Pernilla Allwin, Kristina Adolphson
PlotIn a small Swedish town at the turn of the 20th century, two siblings, Alexander and his younger sister Fanny, grow up in a vibrant and affectionate theatrical family. Their parents, Oscar and Emilie, run a successful theater company, enveloping the children in a world of art and creativity. After a joyous Christmas celebration, the family's stability is shaken when Oscar falls ill and dies. In her grief, Emilie hastily remarries the austere and authoritarian Bishop Edvard Vergérus, thrusting the children into a drastically different and oppressive environment filled with strict religious rules and harsh discipline.
Struggling under the Bishop's severe regime, Alexander and Fanny's once bright and imaginative lives become bleak and fearful. They face emotional and sometimes physical abuse, as the Bishop's oppressive control stifles any semblance of their former freedom. The siblings bond deeply, relying on each other for solace and hope. Their desperate plight eventually draws the attention and aid of family friends, particularly their warm-hearted and resourceful uncle, who becomes determined to rescue them from their dire situation. The story evolves as the children navigate through fear and adversity, seeking a return to the love and joy they once knew.
Writers: Ingmar Bergman
Release Date: 17 Dec 1982
Runtime: 188 min
Rating: R
Country: Sweden, France, West Germany
Language: Swedish, German, Yiddish, English, French