Ingmar Bergman through the choreographer’s eye

Ingmar Bergman through the choreographer’s eye

Four of Sweden’s most innovative choreographers travel to Ingmar Bergman’s home on Fårö to explore and get inspired. The result is a unique dance film, Ingmar Bergman through the Choreographer’s eye.

As a film director, Ingmar Bergman was also a choreographer. Throughout his films, and his theatre works, one can sense his refined choreographed language – in the beautiful movement of a head, or an arm, in the blink of an eyelid – revealing painful shortcomings and chasms in close human relationships. His “invisible hand” is constantly directing the actor in a slow dance around the room. The unspoken word through each choreography is transformed into movements instead.

The renowned and innovative Swedish choreographers Alexander Ekman, Pär Isberg, Pontus Lidberg and Joakim Stephenson, with principal dancers Jenny Nilson, Nathalie Nordquist, Oscar Salomonsson and Nadja Sellrup from the Royal Swedish Ballet, interpret Ingmar Bergman through four unique dance performances reflecting on human relations and intense feelings. The dances are linked together with images of the epic natural beauty of Fårö and Bergman’s poetic home Hammars, including the voice of the master himself – Ingmar Bergman – revealing his thoughts about movements and music.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Bergman’s birth, this movie is not only a tribute to the Swedish cineast’s unique aesthetics, but also a way to deepen his search of the ineffable, his reflexion on the visual poetry of movement, and on the emotional powers of silent contemplation.

The movie won the Special Mention award at Golden Prague International Film Festival 2017 for exceptional artistic achievement as it «excels in the exhilerating choreography, the vivid lighting, and the brilliant camerawork and editing.»

BONUS : Interviews / making-of (40 min.)

Ingmar Bergman through the choreographer’s eye [DVD & Blu-ray]

A film by Hammars Drama Productions, Stockholm (2016)
Produced by Frederik Stattin, Nordisk Drama & Dokumentär
Executive producers : Ingmar Bergman Jr, Marie-Louise Sid-Sylwander

THOUGHTS ON BERGMAN AND DANCE
Choreography and dance : Alexander Ekman
Script : Alexander Ekman / Ingmar Bergman jr.
Music : Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major

A PRE-STUDY
Choreography and dance : Pontus Lidberg
Music : Stefan Levin
Voice : Stina Ekblad
Groom : Isabelle Lundberg
Dramaturge : Adrian Silver
Horse Svie

SAMBAND – BANDE – SARABANDE
Choreography : Pär Isberg
Dancers : Nadja Sellrup & Oscar Salomonsson
Music : Johann Sebastian Bach, Cello Suites
Soloist : Torleif Thedeen

ONAPERS
Choreography : Joakim Stephenson
Dancers : Nathalie Nordquist & Jenny Nilson
Music : Stefan Levin