Den goda viljan (1992)

Director:

Bille August

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

10 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In 1983 after completing the Oscar winning "Fanny And Alexander", Ingmar Bergman retired from international cinema. Now, after 10 years of writing and reflection, he finds he has "one last story to tell"

Plot:

The story of Ingmar Bergman's parents. In 1909, poor theology student Henrik Bergman falls in love with Anna Åkerbloom...

Plot Keywords:

Theology | Forbidden Love | Edited From TV Series

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Samuel Fröler	...	Henrik Bergman
Pernilla August	...	Anna Åkerblom Bergman
Max von Sydow	...	Johan Åkerblom, Anna's father
Ghita Nørby	...	Karin Åkerblom, Anna's mother
Björn Kjellman	...	Ernst Åkerblom, Anna's brother
Börje Ahlstedt	...	Carl Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
Björn Granath	...	Oscar Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
Gunilla Nyroos	...	Svea Åkerblom, Oscar's wife
Michael Segerström	...	Gustav Åkerblom, Anna's half-brother
Eva Gröndahl	...	Martha Åkerblom, Gustav's wife
Mona Malm	...	Alma Bergman, Henrik's mother
Keve Hjelm	...	Fredrik Bergman, Henrik's paternal grandfather
Margaretha Krook	...	Blenda Bergman, Henrik's aunt
Irma Christenson	...	Ebba Bergman, Henry's aunt
Sif Ruud	...	Beda Bergman, Henrik's aunt

Also Known As:

The Best Intentions (UK) (USA)
Con le migliori intenzioni (Italy)
Den gode vilje (Denmark)
Die besten Absichten (Germany)
Hyvä tahto (Finland)
Les meilleures intentions (France)

Runtime:

Argentina:180 min | Spain:181 min | Sweden:180 min | USA:182 min

Country:

Sweden | Germany | UK | Italy | France | Denmark | Finland | Norway | Iceland

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-10 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | Peru:14 | Germany:6 (f)

Filming Locations:

Dillnäs, Södermanlands län, Sweden

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

The first time a husband and wife both won awards at the Cannes Film Festival in separate categories for the same film, Bille August winning the Palme d'Or for Best Film and his wife Pernilla winning for Best Actress.

Movie Connections:

Edited from "Den goda viljan" (1991)

Another excellent Bergman film

While not as out and out thunderous as Bergman's beloved classics, such as Wild Strawberries, The Seventh Seal, etc..., The Best Intentions is still a great movie.

Part of a biographic series, this film chronicles how his father and mother met and married, including the best intentions of both of them and the wife's mother. It follows them from the city through early years struggling to find meaning as a pastor for a small village.

The acting and screenplay are superb. The narrative is very accessible, and may resonate with any viewer, especially one trying to deal with a new wife or mother-in-law whose intentions are not exactly similar to one's own. Still, this is not a Hollywood fluff movie; it is meant for thinking and savoring.