Remembering Fanny and Alexander

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Remembering Fanny and Alexander

by miramaze @ Wednesday, 01. Aug, 2007 – 00:27:10

Wednesday , 27 Decemeber , 2006

Ismael

The name "Ismael", which occurs also in early Babylonian and in Minæan, was given to the child before its birth (Genesis 16:11), and means: "may God hear".

Watched bits and pieces from the film and became engrossed in some of the dialogue.
It's interesting what new observations emerge and how they differ from other times.

I was able to watch the horrible fire scene this time without flinching too much. It gave me nightmares the first time I saw it.

This time , the scene between the insane or genius Ismael (? ) fascinated me. Was it incest ? Why was Alexander left alone with him for half an hour ?Aron opens door to Ismael's room, brings breakfast. Ismael -- leave us alone for 1/2 hour. Considered dangerous, locked in -- has "awkward talents." Ismael: "You have in mind a man's death." Alexander's evil thoughts -- burning figure.

Fanny and Alexander (1982) Directed by Ingmar Bergman. Pernilla Allwin, Bertil Guve. (188 min)

Fanny and Alexander
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- film ingmar bergman
- fanny and alexander

5 Comments to Remembering Fanny and Alexander

- (Visitor)
- http://bloggitygoodness.blog.ca
- Wednesday, 01. Aug, 2007 @ 13:34:13
I must watch this movie. Have never seen it.
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- miramaze
- Wednesday, 01. Aug, 2007 @ 16:56:10
Get the 5 hour version on DVD if you can .. it is amazing and takes you through a whole RANGE of emotions. You cannot be unaffected by this film . SO many levels in it too. THey usually show it at Christmas time here and each time I see it I catch something new.

I wonder what it will be like for you ..

X
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- E. (Visitor)
- Thursday, 02. Aug, 2007 @ 09:55:01
I just think from the moment Alexander writes his name in the paper and reads Ismael's that Ismaels is in actuality Alexander's dark side, a personification of his anger due to the psychological abuse he experienced. He is angry but afraid of his on angry toughts (wishing to kill the bishop...). He might even think of himself as being crazy at times for having this thoughts (Ismael is sick, crazy) and prefer to supress this feelings (Ismael is locked), I feel his encounter with Ismael is his first time alowing himself to see his own dark persona and not supress it (it is not dangerous anymore, he has scaped captivity). Incest? If Ismael is Alexander's dark side and copulation also meaning union, maybe he is merging his good and bad side, from the experience he will never be the same, lost of inocense. The ghost of the bishop at the end being the left over of the experience that became part of his life and cannot be forgoten but only dealt with. What do you think?
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- miramaze
- Thursday, 02. Aug, 2007 @ 15:04:57
"Ismael is in actuality Alexander's dark side" could well be ! Yes . That makes sense to me .Bergman was always exploring his own dark side as well as the dark side of others.

I aslo feel you are right about Alexander allowing himself to see his own dark persona in his encounter with Ismael. Thank you for that.

I think it is fascinating how the personality of the playwriter / author / director merges and is revealed in his works.

Yes, I do think that Alexander has a lot of repressed anger and feels guilty about this.

Can you imagine what it is like to be an extremely sensitive creative and highly imaginative child ?

genius is very close to madness.
'
Thank you so much for your comment
X

I must see the film again soon- in fact I think it is on tomorrow . I wonder what will come up this time X
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- Ericka (Visitor)
- Friday, 03. Aug, 2007 @ 00:00:10
Oh, you are welcome. Thank you for having this space available to express our views on the subject. All the best
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