Den Goda Viljan
The Best Intentions movie storyline. Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander mined his childhood for inspiration; next came the autobiography, The Magic Lantern; and now, his screenplay recounting his parents’ courtship and early days of marriage preceding his birth. But the joy which finally infused the earlier film is lacking in this much bleaker affair. Henrik Bergman (Fröler) is an impoverished theology student when he meets spoiled, rich Anna (Pernilla August). Instantly attracted, the couple spend the next two years battling parental obstruction; once together, their problems really begin…
Bille August has space to develop relationships and explore the emotional nuances which lead to numerous confrontations; with cinematographer Jörgen Persson, he conveys a firm sense of oppressive natural forces; and the film boasts impeccable performances (von Sydow is splendid as Anna’s father). But with a running time of three hours, this weighty drama tests the most patient soul.
The Best Intentions (Swedish: Den goda viljan) is a 1992 Swedish dramatic film directed by Bille August and written by Ingmar Bergman. It is semi-autobiographical, telling the story of the complex relationship between Bergman’s parents, Erik Bergman and Karin Åkerblom, who are renamed Henrik and Anna in the film but retain their true surnames.
The film documents the courtship and the difficult early years of their marriage, until the point when Anna becomes pregnant with their second son, who corresponds to Ingmar himself. At the time, it was one of the most expensive Swedish films ever made. The film is a condensed version of a four-part Swedish television miniseries that aired in December 1991. It won the Palme d’Or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
The Best Intentions (1992)
Directed by: Bille August
Starring: Samuel Fröler, Pernilla August, Max von Sydow, Ghita Norby, Lennart Hjulström, Mona Malm, Lena Endre, Keve Hjelm, Björn Kjellman, Lena T. Hansson, Elias Ringquist
Screenplay by: Ingmar Bergman
Production Design by: Anna Asp
Cinematography by: Jörgen Persson
Film Editing by: Janus Billeskov Jansen
Costume Design by: Ann Mari Anttila
Set Decoration by: Anna-Lena Hansen
Music by: Björn Linnman, Stefan Nilsson
Distributed by: The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release Date: July 19, 1992 (USA), October 2, 1992 (Sweden)
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