The Best Intentions (1992)
"Den goda viljan" (original title)

The story of Ingmar Bergman's parents. In 1909, poor theology student Henrik Bergman falls in love with Anna Åkerbloom, the daughter of a rich family in Uppsala. After their wedding Henrik ... See full summary »

Director:

Bille August

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman

Stars:

Samuel Fröler, Pernilla August, Max von Sydow

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel Fröler	...	Henrik Bergman
Pernilla August	...	Anna Bergman
Max von Sydow	...	Johan Åkerblom
Ghita Nørby	...	Karin Åkerblom
Lennart Hjulström	...	Disponent Nordenson
Mona Malm	...	Alma Bergman
Lena Endre	...	Frida Strandberg
Keve Hjelm	...	Fredrik Bergman
Björn Kjellman	...	Ernst Åkerblom
Börje Ahlstedt	...	Carl Åkerblom
Hans Alfredson	...	Kyrkoherde Gransjö
Lena T. Hansson	...	Magda Säll
Anita Björk	...	Drottning Victoria
Elias Ringquist	...	Petrus Farg
Ernst Günther	...	Freddy Paulin

Storyline

The story of Ingmar Bergman's parents. In 1909, poor theology student Henrik Bergman falls in love with Anna Åkerbloom, the daughter of a rich family in Uppsala. After their wedding Henrik becomes a priest in the north of Sweden. After a few years Anna can't stand living in the rural county with the uncouth people. She returns to Uppsala, Henrik stays in the north.

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Plot Keywords:

theology | forbidden love | edited from tv series

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Taglines:

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"

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark Finland France Germany UK Italy Norway Iceland

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

10 July 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Best Intentions

Filming Locations:

Dillnäs, Södermanlands län, Sweden

Box Office

Gross:

$1,300,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

SVT Drama, Danmarks Radio (DR), Yleisradio (YLE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

182 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

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.

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Connections

Edited from The Best Intentions (1991)

User Reviews

Intensely beautiful

As a big fan and admirer of Ingmar Bergman, I was not disappointed at all in The Best Intentions. Of Bergman's resume actually, there were only two movies I didn't care for and they were All These Women and The Serpent's Egg. The Best Intentions may start off a little too slow, but once it gets going there is so much that makes for truly riveting drama. Billie August directs superbly, and the film is beautifully photographed with striking scenery. The script by Bergman himself(he's only writer here) evokes so much thought, giving the film such a powerful and poignant tone, while the story while deliberately paced constantly had me compelled. I know of people who are indifferent to the characters of many films directed by Bergman or with his involvement, but the lack of likability of some of his characters is more than made up by the realism of how they are written. That is precisely the case with The Best Intentions. The acting is superb, especially from Max Von Sydow, with him even the simplest of gestures or expressions are telling of so much. Pernilla August is equally telling for exactly the same reasons. All in all, an intensely beautiful film, though, while one of the best of his later movies, not quite up there among Bergman's finest. 9/10 Bethany Cox