Inner torment and troubled marriages mark the life and work of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. But his films aren't simply personal essays; their cinematic strength lies in their ability to embrace other art forms, while using every filmmaker's tool to bring his themes home.
The spirit of Dickens is evident in the social and domestic landscapes of Fanny And Alexander, the story of two children trapped in a turbulent family. The vibrant family Christmas, the acerbic clergyman's house and the treasure trove of a Jewish antique shop could have jumped from the pages of his novels, although in fact the last words come from a play by Strindberg.