Bergmanorama: Ingmar Bergman: Films: The Best Intentions (1991)

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THE BEST INTENTIONS

(Den goda viljan, 1991)

REVIEW

"For me Bergman's novel is great literature and August's TV version finds itself just next to the borderline where it could live its own life. But it never exposes itself to the risk. It rests in its professionalism and hides behind its touristy estheticism.... What good is it that the mirror is polished when you can't see anyone reflecting in it?"

— Leif Zern, Expressen

Cast

Credits

Henrik Bergman: Samuel Fröler
Anna Bergman: Pernilla August
Johan Åkerblom: Max von Sydow
Karin Åkerblom: Ghita Nørby
Nordenson: Lennart Hjulström
Alma Bergman: Mona Malm
Frida Strandberg: Lena Endre
Fredrik Bergman: Keve Hjelm
Ernst Åkerblom: Björn Kjellman
Carl Åkerblom: Börje Ahlstedt

Producer: Ingrid Dahlberg
Director: Bille August
Screenplay: Ingmar Bergman
Cinematography: Jörgen Persson
Art Direction: Anna Asp
Music: Stefan Nilsson
Editor: Janus Billeskov Jansen

Pernilla August, Samuel Fröler

THE BEST INTENTIONS

Original title:
Den goda viljan

Other titles:
Las mejores intenciones (Spain); Die besten Absichten (Germany); Con le migliori intenzioni (Italy); Den gode vilje (Denmark); Den gode viljen (Norway); Hyvä tahto (Finland); Les meilleures intentions (France)

Production:
Sveriges Television AB Kanal 1 / Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen / Radiotelevisione Italiana RaiDue / Société d'Engénérie et de Programmes de Télévision et d'Audio-Visuels / Danmarks Radio / Yleisradio Ab / Norsk Rikskringkasting / Ríkisútvarpið-Sjónvarpid (RÚV) / Film Four International

Distribution:
Svensk Filmindustri

Premiere:
25, 26, 29, 30 December 1991 (Swedish television); 2 October 1992 (Riviera, Stockholm)

Running time:
325 minutes (TV version); 181 minutes (film version)

Aspect ratio:
1.66:1

Colour:
in colour

Language:
Swedish

Filmed:
on location in Uppsala, Strömsberg (Uppland), Ransjö (Härjedalen), Tureholm Castle, Dillnäs (Södermanland).

LINKS

IMDb: The Best Intentions