The film that changed my life: Matthew Macfadyen
Fanny and Alexander by Ingmar Bergman (1982)
Bertil Guve as Alexander and Pernilla Allwin as Fanny in Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander. Photograph: c.Embassy/Everett / Rex Features
It's hard to narrow it down because there are so many films – squillions of films – that have had a big impact on me. But there was one film I saw as a student at Rada that has stayed with me ever since. It's an Ingmar Bergman film, Fanny and Alexander, and it featured just the most extraordinary acting I'd ever seen.
Buy it from
It's really long, so we watched it in two bits. It was screened to us as an example to follow – an example of people acting with each other. They all knew each other well in real life, the cast, and they rehearsed for a long time and shot it very quickly. The result is extraordinary.
It's huge, it's an epic. The story tells of a very prosperous family, who we first meet at a big Christmas celebration. It goes on to follow their lives, focusing in particular on one daughter who loses her husband and marries a very frightening member of the church, who turns into a sort of monster. A lot of the action is seen through the eyes of a little boy and a little girl on the fringes: Fanny and Alexander.
I remember being rapt. I remember everyone reeling back and thinking, wow. Everything on screen is so speeded up these days, but back then directors weren't afraid to go slow. I think of the TV adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy that was on around the same time. You've got Alec Guinness, driving with his hands on the steering wheel and looking out the window for a good 10 seconds – and it's just riveting. Now everyone's too scared. Cut away! Cut to the next thing! You never have scenes longer than a few minutes. It's a shame.
I haven't seen Fanny & Alexander again since college. I sort of don't want to, in case it disappoints.
Buy it from 
It's huge, it's an epic. The story tells of a very prosperous family, who we first meet at a big Christmas celebration. It goes on to follow their lives, focusing in particular on one daughter who loses her husband and marries a very frightening member of the church, who turns into a sort of monster. A lot of the action is seen through the eyes of a little boy and a little girl on the fringes: Fanny and Alexander.
I remember being rapt. I remember everyone reeling back and thinking, wow. Everything on screen is so speeded up these days, but back then directors weren't afraid to go slow. I think of the TV adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy that was on around the same time. You've got Alec Guinness, driving with his hands on the steering wheel and looking out the window for a good 10 seconds – and it's just riveting. Now everyone's too scared. Cut away! Cut to the next thing! You never have scenes longer than a few minutes. It's a shame.
I haven't seen Fanny & Alexander again since college. I sort of don't want to, in case it disappoints.
4 comments:
Matthew also complimented Stephen Poliakoff for the same type of directing, and there is an interview on You Tube made during the filming of Perfect Strangers where he makes the same point, too many rushed scenes nowadays.
Wonder what he thought of Paul Anderson! LOL!
I agree with what he says completely. I have a dear friend who is blind and she is mystified by movies now. So often they show a scene that has nothing to do with the dialogue. It's like they can't take the time for people to finish their lines before they jump to another scene. Movies are like video games now - slash and dash and a lot of lights but no story.
Appreciating Matthew's movies, I not only implicitly came to those conclusions, but I have always noticed and admired how he is able to keep the attention of the audience and command the screen for such a long time, just moving imperceptibly a few muscles in his face. And all is extremely effective. This is the actor's ability, and something that only a few actors do have today.
So glad that Matthew himself expressed this opinion, I didn't know and never read any of his comments about it, but knowing now that this is at the very base of his view and way to act, makes me so full of joy !!!
Thank you to share!
Post a Comment