Fanny and Alexander, extraordinary and successful

Nearly 5 hours long in its theatrical and television versions, this sprawling epic saga about a Swedish family in the early 20th century is nothing short of a cinematic feat.

Bergman creates a vivid tapestry of human drama in miniature, a celebration of creativity and spirit.

Using vast theatrical sets, Bergman puts his incomparable theatrical and operatic influences to transformative effect.

Each magnificently framed composition looks like a tableau vivant immortalising the family's triumphs and tragedies.

The children Bertil and Pernilla Guve perfectly embody the lead roles, embodying youthful wonder and the painful realities of growing up.

The supporting roles of the legendary Gunn Wållgren and Erland Josephson are deeply moving.

Bergman mixes darkness and light with his trademark psychological acuity, finding moments of transcendent beauty even in the long shadow of death.

Fanny and Alexander looks like the masterpiece of a living legend at the height of his extraordinary power.

It is an epic film that will undoubtedly stand the test of time for generations to come. Bergman creates not just a film, but a whole emotional and textual universe in which to lose oneself.

Fanny and Alexander swept the awards season upon its release, revalidating Bergman's magnum opus.

At the Academy Awards, it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography.

The prestigious César Awards also awarded it the prize for best foreign film. In Sweden, it won the coveted Guldbagge awards for best film and direction.

Financially, it did very well at the box office. It earned more than $22 million worldwide on a budget of $4 million. Exceptional figures that reflect the growing worldwide interest in auteur films.

Young actors Bertil and Pernilla Guve won BAFTA awards for their roles. Veterans Gunn Wållgren and Jarl Kulle received numerous awards for their supporting roles.