Ingmar Bergman - A conversation with the students of the American Film Institute (AFI)

"I don't want to produce a work of art that the public can sit and suck aesthetically.... I want to give them a blow in the small of the back, to scorch their indifference, to startle them out of their complacency" (I. Bergman).
Ingmar Bergman - Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera," he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential film directors of all time.
He directed over sixty films and documentaries for cinematic release and for television, most of which he also wrote. He also directed over one hundred and seventy plays. Among his company of actors were Harriet Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Bibi Andersson, Erland Josephson, Ingrid Thulin and Max von Sydow. Most of his films were set in the landscape of Sweden. His major subjects were death, illness, faith, betrayal, and insanity.

[@hexdragon_]

"If you want only to make a picture, but you have nothing to say - try to be honest to yourself and don't make a picture."

[@2uTomas]

You see violations of this all over the place,particularly in music BUSINESS!

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Unfortunately, so many films seem to be made just to employ people and have absolutely nothing to say.

"There is always some fool who want to raise the money" (meaning making the picture more expensive) - he just described pretty much all of Hollywood. Bergman is a legend!

[@DanielThePoet22]

Basse tarkovsky described Hollywood the same way as “commercial cinema”

[@petersolomon5227]

In this address to American film students Ingmar Bergman speaks philosophically, rather than technically. Note the refreshing absence of five year plans, and placing marketing before creative inspiration. Bergman’s uncompromising honesty flies in the face of all that appalls today in the film and visual arts. Even if film-makers were blessed with his skill, they couldn’t function effectively in this arid, homogenised global culture.

[@sivirtue]

What i really enjoyed about this was how comfortable he was talking with the students. The students liked and appreciated him being there and he definately felt that from them.

[@ActorPaulAmici]

This is by far the best interview with Bergman I've ever come across, awesome photos too, great upload, thanks!

[@Sproutinghoopla]

The conversation took place in 1975. It's printed in the book "Ingmar Bergman Interviews", edited by Raphael Shargel, published in 2007.

[@breabg828]

TY so much:)

[@GautamChatterjee9]

From Mississippi University Press.

[@unclealand]

People are often surprised that Ingmar Bergman had quite a sense of humor, especially about his mistakes and failures, and his own image as a difficult director.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

It always irks me that people have such an obtuse, narrow-minded idea of who Bergman is and what his films are like... he could be quite funny and many of his films are filled with humor. Some of his greatest, like _The Seventh Seal_ & _The Magician,_ are basically split into half-tragedy/half-comedy. Of course, _Smiles Of A Summer Night_ is hilarious, start to finish. _Sawdust & Tinsel_ is filled with comedy and absurdity... _Fanny & Alexander_ has moments (and entire sequences) of absolute delight and real warmth. Few of his films are without any humor, whatsoever - and they're all loaded with love & compassion for his characters.

[@deniscassiere]

thank you very much for uploading it! Very interesting.

[@angielicona2126]

Wooow! amazing conversation by Ingmar from students. Thanks so much for this unploading :D You rock! Ingmar Bergman

[@dimitris4955]

this is pure gold!!! thank you for sharing !!!!!

[@amoteatro1023]

thank you very much for uploading this video. Is truly amazing! I´m very happy that I can see it, and share it. :*

[@JarodRebuck]

Thank you for this!!! My favorite filmmaker

[@beyondcinema]

great filmmaker. thanks for uploading

[@ruteparedes]

thanks so much for sharing!

[@irfananwar7217]

Great ! Thank you so much .

[@truthseek3017]

He is so passionate.

[@kasparkamu1286]

Would be interesting to know whether some of today's big names were present at this lecture!

[@echopathy]

thank you for sharing

[@donreplies]

A Gem

[@UtwoOneMaster]

adorable, funny conversation

[@lu0k0as]

where do you have this recording from? and thank you for uploading it :)

[@ccurrlyy]

I'm not sure, but I suppose that it was in 1983 (Filmmakers on filmmaking: the American Film Institute seminars on motion pictures and television (edited by Joseph McBride). Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1983).

[@alien3445]

awesome thanks anna

[@DevarshiBarot36]

Thank you! :)

[@johnk.lindgren5940]

Kiitos. Nec plus ultra.

[@santyfilmnerd5130]

What a great speach !

[@manbodhsingh1541]

Please add the subtitles pleasepppppp

[@malvinderkaur4187]

very hard for natural creatives to explain the pattern of their work.. it is just there and comes out when given chance.

[@andrewburgess633]

that stepdad walking the juve kid through his process

[@joenicholls461]

All hail ingmar

[@k_s_b_s]

What's exactly the name of the person he was talking about at 39:00?

[@Ragify7]

Michelangelo Antonioni and his film "L'Avventura"

[@k_s_b_s]

Thank you!

[@beyondcinema]

Karol Safir amazing director as well. check out the passenger or "Blowup"

[@phillytheflyerable]

when was this?

1975

[@mingmonk]

Master

[@5DNRG]

He was a Cancer, very intuitive perceiving life through his emotions. He seems to have relaxed into his spirituality through his art. This post helps me understand my attraction to him and his movies...💙

[@watercanlogic493]

I love the voice of the girl who giggles

[@josephalexanderisaiasumana7046]

AMAZING BITCHES!

[@scasey1960]

I’m surprised there are no comments from people who were students at the time. Why are today’s movies so bad (if not just awful)? WWII had a tremendous effect on everyone. Today people are soft, weak, and self absorbed. The movies show this (Kathleen Kennedy). If you only have tiresome ideas, don’t make the movie.