Sven Vilhem Nykvist

[ichabodius]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Nykvist
Sven Vilhem Nykvist (3 December 1922 â?? 20 September 2006) was a two-time Academy Award winning Swedish cinematographer. He worked on over 120 films, but is known especially for his work with director Ingmar Bergman. He won Academy Awards for his work on two Bergman films, Cries and Whispers (Viskningar och rop) in 1973 and Fanny and Alexander (Fanny och Alexander) in 1983, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
His work is generally noted for its naturalism and simplicity. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest cinematographers of all time

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Sven Nyqvist's work on the Bergman films influenced my early perspective on the world...his cinematography was that brilliant. A true artist who could make the everyday, the mundane, the stark, even the ugly--seem somehow coldly beautiful and deeply unsettling at the same time.

Many of Bergman's predominant themes of emotional isolation, despair and spiritual crisis were perfectly captured by Nykvist's austere, haunted lens. A true genius.

[Long Gone Day]

I..thought..he..was..one..of..the..most..brilliant
cinematographers..that..ever..lived.....
Although..my..two..favorite..Bergman..films..*The..Magician*
and..*The..Seventh..Seal*..were..done..by..Gunnar..Fischer.

I..loved..the..*Unbearable..Lightness..of..Being*..and..have..read
almost..all..of..Kunderas..novels

Crazy..but..true...Lasse..Halstrom..and..Sven..teamed..up..for
the..film..*Something..To..Talk..About*..with..Julia..Roberts..and
Dennis..Quaid......There..contribution..was..the..best..thing..about..the
film..IMO.

I..loved..his..work.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Yes I believe Nykvist's initial collaborations with Bergman were a bit later, on the "Faith Trilogy" films--Through A Glass Darkly, Winter Light & The Silence--my personal favorites.

[Long Gone Day]

Yes I believe Nykvist's initial collaborations with Bergman were a bit later, on the "Faith Trilogy" films--Through A Glass Darkly, Winter Light & The Silence--my personal favorites.

That..surprised..me..Jack
I..had..always..thought..Sven..had
been..with..him..since..1953..and
I..was..just..getting..ready..to..post
and..had..looked..up..*The.Magician*
because..I..was..going..to..post..photos
and..saw..that..it..was..Gunnar...so
then..I..thought..surely..*The..Seventh..Seal*
but..was..wrong..there..too.
.

[Long Gone Day]

From..*The..Unbearable..Lightness..of..Being*

[Guest]

That's a great pic! So stylized!

[Jack-O-Lantern]

That..surprised..me..Jack
I..had..always..thought..Sven..had
been..with..him..since..1953..and
I..was..just..getting..ready..to..post
and..had..looked..up..*The.Magician*
because..I..was..going..to..post..photos
and..saw..that..it..was..Gunnar...so
then..I..thought..surely..*The..Seventh..Seal*
but..was..wrong..there..too.
.

Actually I was wrong too Long Gone! Their very first collaboration was "The Virgin Spring" in 1959...the trilogy came shortly thereafter. I can't tell you how some of the images from their films have seared themselves into my brain (the spider in "Through a Glass Darkly" comes to mind)!

Here's a fascinating piece from American Cinematographer detailing their work together, and how their partnership literally changed the face of cinema:

http://www.bergmanorama.com/ac_98.htm

[Jack-O-Lantern]

L to R:
Sven Nykvist with Ingmar Bergman and by himself in later years; from Fanny and Alexander (Oscar winner for cinematography); from Cries and Whispers (Oscar winner for cinematography); from Persona.
---

[Long Gone Day]

Actually I was wrong too Long Gone! Their very first collaboration was "The Virgin Spring" in 1959...the trilogy came shortly thereafter. I can't tell you how some of the images from their films have seared themselves into my brain (the spider in "Through a Glass Darkly" comes to mind)!

Here's a fascinating piece from American Cinematographer detailing their work together, and how their partnership literally changed the face of cinema:

http://www.bergmanorama.com/ac_98.htm

Nope...according..to..your..article..they..did..start..in..1953..with
*Sawdust..and..Tinsel*...It..also..explains...the..falling..out..of
Bergman..and..Gunnar.....but..the..two..overlapped..somewhat..with
*Seventh..Seal*..and..*The..Magician*.....Now..Ive..got..to..go
see..if..I..can..find..out..more..about..Gunnar....BTW...have..you
ever..seen..*Sawdust..and..Tinsel?*....I..havent...and..I..guess..thats
Bergmans..first..film?...Gotta..go.check..that.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Nope...according..to..your..article..they..did..start..in..1953..with
*Sawdust..and..Tinsel*...It..also..explains...the..falling..out..of
Bergman..and..Gunnar.....but..the..two..overlapped..somewhat..with
*Seventh..Seal*..and..*The..Magician*.....Now..Ive..got..to..go
see..if..I..can..find..out..more..about..Gunnar....BTW...have..you
ever..seen..*Sawdust..and..Tinsel?*....I..havent...and..I..guess..thats
Bergmans..first..film?...Gotta..go.check..that.

I think Nykvist was an apprentice cinematographer on "Sawdust and Tinsel" (which I've never seen)...as he was one of three working on that film and his mentor/teacher was one of the others.
They're saying the partnership began "in earnest" with "The Virgin Spring," which I'm assuming means that it was Nykvist's first solo teaming with Bergman, as well as their first 'important' film made together.