Documentary Light Keeps Me Company

n any pantheon of cinema-tographers Iwherein ranking depends on skill, sensitivity and subtlety, will be found very near the throne. For more than 50 years he laid Boldness his magic gently over some 120 films without fuss, with great care, consummate skill and total belief in what he was doing. By doing so he influenced — and will continue to influence — the look of most intelligent and contemplative films be my that are made today for our delight and our compassion. Because the team of Bergman and Nykvist, working together over 30 years, made such an impact — resulting in two Oscars and a

Nomination for Sven — it is easy to (PHOTO: BO PERSON) overlook the much larger corpus of Carl Gustaf Nykvist and . films that he lit (and usually operated) friend for other directors on a hundred “Sven retrospective tribute to the man and Some of the organisations which occasions, all of which benefited from his work shot on Vision 200T film 7274 his skill. But because of that breadth (Nykvist) has and Vision 250D film 7246. have supported this documentary across Europe and America, it is made an International support for this initiative Arriflex, Munich possible that Sven may be even has been whole-hearted. Appearing in Consultant Commissioning Editors of the prouder of being the first non- extraordinary the film are , Bibbi American ever to receive — in 1996 — Andersson, Harriet Andersson, Danish Film Institute a Lifetime Achievement Award from and unique , Ingmar FilmTeknik AB the American Society of impact on the Bergman, Melanie Griffith, Erland Kodak Nordic . In making the Josephson, Gunnel Lindblom, Roman Metrocolor award, ASC Vice-President Owen art of the Polanski, Gene Rowlands, Susan Norwegian Film Institute Roizman said: “Sven has made an Sarandon, and Liv Ullman. Panavision Inc. extraordinary and unique impact on cinema” Among the cinematographers who ’s Regional Film Boards the art of the cinema. There is no way contributed — as well as Carl Gustaf Swedish TV Drama you can calculate the depth of his and Dan Myhrman — were Vilmos Warner brothers influence on contemporary Zsigmond, Kidd Johnson, Lazlo filmmaking.” Kovacs, Gustaf Mandal, Billy Williams, his films and — an enormous Sadly, Sven is now in failing health. Torbjörn Andersson, Michael Green, attraction — some original footage of work on the productions from Ingmar To honour this extraordinary man, the Björn Henriksson, Lennart Adell, Arne Carl Gustaf Bergman’s private archives, footage Sven Nykvist Fund has been set up to Nykvist is standing Carlsson. There was also much underwrite an eponymous annual between Sven support from organisations, some of which has never been shown before. scholarship award. The prime movers Nykvist’s old Arriflex whom are listed in the panel. The film is eagerly awaited by a are the next generation: son, Carl camera and Sven We asked Carl Gustaf the basis on number of festivals and film schools. Gustaf, and his wife Gudrun who, Nykvist, who is which the awards would be made. All profits, it goes without saying, will standing at their working through their own company, “Boldness. Courage. Between 1961 be donated to the Trust, and it should own Aaton Super 16, also be emphasised that all the Beluga Film, as director and co- as they prepare to and 1963 Sven and Ingmar made a producers have made Light Keeps Me trilogy Through a Glass Darkly,Winter organisations and people who have shoot the last scene released material for incorporation in Company, an 84-minute, Super 16, in the film. Light, and The Silence. They were subtle films, psychological, restrained the film have waived their fees and, in and in black- and-white at a time that way, made a considerable when saturated colour was all the rage. contribution to the Trust’s ability to Many critics were dismissive. But they reward future boldness. started a new style of filming which The First Sven Nykvist has become very important around the world. They were courageous, Scholarship Award Winner bold. That’s the tradition we want to Hot news from the Gothenburg Film encourage.” The first award is Festival. The first Sven Nykvist scheduled for Gothenburg in February Scholarship Award was made to Frank and it is hoped that Sven will be well Griebe of Berlin for his work on Run, enough to make the first award. Lola Run. We understand from Carl As befits a true philosopher, the film Gustaf that the choice was made to includes readings from works which mark the empathy between director have meant a lot to Sven, readings and DP, and the innovative daring with from his own book, In Reverence of which the director’s ‘special vision’ was

(PHOTO: LENNART ADELL) Light. There are extracts from many of translated to the screen.

4 incamera APRIL 2000