Norwegian buys Ingmar Bergman’s house
Bergman's former house is typically Swedish in style. It is built of wood and surrounded by rocks, sand dunes and pine trees. The main building appears in "Scenes from a Marriage", one of Bergman's best-known films. Photo: www.christiesgreatestates.com
Hans Gude Gudesen, a Norwegian businessman, has bought the late Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman’s former on Fårö.
The stunning Baltic island of Fårö, off the coast of Gotland, Sweden, has become world-famous through Ingmar Bergman’s distinct cinematic vision. This timeless landscape is characterized by quiet heaths, white sandy beaches, red poppies, and wild strawberries, writes Christie’s Great Estates on its website.
Bergman first visited Fårö in 1960, in search of a location to shoot “Through a Glass Darkly.” In his memoir he wrote, “If one wished to be solemn, it could be said that I had found my real home; if one wished to be light hearted, it could be said that it was love at first sight.” The property consists of four buildings — one of which housed Bergman’s private cinema.
The Swedish government, which refused to buy the property, welcomed the sale. “For the government, it is important that Ingmar Bergman’s artistic heritage is preserved and made accessible,” the culture ministry said in a statement. Gudesen, who made a fortune in IT, has already bought a number of Bergman’s personal belongings at auction. The Norwegian businessman hopes to turn the property into an arts centre supported by a foundation.
Bergman died in 2007, at age 89, after directing more than 40 films during a career that spanned the second-half of the 20th century. His films won numerous international awards, including best foreign film Oscars for “The Virgin Spring,” “Through a Glass Darkly” and “Fanny and Alexander.”
To watch a video of the estate, click here
