Open Writing

The Magician, And Beyond

Part 5, 'Demons', of the 5-hour version of Ingmar Bergman's film 'Fanny and Alexander' is the most enigmatic. We have already witnessed a statue coming to life; the Grim Reaper disappearing behind a large potted plant; the gentle ghost of Oscar, father of Fanny and Alexander; and other psychic (or imaginary) events, some of them frightening. What are we to say of the dear old family friend Isak Jacobi, who is to all intents and purposes a magician?

For readers who have not yet seen the film, it would perhaps spoil their pleasure if I reveal the secret of how Isak rescues the children and what happens in consequence to the bishop, Edvard Vergerus. On the other hand, I believe it is necessary to discuss to some extent the role of Isak, his mysterious shop, and his two extraordinary nephews.

We could argue for ever about what happens in Part 5, 'Demons'. Is it magic? Is it conjured up in the boy Alexander's fertile imagination? Is it a dream and, if so, whose dream? Let's just say that the rescue of the children from the clutches of the brutal bishop involves the two children, Fanny and Alexander, being in two places at the same time. After the bishop has viciously demonstrated his complete lack of Christian charity by denouncing him in a most terrible and way for being a Jew, Isak exhausts himself in some sort of magical manipulation by which the children are smuggled out of the house and into Isak's own fascinating home.

Isak's nephew Aron is a strange young man in his facial expressions, behaviour, and conversation. He is an expert puppet-maker. His marionettes, some of them life-size, populate the rooms of the shop. Some of them seem to move with a life of their own. An Egyptian mummy, thousands of years old, is still breathing. Alexander is even given a frightening glimpse of God, presumably in a likeness which Ingmar Bergman rejected as a result of his own childhood experiences.

Against old Isak's wishes, Aron allows Alexander to see the other nephew, Ismael, who is kept behind two locked doors for his own safety and that of others. Ismael is said to be extraordinarily intelligent and to have psychic powers. We are not sure what might happen behind the locked doors, what will happen to Alexander, and what might follow. After we have watched this sequence, we are still unsure.

For a start, the young man Ismael is played by a female actor. That's the first puzzle for the viewer to ponder and perhaps solve. Ismael is able to go beyond merely reading Alexander's mind to infiltrating his personality, thoughts and wishes. He caresses the boy but he does not, as one reviewer has suggested, simulate the movements of anal intercourse. It is during their psychic rapport that the scene shifts and we see how the evil bishop Edward Vergerus meets a terrible death.

The action then moves quickly to the Epilogue, where we see yet another joyful family get-together around a table loaded with grand food. Uncle Gustav Adolf makes a long speech. We see two newly born members of the wonderful Ekdahl clan — it would be telling too much to reveal here who they are. Emilie returns to her theatre. Alexander and Fanny return to their happy family life, except for one thing. There is another ghost. Bishop Edward Vergerus appears, spitefully, to Alexander. Or does he? If he does, the boy's mother Emilie doesn't notice the result. That is yet another enigma for us to ponder.

© Copyright Brian Barratt 2008