The Blessed Ones

The Blessed Ones (Swedish: De två saliga) is a 1986 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman, starring Harriet Andersson and Per Myrberg. The screenplay was adapted by Ulla Isaksson from her own novel with the same title. The film tells the story of a couple in which the woman becomes delusional and loses her mind. It was the third time Bergman directed a film written by Isaksson, after Brink of Life and The Virgin Spring.[1] The Blessed Ones was produced by Sveriges Television and premiered on TV2 on 19 February 1986.[2] The American premiere was on 21 February 1987 at the Museum of Broadcasting in New York City.[3]

The Blessed Ones
Directed byIngmar Bergman
Produced byPia Ehrnvall
Katinka Faragó
Screenplay byUlla Isaksson
Based onDe två saliga
by Ulla Isaksson
StarringHarriet Andersson
Per Myrberg
CinematographyPer Norén
Edited bySylvia Ingemarsson
Production
company
Release date
  • 19 February 1986 (1986-02-19)
Running time
81 minutes
CountrySweden
LanguageSwedish

Plot

Sune, a theology student who has dropped out and is also the son of a priest, meets Viveka in a church. The two connect via a theological discussion and eventually get married. As the years pass, Viveka grows more and more emotionally unstable due to jealousy and religious anxiety. Sune accepts Viveka's mental problems and, instead of seeking help for his wife, obeys her increasingly bizarre commands. Eventually Viveka loses her mind completely, locks herself in the couple's apartment while Sune is away, and tries to make neighbours and the police believe that Sune is trying to murder her with a knife. When Sune arrives home Viveka is taken away to a hospital. Sune tries to convince the doctors that Viveka is not insane and should be allowed to leave. In the end, Sune turns on a gas tap and lies down next to Viveka so they will die together.

Cast

References
  1. "Ulla Isaksson". Ingmar Bergman Face to Face. Ingmar Bergman Foundation. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  2. "De två saliga (1986) : Release dates". Swedish Film Database. Swedish Film Institute. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  3. O'Connor, John J. (1987-02-18). "Museum tribute to Igmar Bergman". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
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