(edit title) Why do Swedes admire Bergman so much? What are his most valuable qualities Options

[SashaOleks]

Hej,

Every time I hear Bergman's name mentioned in Swedish media or by general public, it gets mentioned with appreciation and even great affection.

What exactly in his persona makes this man so dear to Swedes? Why do you like him that much?

Thanks in advance for constructive responses.

Cheers

PS: Responses in Swedish are also welcome

[Mrs Robinsson]

Modern Swedes are too dumb and self absorbed to even begin to appreciate Bergman. Just ask them... they haven't seen the movies. It's a shame because Bergman is by far one of the most influential and genius (to the rest of the world) Swedes.

The themes of his films cut to the core of why we are living. Go watch them , but if you are a novice I recommend researching them first to get the most of them.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Absolutely, today's self absorbed and dumb modern Swedes have no knowledge of his pioneering role in gender reassignment and his subsequent and enduring stardom as Ingrid...

[Mrs Robinsson]

Absolutely, today's self absorbed and dumb modern Swedes have no knowledge of his pioneering role in gender reassignment and his subsequent and enduring stardom as Ingrid...

Haha too funny.. but way over the head of 99.9% of Swedes.

[SashaOleks]

Thank you both for the enthusiastic replies.

To be more precise, my interest is to find out more about the public perception of him as a person. Of course, people's work (e.g. the films made) lays the foundation of their public reputation. But personal qualities have a lot of influence as well and my impression is that Bergman is cherished not only as a filmmaker, but also as a human being.

Thus, I don't know, maybe there is something particularly Swedish in him that makes Bergman dear to his fellow compatriots? And it's this Swedishness that I'd like to see.

[skogsbo]

It's all bollocks. Over rated pretentious movies that folk talk about to pretend they are high brow, whilst secretly watching the usual Hollywood stuff when no one is looking.

It's like saying is there something particularly American about Spielberg or Lucas and that's why their movies are popular.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

I would venture to say a country with a small population, like "old " Sweden lends a bit of familiarity to those that achieve public acclaim and can be considered shared by the people as being "one of us" and is part of Swedish identity and nationalism...

And he/she is Swedish too!!!

[Gimp]

I would venture to say a country with a small population, like "old " Sweden lends a bit of familiarity to those that achieve public acclaim and can be considered sh ... (show full quote)

I would venture to say a country with a small population, like "old " Sweden lends a bit of familiarity to those that achieve public acclaim and can be considered shared by the people as being "one of us" and is part of Swedish identity and nationalism...

And he/she is Swedish too!!! ... (hide full quote)

Eloquently put and I agree 100%

With Sweden being such a small country, anyone that makes it big, especially Ingmar Bergman and Hollywood big, the Swedes will champion them as it brings up all of Sweden.

Like any hometown hero...

And like some, their ?greatness? may cover up some ugly truths to be exposed later on. With Ingmar I do not believe this happened, although a different time, other than him having five wives.