25/05/2002 - The great director talks about art, life and death in a videocumentary presented at Directors' Fortnight

Ingmar Bergman graced Directors´ Fortnight in a videodocumentary entitled Ingmar Bergman: Intermezzo directed by fellow Swede, Gunnar Bergdahl. Berghdahl, a critic, is also the artistic director of the Gothenburg FilmFestival and the founder of Sweden´s most famous film publication, Filmkonst.
He asked the great director to talk about Ingmar Bergman the man, and the delicate issue of growing old. Bergman also talks about the special bond he has always felt for the works of August Strindberg, and confesses that at 84, he may not have enough time to finish reading all of them. Bergman also shares his thoughts about death with us, «I am no longer afraid».
We discover that Bergman translated Strindberg into Norwegian and reveals how «August hated people who pronounced his name, Ogost.»
Ingmar Bergman plays with his true identity and for the first three minutes of Intermezzo, he conducts the interview, asking questions and amusing his audience with his imitation of an unfortunate film journalist who kept knocking on the great man´s door only to ask him the silliest of questions. And he does this with the lightest touch that confirms to us his love of life and especially jokes. Intermezzo is a precious Swedish jewel presented to a grateful and appreciative Cannes audience.

(Translated from Italian)