Sven Nykvist

Sven Nykvist

Born: December 3, 1922
Died: September 20, 2006
in Moheda, Kronobergs län, Sweden
Sven Vilhem Nykvist (3 December 1922 – 20 September 2006) was a Swedish cinematographer. He worked on over 120 films, but is known especially for his work with director Ingmar Bergman. He won Academy Awards for his work on two Bergman films, Cries and Whispers (Viskningar och rop) in 1973 and Fanny and Alexander (Fanny och Alexander) in 1983, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

His work is generally noted for its naturalism and simplicity. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest cinematographers of all time. In 2003, Nykvist was judged one of history's ten most influential cinematographers in a survey conducted by the International Cinematographers Guild.

Movies for Sven Nykvist...

… But Film Is My Mistress
Title: … But Film Is My Mistress
Character: Self
Released: May 12, 2010
Type: Movie
Guided by Liv Ullmann and with commentaries from a number of prominent filmmakers for whom Bergman is and remains an important influence - such as Woody Allen, Olivier Assayas, Bernardo Bertolucci, Arnaud Desplechin, John Sayles, Martin Scorsese and Lars von Trier, the film provides a vivid portrait of the artist who in each new project found a challenge for himself and for the people he worked with - both actors and colleagues behind the camera.
bee
Light Keeps Me Company
Title: Light Keeps Me Company
Character: Self
Released: August 26, 2000
Type: Movie
Carl-Gustaf Nykvist's documentary about his father, Sven Nykvist. The film is based on Sven's memoirs with Sven himself as narrator. A journey to the place of birth, Moheda, constitutes the hub of the film and during the journey friends and memories emerge. Written by Fredrik Klasson
bee
One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich
Title: One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich
Character: Self - Cinematographer of 'Offret' (uncredited)
Released: May 15, 1999
Type: Movie
A documentary about the Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. The film was an episode of the French documentary film series Filmmakers of our time. The title of the film is a play on the title of Solzhenitsyn's novella One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
bee
Lumière and Company
Title: Lumière and Company
Released: December 20, 1995
Type: Movie
40 international directors were asked to make a short film using the original Cinematographe invented by the Lumière Brothers, working under conditions similar to those of 1895. There were three rules: (1) The film could be no longer than 52 seconds, (2) no synchronized sound was permitted, and (3) no more than three takes.
bee
I Am Curious, Film
Title: I Am Curious, Film
Character: Self
Released: October 28, 1995
Type: Movie
The Scandinavian entry in the BFI's Century of Cinema series of documentaries
bee
Visions of Light
Title: Visions of Light
Character: Self
Released: September 17, 1992
Type: Movie
Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.
bee
The Ox
Title: The Ox
Character: Shop Owner (voice) (uncredited)
Released: November 22, 1991
Type: Movie
In desperation brought on by near-starvation, Helge Roos kills his master's ox to feed his wife and baby daughter, setting off a devastating and unexpected chain of events.
bee
Building Images: Anna Asp on Scenography
Title: Building Images: Anna Asp on Scenography
Character: Himself
Released: September 9, 1990
Type: Movie
Documentary on production designer Anna Asp's work with director Andrey Tarkovsky, during the shooting of his film Offret (The Sacrifice).
bee
Foreign Filmmakers in Hollywood
Title: Foreign Filmmakers in Hollywood
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1989
Type: Movie
Filmed around the time of the 1989 Oscars this documentary includes interviews with foreign filmmakers from a variety of disciplines about their experiences working and living in Hollywood.
bee
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Title: Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Character: Self
Released: September 23, 1988
Type: Movie
This documentary offers a rare glimpse of the legendary Soviet filmmaker, Andrei Tarkosvky, at work. Tarkovsky made only seven films in his brief, but brilliant, career; Michal Leszczylowski's respectful movie chronicles him at work on his last film, The Sacrifice. Offering insight into Tarkovsky's working methods and transcendental aesthetics, the movie is a compelling account of the difficulties of film production. In the case of an uncompromising and visionary filmmaker like Tarkovsky, the practical problems of filmmaking are only magnified, as cast and crew struggle to realize the ambitious concepts in Tarkovsky's mind.
bee
Lighting
Title: Lighting
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 1988
Type: Movie
A documentary on Sven Nykvist lighting the movie-set during the shooting of Andrei Tarkovsky's film "The Sacrifice."
bee
Moscow Elegy
Title: Moscow Elegy
Character: Himself
Released: April 4, 1987
Type: Movie
A 1988 documentary film directed by Alexander Sokurov, about the later life and death of Soviet Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. The film was originally intended to mark the 50th birthday of Tarkovsky in 1982, which would have been before his death. Controversy with Soviet authorities about the film's style and content led to significant delays in the production.
bee
The Making of Fanny and Alexander
Title: The Making of Fanny and Alexander
Character: Self
Released: September 16, 1984
Type: Movie
The Making of Fanny and Alexander is a fascinating look at the creation of a masterpiece. Directed by Ingmar Bergman himself, this feature-length documentary chronicles the methods of one of cinema’s true luminaries as he labors to realize his crowning production.
bee
A Look at Liv
Title: A Look at Liv
Character: Self
Released: January 31, 1979
Type: Movie
Using original footage and interviews, family photos, and excepts from many of the actress's screen and stage performances, the film explores sources of Liv Ullman's creativity, the influence of her Norwegian heritage, her relationship with Ingmar Bergman, her views on being a woman and mother in contemporary society, and the writing of her autobiography,
bee
The Making of 'Autumn Sonata'
Title: The Making of 'Autumn Sonata'
Character: Self
Released: October 18, 1978
Type: Movie
On-set documentary of the making of Ingmar Bergman's 1977 film Autumn Sonata starring Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullman, examining every aspect of the production. Unusual for this kind of documentary, there is no post-production commentary or interviews.
bee
The Magic Flute
Title: The Magic Flute
Character: Man in Audience (uncredited)
Released: October 4, 1975
Type: Movie
The Queen of the Night enlists a handsome prince named Tamino to rescue her beautiful kidnapped daughter, Princess Pamina, in this screen adaptation of the beloved Mozart opera. Aided by the lovelorn bird hunter Papageno and a magical flute that holds the power to change the hearts of men, young Tamino embarks on a quest for true love, leading to the evil Sarastro's temple where Pamina is held captive.
bee
Silence! Cameras! The Magic Flute!
Title: Silence! Cameras! The Magic Flute!
Character: Self
Released: January 6, 1975
Type: Movie
A documentary behind the scenes of Ingmar Bergman's The Magic Flute.
bee
Foto: Sven Nykvist
Title: Foto: Sven Nykvist
Released: December 31, 1973
Type: Movie
A short documentary about the work of Swedish cinematographer and Ingmar Bergman collaborator, Sven Nykvist,, emphasizing his style of lighting and sense of humanity through interviews and film clips from key Bergman and Nykvist productions.
bee
Ingmar Bergman
Title: Ingmar Bergman
Character: Self
Released: March 17, 1972
Type: Movie
On-set documentary on the making of Ingmar Bergman's The Touch.
bee
Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie
Title: Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie
Character: Self
Released: January 27, 1963
Type: Movie
The year is 1961 and Ingmar Bergman is making a movie. While planted on the scene as apprentice to Bergman, Vilgot Sjöman (director, I Am Curious–Yellow, 1967), suggests to Swedish Television that they take the opportunity to record with the acclaimed director. In August, Sjöman and the television crew begin to capture what would become a comprehensive five-part documentary on the making of Winter Light, offering views of script development, set construction and lighting, rehearsals and editing, as well as intimate conversations with Bergman and members of his cast and crew. Footage from the film’s Swedish premiere delivers immediate audience reactions and the critics’ reviews the following day.