INGMAR BERGMAN DIES AT 89
Ingmar Bergman, the director with whom Max has been most associated, has died in Sweden at the age of 89. His landmark contribution to modern cinema has been marked by the tributes paid to him from around the world. Max himself has described his "infinite gratitude" not only for the professional opportunities but also "the immense privilege to have been his friend." As an actor, he said, "no one counted as much for me as Ingmar Bergman."
More: www.ingmarbergman.se
After another year of shamefully neglecting my duties as webmaster of the Max von Sydow Shrine, I must first apologise to anyone who has taken the trouble to visit the site. A steady trickle of e-mails and guestbook signitures informs me that the site still serves a modest role for the fans of the great Max von Sydow.
Secondly, a very happy birthday to Max himself, who turns 78 this year and shows absolutely no sign of slowing down; with no fewer than four films in the pipeline for the coming two years, I'm sure we can expect to see a resurgence of Mr. von Sydow's commanding counternance on the big screen. Without predicting too wildly, I suggest that Max's biggest popular presence will be in 'Rush Hour 3' - certainly one of the biggest budget pieces he has ever worked in, and one that will introduce him to a younger generation of film-goers. 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' promises to be an art-house oriented adaptation of a wonderful book - and will be Max's first such role in his adopted home, France. The biggest impact will doubtless be felt by 'Emotional Arithmetic' - a moving story with a quality cast - all the hallmarks of an Oscar hopeful (not that we at the Shrine put much stock by the Academy...) and one which ran it close for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Festival.
For more information on Max's latest projects, I can do no better than to direct you to the IMDB, until such time as I get my act together and do some research of my own.
My warmest wishes to all Max's fans, and also - once again - to Max himself, and his wife, who celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary this month.
Campbell,
April 2007.
For more pictures and information visit the Festival's website
The CAPRI HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL honoured Max on the 29th of December 2005 with the Capri-Lete Legend award for his outstanding contribution to film. This from the festival's website:
"Swedish actor Max von Sydow will receive the Capri-Lete Legend Award on December 29 for his extraordinary career working with some of the most popular directors of all time, including Ingmar Bergman, Steven Spielberg,
William Friedkin, Woody Allen, Dario Argento and many others.
The honor will be presented as part of the Capri, Hollywood – Kimbo International Film Festival being held December 27 through January 2. It comes during a special period in von Sydow’s career that finds him, at the age of 76, on camera in Tunisia playing the role of the Roman emperor Tiberius in Giulio Base’s The Inquiry, a remake of Damiano Damiani’s film of the same name. The film examines the government of Rome at the time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The cast also includes F. Murray Abraham, Daniele Liotti and Monica Cruz.
"The Capri Lete Legend Award to Max von Sydow is an homage to the extraordinary career of the actor, and also to Sweden and the great Swedish cinema, to which the Isle of Capri is historically tied in a relationship of mutual love demonstrated by the permanence of the Swedish Consulate in the Villa Axel Muthe of Anacapri," said Costanzo De Angelis, counsel to Capri in the World Institute, the non-profit association that has organized the festival since its beginning in 1995."
On the 9th of July 2005 French culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres awarded Max the Commander in the Order des Arts et des Lettres at Avignon University. Max also delivered an acting masterclass at the university.
Max attended the 25th Moscow Film Festival as a special guest in July 2003. The Moscow Times reports than when Max & Festival Head Nikita Mikhalkov met, they greeted each other by falling to their knees in mutual homage! Check out the official site .
Max has leant his voice to a bizarre French short entitled 'Freakish'. Written and directed by Max's stepson Cedric Brelet von Sydow and his friend Jean, it follows their crazy adventures but can only be seen on the internet. Max is credited as Xam von Rami. Check it out the film and a couple of production shots here! (Thanks to Ced & Jean!)
MAX MISSES OUT ON GOLDEN SATURN AWARD
Max has lost out on the Best Supporting Actor prize for 'Minority Report' having been nominated by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Read more
BILLE AUGUST TO DIRECT HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON BIOPIC
Danish film director Bille August has received the 2003 Hans Christian Andersen Prize. The four million kroner (about $571,430) prize was awarded to August, who has directed Max in Pelle the Conqueror (1987), The Best Intentions (1992) and Jerusalem (1996). Could we see the successful pairing meet up once more? Watch this space...
STELLAN SKARSGARD INTERVIEW
Fellow Swede, Stellan Skarsgard (co-star of 'The Ox'), has told Sci Fi Wire that he has been having dreams about Max. The actor, who plays Father Merrin in the upcoming Exorcist prequel, is apparently quite nervous about taking over from his legendary countryman. Read the whole interview here
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