How can our theatre stage a particular Bergman play?

If you wish to mount a Bergman play, you should contact his agent, Ulla Åberg, at the Dramaten (The Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden) with a request. If approved, and after paying the copyright fee (which is usually between 5.000 and 15.000 SEK, or $650-$2000 US), you will receive a certificate along with an official copy of the play itself. Most importantly, Bergman doesn't want any of his films to be produced for the theatre. The exception is Scenes from a Marriage, which is also available as a stage play.

Which Bergman films would you recommend?

We hope that the films' summary, reviews and commentary sections will give you a good idea of what each film is about and what its critical reputation may be. As to our own recommendations, please bear in mind that we are not Bergman "experts"–just fans! But as a short-hand guide, here are our picks for the "essential" Bergman:

Where can I find videos of Bergman's films?

For those located outside of DVD Region 2 (Europe), we would recommend getting a multi-region DVD player so that you can take advantage of the availability of titles not yet released in your region. For example, Tartan Video in the UK has issued many Bergman films of the 1940s and 1950s that are not currently available elsewhere. (Before purchasing DVDs from other regions, please be sure to check product details for specific language requirements–e.g. English subtitles!) As to some of the rarer Bergman titles, it might be worth tracking them down in old VHS versions, as it could be a long wait for proper DVD releases...but keep checking your preferred retailers and online merchants!