LIV..NORWEGIAN ICON OF CINEMA!

Norwegian great Actress-Filmmaker Liv Ullmann

 

One of the greatest European actresses, Norwegian beautiful Actress and Filmmaker Liv Ullmann's 82nd birthday just happened! She got fame with acting in renowned Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman's films!

Pretty Norwegian Actress Liv Ullmann & Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman

At teenage beautiful Liv first started acting on stage and one of her memorable roles was..Nora in Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House'! Then in 1957, she - made her film debut with Norwegian first female director Edith Carlmar's film 'Fjols til fjells' (Fools in the Mountains). After big success of this film, Liv acted in few more Norwegian films with different genres. In these inclues Nils Mulle's 'Tonny' (1952) & Wilfred Breistrand-Erik Folke's 'De Kalte ham Skarven' (1965).

In 1966 Liv Ullmann entered in Swedish Cinema with renowned film maker Ingmar Bergman's film 'Persona'. He wrote this film with Liv & another his great actress Bibi Andersson in mind. This psychological drama revolved around nurse & patient. And both intensely performed these roles. With this film, Liv became a part of Bergman's cinema. Then she worked with his favourite actor Max Von Sydow in psychological horror 'Vargtimmen' (1968).

Great Bibi Andersson & Liv Ullmann in Bergman's film 'Persona' (1966).

Then Liv portrayed great title role in Bergman's film 'The Passion of Anna' - (1969) for which she got admiration. Then with his period drama 'Cries and Whispers' (1972) she became internationally known actress. This was awarded in 'Cannes Film Festival' and Liv won Best Actress - award of 'New York Film Critic Circle'!

Liv Ullmann also acted on television with Bergman wrote-directed miniseries 'Scenes from a Marriage' (1973). For that she got National Critics award. Then she acted - Bergman's film 'Face to Face' (1976) was also a four-part mini-series on Swedish TV! After this she was in Bergman made English-German film 'The Serpent's Egg' (1977). Same time she continued her stage acting and appeared on Broadway with Eugene O'Neill's 'Anna Christie'!

  Liv Ullmann in Bergman's great 'The Passion of Anna' (1969)

Liv Ullmann acted with great artists in some notable films. In this includes..with English actor Laurence Olivier in renowned Richard Attenborough's war film 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977). 

And with beautiful legend of - Hollywood, Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman in 'Autumn Sonata' - (1978). Ingmar Bergman's this sensible film focused on the - relationship of celebrated classical pianist & her neglected daughter. Both the actresses naturally portrayed their characters & touched the hearts! This film won many national, international & critics awards!

Liv Ullmann & Ingrid Bergman in Ingmar Bergman's 'Autumn Sonata' (1978).

Liv Ullmann also worked with other filmmakers and in different languages films. In these - includes Terence Young's French-Italian film 'Cold Sweat' (1970), Michael Anderson's British film 'Pope Joan' (1972) & Milton Katselas' American romantic comedy '40 Carates' (1973). And she won international 'Best Actress' awards for two films includes Mauro Bolognini's Italian film 'Farewell Moscow' (1987) and Jeanine Meerapfel's Argentine-German film 'The Girlfriend' (1988).

Actress Liv Ullmann as director for Danish film 'Sofie' ( 1992)

In 1992, Liv Ullmann became director with Danish film 'Sofie' which was based on the novel by Henri Nathansen. This film was very successful and she got - international recognition as.. filmmaker also! Then she wrote-directed Norwegian film 'Kristin Lavransdatter' (1995). After that she made two films on Ingmar Bergman's scripts includes.. 'Private Confessions' (1996) & 'Faithless' (2000). All her films were screened in prestigious international film festivals like 'Cannes', 'Chicago' & Montreal where she won awards!

In 2003, Liv Ullmann acted in Bergman's last film 'Saraband' which was a sequel of his mini-tv-series 'Scenes from a Marriage'! They did 10 films together. She was like his muse; that's why documentary made on them 'Liv & Ingmar' (2012). Their daughter Linn - Ullmann is journalist & author!

In 2014, Liv Ullmann wrote-directed last film 'Miss Julie'. Notable that, her last acted film was 'Remake me'! She won many awards in her career..includes 'Golden Globe', 'Ibsen Centennial Commemoration Award' & our 'International Indian Film Academy Award for Outstanding Contribution to International Cinema'!

Best wishes to this, one of my favourite actresses of world cinema!!

- Manoj Kulkarni