Photo courtesy Cinematograph AB/Sandrew Film & Teater (1982)
The Swedish North Star, continuously published since 1872. Volume 146 No. 18, January 01, 2018. Price per copy $3.50.
Carl Ekdahl (Börje Ahlstedt) speaking at the Christmas table of the Ekdahl family in a scene from Fanny & Alexander (1982), by Ingmar Bergman.
Photo: Bengt Wanselius
The Bergman Year
Time magazine’s March 14, 1960 cover featured Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman; an illustration with him in the forefront of a scene from his movie The Magician, released in the U.S. at the peak of his career in August 1959. He was 41 years old and well known around the world for his dark but powerfully creative portrayals of death and mortality, faith, betrayal and insanity. He went on to write and produce film, television, theater and radio until he retired in 2003. He died four years later at the age of 89; and 2018 is dedicated to him: The Year of Bergman 2018 celebrates the rich legacy of the great Ingmar Bergman who would have been 100 years old on July 14, 2018. / P9-13
Sweden cracks down on stealth advertising by influencers in social media / p4 Finland and Sweden pave the road for McDonald’s to go vegan / p4 Reminiscing on “discovering” Bergman /p10 How many other julbocks have met a similar gruesome fate? / p14
A ‘Swedish’ oasis
Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and northern Africa. Just four hours away by plane, its historic sites and Mediterranean beaches are a haven for Swedish vacationers seeking warmth during the winter. But it’s not just vacationing Swedes who love Malta; many have made Malta their permanent residence. / P16
Eat for life in the new year
It’s that time of year again—for resolutions. Whether or not we keep our resolutions – whatever they may be – most of us can always improve in keeping a healthier lifestyle. According to a new book out of Sweden, the ability to do what that requires depends on a person’s biology. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or find a routine that keeps you healthy and fit, dietary advice is often similar and includes a variety of things from the food pyramid – with a dose of some of Nordic cuisine’s favorite spices – which, it turns out (no surprise there!), are also among the healthiest. / P20