For those who are interested in rites of initiation in films, here's the title
of a book I have written on the subject: "Ingmar Bergman - The Initiation of an
Artist", Paris/Montreal, L'Harmattan, 2000 (the original title in french
is "Ingmar Bergman - L'Initiation d'un artiste").
The analysis of 'Fanny and Alexander' (on which he book is focused) describes
the destiny of a boy whose relationship to words and images reach the point
where he is capable of transforming real life thanks to his dreams: see for
instance the scene with Ismael in the course of which Vergerus, the dreadful
father-in-law, is killed by Alexander's imagination.
Thus, Ismael appears to be the master of the rite of iniation which enables
Alexander to become an artist.
Ludovic CORTADE
University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
Paris, France.
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