Light Keeps Me Company

Released Feb 5, 2000

1h 18m

Documentary

List

83%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this documentary, Carl-Gustaf Nykvist paints a loving portrayal of his father, Sven, a renowned cinematographer. As a young man in Sweden, Nykvist makes a career shooting nature films and working on small productions. He rises to prominence in the 1950s when he begins a collaboration with Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish auteur. Interviews with Bergman, Woody Allen and actresses like Susan Sarandon and Gena Rowlands cement his legend, while the elder Nykvist's voice narrates his own story.

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Gunnar Rehlin

Variety

Essential viewing for film buffs -- and anyone interested in the making of quality movies.

Jul 31, 2007

Full Review

Fred Camper

Chicago Reader

A loving but unstinting portrait of longtime Ingmar Bergman cinematographer Sven Nyqvist.

Jul 31, 2007

Full Review

Bob Graham

San Francisco Chronicle

[An] affectionate portrait of Swedish cinematographer Sven Nykvist

Rated: 3/4

Jan 31, 2002

Full Review

Michael Szymanski

International Press Academy

Rated: 2/5

Oct 6, 2005

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

You simply celebrate the man's life, rather than exploring it or analyzing it.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 31, 2002

Full Review

Jamie Gillies

Apollo Guide

A reserved, quiet, but friendly man as this documentary, made by his son, demonstrates, Nykvist has gradually become as important as Bergman to Swedish film.

Rated: 79/100

Jan 31, 2002

Full Review

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Audience Member

A must see. Insightful look at the greatest cinematographer.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

walter m

[font=Century Gothic][color=red]"Mr. Death" is an Errol Morris documentary about Fred Leuchter. Mr. Leuchter is an engineer by trade who specialized in building and repairing capital punishment devices(gallows, gas chamber, lethal injection, electric chair, etc) for various states. He is a proponent of the death penalty. What he is seeking to do is to create humane and safe executions.(A humane execution being an oxymoron if there ever was one...) I have to admit I learned quite a bit about executions in this documentary and that there is much more involved than just flipping a switch. [/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000]The second part of the documentary shows off Leuchter's lack of ethical thinking to full effect. He went to Auschwitz on behalf of a Holocaust denier(I'm being polite when I use that term), so that he could find proof that there were no gas chambers there.(It is clearly historical fact that there were gas chambers there.) As testified by an expert on the Holocaust, Leuchter is ill-equipped for the task. [/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000]At best, Leuchter never considers what the ramifications his research will have. At worst, he is a full participant in the cause of Holocaust denial which is clearly wrong and hateful. Leuchter goes from something of an eccentric to being a monster in the viewer's eyes.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#ff0000][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=black][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=black]"Light Keeps Me Company" is a loving tribute to legendary cinematographer, Sven Nykvist, directed by his son, Carl-Gustav Nykvist. The documentary consists of interviews with many of his collaborators including Ingmar Bergman, Liv Ullman, Susan Sarandon, and Woody Allen, along with his fellow cinematographers. I thought this film filled in some of the blanks of his life including personal details.(Although, I would have felt better if they had not mentioned Nykvist's affair with Mia Farrow.) Nykvist retired due to a condition called aphasia which limits his communication skills. I would have liked to have gotten more of his input on the films he helped to make.[/color][/font]

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A passionate genius and probably a pretty cool guy to have a beer with too.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

En dokumentar-fabel om en av verdens mest ettertraktede filmfotografer: Sven Nykvist!!! Fantastisk!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting and enjoyable to watch but not particularly groundbreaking as documentaries go. More of an homage than a bio. Could have shown more of his work and less photo montages of the man himself . . . but after all, his son made it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Some sublime moments (mostly having to do with Ingmar Bergman) make this somewhat bland and superficial documentary worthwhile. A bit shapeless.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Carl-Gustav Nykvist

Director

Woody Allen

Self

Bibi Andersson

Self

Harriet Andersson

Self

Richard Attenborough

Self

Pernilla August

Self

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Synopsis

In this documentary, Carl-Gustaf Nykvist paints a loving portrayal of his father, Sven, a renowned cinematographer. As a young man in Sweden, Nykvist makes a career shooting nature films and working on small productions. He rises to prominence in the 1950s when he begins a collaboration with Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish auteur. Interviews with Bergman, Woody Allen and actresses like Susan Sarandon and Gena Rowlands cement his legend, while the elder Nykvist's voice narrates his own story.

Director: Carl-Gustav Nykvist
Screenwriter: Michal Leszczylowski, Carl-Gustav Nykvist, Gudrun Nykvist
Distributor: First Run
Production Co: Nordisk Film, Sandrews, SVT Drama, Svensk Filmindustri (SF) AB, Beluga Film
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 17, 2020
Runtime: 1h 18m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR