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Light Keeps Me Company

Released Feb 5, 2000 1h 18m Documentary List
83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
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.

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (8) audience reviews
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 Read all reviews
Light Keeps Me Company

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Carl-Gustav Nykvist, Gudrun 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