Bergmans response was characteristically colorful.
What the hell is this?
What do you mean?
‘Faithless’Johan Paulin.
The pic played in competition that year in Cannes and was directed by Bergmans ex-wife, actress Liv Ullmann.
The six-episode drama series unravels across two time periods.
Endre returns to theFaithlessstory after starring in the original Bergman edition.
Miso Film
Also starring is German-Swedish actor August Wittgenstein(The Crown, Das Boot, Kudamm).
Below, Alfredson and Johnsen discuss their collaboration and the unique pressure of adapting Bergman as Scandinavian filmmakers.
DEADLINE:Tomas, where are you with the project right now?
TOMAS ALFREDSON:We have worked on this together for two years.
We shot for almost 100 days.
We shot the final parts two or three weeks ago.
So, were at the beginning of the edit.
DEADLINE:100 days is a long time.
Is that an unusual length for a limited series?
ALFREDSON:Its normal but demanding for one almost old director.
Directing television is a marathon.
So its a passion project.
Then I thought, I would love to attempt the story with my vision.
So I wrote him [Ingmar Bergman] a letter.
What do you mean?.
He liked the initial idea, and we had conversations about it.
After a while, he changed his mind and started making trouble.
They introduced me to Sara, we met, and she wrote a first draft that was mind-blowing.
To be clear, its a very free interpretation of the old script.
It has all the main beats and the main characters, but this is new.
Sara has made a fantastic take on it without losing the initial DNA.
DEADLINE:Sara, how did you approach adapting Bergmans text?
SARA JOHNSEN:We agreed quite early that we wanted to keep all the plot points in the text.
I was reading Bergmans text, and using that as inspiration.
We wanted to keep the characters, but we wanted to make it much bigger.
So, in a way, the story fits very well into television.
Thats what is so great about television.
Feature films are much harsher.
Television is a freer art form.
DEADLINE:Have either of you spoken with Liv Ullmann throughout the process?
ALFREDSON:No, I havent.
I hope she likes the idea that we are making a reinterpretation.
She has done her version of it.
And this is a different one, but I never reached out.
Swedish Television has maybe spoken to her, but I hope shes flattered.
DEADLINE:Lena Endre returns after starring in Bergmans original film.
Why did you decide to bring her back?
ALFREDSON:To clarify, in the original version, the character Lena plays is a ghost.
She has died and materializes in front of this older gentleman, David.
In Saras version, she has not died.
She is now 74 and alive, which makes the character more autonomous.
Lena is one of the finest actresses in Scandinavia from her generation.
She is absolutely fantastic.
She was very happy to come along.
DEADLINE:Ingmar Bergman is still a massive presence in world cinema, particularly in Sweden and Scandinavia.
Were either of you apprehensive about adapting his work?
ALFREDSON:It is scary, but you cant create great storytelling while scared.
You must come to a point where you say to yourself: This is mine now.
Im gonna take full responsibility here.
But now it feels as if we have made this into our own.
We also went to Faro where he lived and had a close relationship with the Bergman centre.
Tomas also has a very good relationship with his son, Ingmar Bergman Jr.
So we kept a very respectful approach to the material.
DEADLINE: When can we expect to see Faithless on TV screens?
ALFREDSON:Early next year is the plan.
I havent heard of any firm dates, but that is the ambition.
