Fanny and Alexander

Mother?

Alexander... What is it?

Would you like

to play cards before dinner?

FANNY AND ALEXANDER

This will be

our forty-third Christmas together.

- My dear Ester, is that true?

- Yes, 43 Christmases.

- Well, well, who'd have thought it?

- Yes, it's strange.

Dear Ester...

- Good evening, Mrs Ekdahl.

- Good evening, girls.

Alida, you may

go in to the other girls.

- Why are you so sullen?

- I'm not sullen.

- You're sullen every Christmas.

- I don't know what you mean.

You're sullen, and that's that!

Old bitch...

"Worthy Joseph, do not fear

Thy angel is thee ever near

I come in haste to bring thee word

From thy creator and thy God

Mary and the child now wake

And quickly into safety take

Herod with his murdering hand

Threatens every man-child

in this land

All this I have noted well

And shall do as you foretell

Praised be God upon his throne

Who thus protects my only son

Thus, good people, ends our play

It all ends well this holy day

The son of God, saved from the sword

Is our Saviour, Christ, the Lord

We know that in his mercy mild

He guards

every woman, man and child

A time of joyous Christmas cheer

We wish to all, both far and near

Let no one into darkness fall

A Merry Christmas one and all!"

By tradition, the Ekdahl family treats

the company to a Christmas party.

The guests are rather a mixed lot,

quite different than the class

of people who dine here.

Nevertheless, refrain from displays

of priggishness and disapproval.

I expect a spirit of generosity,

warmth, and helpfulness.

Have I made myself clear?

Alma and Petra, take the hamper.

I'll take the punch bowl.

Are we ready?

Forward march!

Come, Carlchen. We mustn't

disappoint Mama again and be late.

Come along...

Hurry up now. Come on.

Come with me...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Oscar!

Please, help yourselves!

Go ahead... Don't be shy!

My dear friends...

For twenty-two years,

in the capacity of theatre manager,

I have stood before you

and held a Christmas speech.

In spite of my lack of talent...

...in that department.

Particularly

when compared to my father,

who was brilliant at making speeches.

And who...

My sole talent,

if you can call it a talent in my case,

is that I love this little world.

The little world inside

the thick walls of this playhouse.

And I'm fond of the people

who work in this little world.

The outside world is bigger,

and occasionally this little world

succeeds in reflecting the bigger one.

Helping us to understand it

a little bit better.

Or perhaps we give

the people who come here

the opportunity

to forget it for a while...

...for a brief second or two.

A few brief seconds where they can

forget the harsh world out there.

Our theatre is a little...

...a small space filled

with orderliness, conscientiousness...

...and love.

I really don't know why I feel...

...so comically solemn this evening.

When you have

given Ismael his dinner,

put out the lights in the shop

and lock the door.

I have the key with me.

- Good night, Aron.

- Good night, Uncle Isak.

Oh, Isak...

Merry Christmas.

I can't imagine where everyone is,

they should have been here ages ago.

I expect Oscar

is making a long, dull speech.

- I think I can hear them out front.

- Ester, bring me my furs.

Here comes my family.

Merry Christmas, Grandmama.

Merry Christmas.

Dear Mama, you look radiant.

Lovely...

What is it, my sweet?

Aunt Emma, how nice to see you.

Welcome, Aunt Emma.

The only question

is where Carl and Lydia could be.

- Maybe they mistook the hour.

- Christmas dinner is always at 4:30.

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