2008 Woodie Awards
Winter term gets a little "Sweder"
Sarah Shaikh
Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: Arts
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The Ingmar Bergman film series sponsored by Brainerd Commons, the Scandinavian Student Organization and the Film and Media Culture Program has brought the best of Swedish Culture and Film into a month long adventure. The series began on January 6 with one of Bergman's most famous films, "Summer With Monika", and has been a huge success.
Ingmar Bergman is one of the most influential contributors to modern cinema. His work has won numerous awards and accolades from the international film community. The series is the brain child of Astri von Arbin Ahlander, a senior film major and a former co-president of the Scandinavian Student Organization. Since she arrived at Middlebury three years ago, von Arbin Ahlander has continually strived to bring Swedish culture to campus. She has always wanted to expose Middlebury to one of the great Swedish film personas. "I could not graduate without having a tribute to Bergman," said von Arbin Ahlander.
Filip Odquist '07, president of the Scandinavian Student Organization and a sponsor of the month long event, affirmed the importance of von Arbin Ahlander's efforts. "The Scandinavian Students Organization sponsored the Bergman film series in the interest of promoting a different facet of Swedish culture. While most students recognize trademarks such as IKEA, H&M and Absolut Vodka, few know of Sweden's rich cinematic history and culture. The organization hopes that the film series sparks both an interest in Swedish Cinema and a curiosity of Scandinavian culture." Fellow Swede and co-president Sebastian Paulsson '09.5 reiterated this point. "I think it is a great opportunity for other students at Middlebury College to see some of the great things Sweden has to offer in the realm of film and obviously Ingmar Bergman is one of the most influential people in that realm," stated Paulsson.
When she initially proposed the series, von Arbin Ahlander met with much skepticism. "Many were worried that attendance at the screening would be sparse during J-term," said von Arbin Ahlander. Yet, since the inaugural screening at the beginning of the term, all the screenings have been well attended by a combination of students, faculty and members of the wider Middlebury community.
Ingmar Bergman is one of the most influential contributors to modern cinema. His work has won numerous awards and accolades from the international film community. The series is the brain child of Astri von Arbin Ahlander, a senior film major and a former co-president of the Scandinavian Student Organization. Since she arrived at Middlebury three years ago, von Arbin Ahlander has continually strived to bring Swedish culture to campus. She has always wanted to expose Middlebury to one of the great Swedish film personas. "I could not graduate without having a tribute to Bergman," said von Arbin Ahlander.
Filip Odquist '07, president of the Scandinavian Student Organization and a sponsor of the month long event, affirmed the importance of von Arbin Ahlander's efforts. "The Scandinavian Students Organization sponsored the Bergman film series in the interest of promoting a different facet of Swedish culture. While most students recognize trademarks such as IKEA, H&M and Absolut Vodka, few know of Sweden's rich cinematic history and culture. The organization hopes that the film series sparks both an interest in Swedish Cinema and a curiosity of Scandinavian culture." Fellow Swede and co-president Sebastian Paulsson '09.5 reiterated this point. "I think it is a great opportunity for other students at Middlebury College to see some of the great things Sweden has to offer in the realm of film and obviously Ingmar Bergman is one of the most influential people in that realm," stated Paulsson.
When she initially proposed the series, von Arbin Ahlander met with much skepticism. "Many were worried that attendance at the screening would be sparse during J-term," said von Arbin Ahlander. Yet, since the inaugural screening at the beginning of the term, all the screenings have been well attended by a combination of students, faculty and members of the wider Middlebury community.
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