Yes, another of the great ones is gone. I am reminded of something that I posted on the Marxism-Thaxis list some years ago concerning Bergman. There I wrote: ---------- A good article posted by Charles since it among other things points out that Sweden has long harbored many people with pro-Nazi outlooks and that during WW II, Sweden although officially neutral, in fact sold Germany iron ore and other raw materials while also permitting German troops to cross Swedish territory. Furthermore I would add that during the 1930s pro-Nazi attitudes were widespread among the middle and upper classes of Sweden. I remember being shocked a few years back when I read Ingmar Bergman's autobiography *The Magic Lantern*. Bergman pointed out that sympathy for Nazi Germany was widespread in the millieux in which he grew up. Some of his school teachers were openly sympathetic to the "new Germany." One teacher used to spend his summers attending officers' meetings in Bavaria. Bergman's brother (who later on entered the diplomatic corps) was an organizer for the Swedish National Socialists. Ingmar himself at the age of 16 went to Germany as an exchange student. Since, he was a pastor's son, he was paired with a German boy who was also a pastor's son. This German pastor was an ardent Nazi who was as prone to use texts from *Mein Kampf* for his Sunday sermons as the Gospels. As an exchange student young Ingmar became an enthusiast for Hitler's regime. Bergman reports that his infatuation with Nazism lasted until after the end of WW II when finally the evidence of what the Nazis did to the Jews and others had become so strong as to become undeniable. Meanwhile Ingmar's family became close to the German family that he had boarded with. His sister later became engaged to the German student that Ingmar had been paired with. He became a pilot in the Luftwaffe and was shot down and killed at the beginning of WW II. Jim F. ---------- -- "B." wrote: What an incredible loss. I recently watched The Virgin Spring for the 1st time -- extremely powerful film, latecomer that I am. Honestly, didn't realize Bergman was still alive recently, but Virgin Spring left an indelible, unsettling mark on me. (Moreso than Seventh Seal!) -B. uvj@vsnl.com wrote: "BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Film director Bergman dies at 89 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6921960.stm Bergman was one of the foremost film-makers of the 20th Century ___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk