
Directing
Bo Widerberg
Born 1930-06-08 · Malmö, Sweden
Bo Widerberg, (June 8, 1930 – May 1, 1997) was a Swedish film director, writer, editor and actor. He was born Bo Gunnar Widerberg in Malmö, Skåne län, Sweden. He died in Ängelholm, Skåne län, Sweden of stomach cancer. Widerberg was the director of films such as Raven's End (1963), Elvira Madigan (1967), Ådalen 31 (1969), Joe Hill (1971), Fimpen (1974), The Man on the Roof (1976), Victoria (1979), The Man from Majorca (1984), The Serpent's Way (1986) and All Things Fair (1995). He won a Silver Bear prize in Berlin for All things fair and a Special Grand Jury Prize at Cannes Festival for Ådalen 31. Raven's End, Ådalen 31 and All things fair all received a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar Nomination Bo Widerberg's vision of Swedish cinema parted radically with its contemporary form. He called for a greater political significance and more progressive story telling. Bergman being the leading figure of Swedish cinema, was not his ideal at all, although he recognized his position: "Nor me or my friends saw very much in him. We didn't find the issue of god's existence that damn important. But it's safe to say you'd be putting yourself in a bad position if you're trying to slit the throat of the father figure before your own debut." In his book A vision of Swedish cinema he concluded that Ingmar Bergman's films almost exclusively dealt with issues directed upwards, but more seldom in sideways, between people. According to Widerberg, Bergman made vertical films when the need for horizontal ones was most dire. On the other hand, Widerberg wanted film to be a tool of the social sciences, a kind of sociological report. Description above from the Wikipedia article Bo Widerberg, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Acting credits
7.1When an inspector is murdered in hospital, the investigation led by Detective Martin Beck uncovers reports of misconduct and possibly revenge.
Man on the Roof
1976
NRFilmed during the first ever Guldbaggen (golden scarab) awards, it was edited and developed that night and shown for the first time to the guests at the after party.
Dance Around the Guldbaggen
1964
8.0The documentary chronicles Bo Widerberg's journey from 1960s Malmö, where he worked as a writer and film critic, to his successes as a director in Stockholm and international adventures in Cannes and New York. The film also explores the personal costs of his artistic vision and how his pursuit of life and authenticity affected both himself and those around him.
Being Bo Widerberg
2025
5.0Bo Widerberg talks with actress Vanessa Redgrave about giving birth without painkillers and the Vietnam War.
A Mother with Two Children Expecting Her Third
1970
6.7A tribute and portrait of the Swedish filmmaker Bo Widerberg. Thommy Berggren presents slices and comments on Widerberg.
Life at Any Cost
1998
NRDirector Jan Troell films the process of making Bo Widerberg's last film 'Lust och fägring stor' ('All Things Fair'). The footage was compiled into this documentary by Stefan Nylén and Tomas Ehrnborg in 2015.
Bo Widerberg regisserar
2015
7.1Documentary film about the protests against the 1968 Davis Cup tennis match between Sweden and Rhodesia, in Båstad, Sweden. In a series of interviews, demonstrators and members of the Swedish government give their views on sport, politics and civil disobedience.
The White Game
1968
NRDocumentary which follows Bo Widerberg during the making of 'Man on the Roof', 'The Butt' and a failed theater production.
Bo Widerberg
1977
NRPerformances and an interview with the musician Mikael Wiehe.
Mikael Wiehe: Tre nya och en som lever kvar
1989
The film was recorded during the filming of Bo Widerberg's "Kärlek 65".
Widerberg 65
1965
NRInterviews with and about Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt interspersed with clips from his old performances. Recorded to celebrate his 70th birthday, which would be his last.
Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt 70 år
1991
NRFilms the process of making Bo Widerberg's film "Death of a Salesman'.
Birth of a Salesman
1979
4.8A portrait of four generation Widerberg's.
Alla är äldre än jag
2012
Behind the camera
6.5In 1943 Malmö, 15-year-old Stig is attracted to his teacher Viola, 22 years his senior, who, drawn to his youth and innocence, believes the lad is a God-sent relief from her miserable marriage to a drunken, unfaithful lout.
All Things Fair
1995
6.5In 1943 Malmö, 15-year-old Stig is attracted to his teacher Viola, 22 years his senior, who, drawn to his youth and innocence, believes the lad is a God-sent relief from her miserable marriage to a drunken, unfaithful lout.
All Things Fair
1995
7.1When an inspector is murdered in hospital, the investigation led by Detective Martin Beck uncovers reports of misconduct and possibly revenge.
Man on the Roof
1976
7.1When an inspector is murdered in hospital, the investigation led by Detective Martin Beck uncovers reports of misconduct and possibly revenge.
Man on the Roof
1976
7.0In 1936, aspiring writer Anders, along with his friend Sixten, is desperate to escape his working-class upbringing. Anders' father is an unemployed alcoholic and his mother slaves away at a laundry to support the family. A ray of hope comes Anders' way when he finishes his first novel and submits it to a publisher. But after his girlfriend gets pregnant, his future dims before his eyes once more.
Raven's End
1963
7.0In 1936, aspiring writer Anders, along with his friend Sixten, is desperate to escape his working-class upbringing. Anders' father is an unemployed alcoholic and his mother slaves away at a laundry to support the family. A ray of hope comes Anders' way when he finishes his first novel and submits it to a publisher. But after his girlfriend gets pregnant, his future dims before his eyes once more.
Raven's End
1963
7.0Famous acrobat Elvira Madigan meets Sixten Sparre, a married Swedish officer with two children. They decide to elope, but since Sparre deserted the army, he's unemployable and the couple encounter various hardships.
Elvira Madigan
1967
7.0Famous acrobat Elvira Madigan meets Sixten Sparre, a married Swedish officer with two children. They decide to elope, but since Sparre deserted the army, he's unemployable and the couple encounter various hardships.
Elvira Madigan
1967
5.8A salesman and his son sexually abuse several generations of an indigent family's women as payment for debt. Janni must see his mother, sister, niece and wife all being exploited, and the family grow with the abuser's kids.
The Serpent's Way
1986
5.8A salesman and his son sexually abuse several generations of an indigent family's women as payment for debt. Janni must see his mother, sister, niece and wife all being exploited, and the family grow with the abuser's kids.
The Serpent's Way
1986
6.6On 13 December (St Lucy's Day), a bandit daringly robs a crowded post office. Within a fortnight, two witnesses are dead. Vice cops Johansson and Jarnebring, the first to the scene of the crime, pursue all leads and identify a suspect, an arrogant member of the elite secret police, assigned to guard the country's Minister of Justice. Just as they think they've tightened the noose around the suspect, loose ends appear, witnesses lose certainty, alibis arise, and even the cops doubt what they've seen. Who's protecting the suspect and why?
The Man from Majorca
1984
6.6On 13 December (St Lucy's Day), a bandit daringly robs a crowded post office. Within a fortnight, two witnesses are dead. Vice cops Johansson and Jarnebring, the first to the scene of the crime, pursue all leads and identify a suspect, an arrogant member of the elite secret police, assigned to guard the country's Minister of Justice. Just as they think they've tightened the noose around the suspect, loose ends appear, witnesses lose certainty, alibis arise, and even the cops doubt what they've seen. Who's protecting the suspect and why?
The Man from Majorca
1984
5.96-year-old Johan (nicknamed 'Fimpen') loves football. One day, his talents are discovered, and it doesn't take long before Fimpen gets to travel around with the national team. Fimpen becomes an idol and the media wants a piece of him all the time. It gets hard to catch up in school.
Stubby
1974
5.96-year-old Johan (nicknamed 'Fimpen') loves football. One day, his talents are discovered, and it doesn't take long before Fimpen gets to travel around with the national team. Fimpen becomes an idol and the media wants a piece of him all the time. It gets hard to catch up in school.
Stubby
1974
5.96-year-old Johan (nicknamed 'Fimpen') loves football. One day, his talents are discovered, and it doesn't take long before Fimpen gets to travel around with the national team. Fimpen becomes an idol and the media wants a piece of him all the time. It gets hard to catch up in school.
Stubby
1974
6.1In this absurdist comedy Roland Jung is a young man who wants to write, but when he is in desperate need of money, he has to take a job at an advertising agency in Stockholm. He lands on the department for cosmetics and especially deodorant preparations. He is asked by the agency to do market research among the youth to determine their reaction to a new drug against pimples.
Come on Roland!
1966
6.1In this absurdist comedy Roland Jung is a young man who wants to write, but when he is in desperate need of money, he has to take a job at an advertising agency in Stockholm. He lands on the department for cosmetics and especially deodorant preparations. He is asked by the agency to do market research among the youth to determine their reaction to a new drug against pimples.
Come on Roland!
1966
6.6A film about the 1931 Ådalen shootings, in which Swedish military forces opened fire against labour demonstrators in the Swedish sawmill district of Ådalen.
Adalen 31
1969
6.6A film about the 1931 Ådalen shootings, in which Swedish military forces opened fire against labour demonstrators in the Swedish sawmill district of Ådalen.
Adalen 31
1969
6.5Willy Loman, an aging, failing salesman, struggles to accept reality and his failure to achieve the American Dream.
Death of a Salesman
1979
6.5Willy Loman, an aging, failing salesman, struggles to accept reality and his failure to achieve the American Dream.
Death of a Salesman
1979
6.5A young Swedish boy tries to enjoy his birthday with his mother in the maternity ward and his father having forgotten about the occasion.
The Boy and the Kite
1962
6.5A young Swedish boy tries to enjoy his birthday with his mother in the maternity ward and his father having forgotten about the occasion.
The Boy and the Kite
1962
6.3A documentary that chronicles the life of South African leader Nelson Mandela. Mandela is probably best known for his 27 years of imprisonment, and for bringing an end to apartheid. But this film also sheds light on the little-known early period of Mandela's life.
Mandela
1996