Stellan Skarsgårdhad some harsh words aboutIngmar Bergman, often considered one of the greatest directors of the 20th century. Ingmar Bergman directed iconic and critically acclaimed films likeThe Seventh Seal,Wild Strawberries, andPersona, just to name a few. Skarsgård worked with Bergman on the 1983 Swedish TV production of the playHustruskolan.
Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, viaVariety, Skarsgård revealed he did not have a great time working with Ingmar Bergman, saying, “My complicated relationship with Bergman has to do with him not being a very nice guy. He was a nice director, but you’re able to still denounce a person as an a–hole. Caravaggio was probably an a–hole as well, but he did great paintings.” Skarsgård brought up Bergman’s own personal politics, mentioning the director’s past ties to the Nazi party. The Swedish actor said:
“Bergman was manipulative. He was a Nazi during the war and the only person I know who cried when Hitler died. We kept excusing him, but I have a feeling he had a very weird outlook on other people. [He thought] some people were not worthy. You felt it when he was manipulating others. He wasn’t nice.”
The Best Ingmar Bergman Movies, Ranked
Ingmar Bergman was one of the greatest artists in the history of cinema. Let’s look at the best films of the director.
Bergman’s Nazi Ties
Stellan Skarsgård claims that Bergman’s ties to the Nazi party are nothing new. In 1999,Bergman recounted staying in Germanywhen he was 16 as a foster student with a family who was part of the Nazi Party. Bergman said he attended a Nazi rally and saw Hitler speak, describing Hitler as “charismatic” and said the Nazi Party seemed “fun and youthful.” Berman once said, “For many years, I was on Hitler’s side, delighted by his success and saddened by his defeats.” Delighted by Hitler’s successes certainly feels gross considering the Holocaust and the attempted genocide that resulted in the death of six million Jewish people. Supposedly, it was not until after the war ended and Bergman saw the concentration camps that he started to change his opinion, though for many, that certainly is far too late to gain any respect.
Bergman passed away on July 26, 2025, four years after his final filmSarabandwas released. He left behind a complex legacy, one filled with incrediblefilms that are often cited as the greatest movies of all time, but also deeply troubling personal beliefs that, despite having evolved, certainly seem disturbing to have held at some point. It makes discussing the great director’s work difficult, but it is an essential context to have when speaking about his body of work, as it does not detract from the individual films but does illuminate some idea of the man behind them.
Stellan Skarsgård, meanwhile, has certainly hadone of the most prosperous careers an actor can ask forfollowing working with Bergman. He is involved in some of the most iconic films of all time that show his range as an actor, fromGood Will HuntingtoPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s ChesttoMamma MiaandDogville. Stellan Skarsgård is now part of both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and theStar Warsuniverse, with his role as Luthen onAndorearning him praise for a potential Emmy nomination. Coupled with his performance at the Cannes Film Festival, selectedSentimental Valueearning potential Best Actor buzz at the Academy Awards, 2025 could be the year Stellan Skarsgård finally gets the recognition he deserves.
Source:Variety
