Gunnar Fischer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gunnar Fischer
|
|
|---|---|
Gunnar Fischer in 1985.
|
|
| Born | 18 November 1910 |
| Died | 11 June 2011 (aged 100) |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Occupation | Photography director, cinematographer |
| Children | Jens Fischer, Peter Fischer |
| Relatives | Elis Fischer (grandfather) |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Gunnar Fischer (born November 18, 1910 – died June 11, 2011) was a famous Swedish cinematographer. A cinematographer is the person in charge of the camera and lighting on a movie set. He worked with the well-known director Ingmar Bergman on many popular films. These include Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) and The Seventh Seal (1957). Besides his work behind the camera, Gunnar Fischer also directed short films. He wrote movie scripts and even published books for children!
Contents
Early Life
Gunnar Fischer was born in Ljungby, Sweden on November 18, 1910. His parents were Greta Lokrantz and Gunnar Fischer. His family later moved to Ronneby, where he spent most of his childhood. After his father passed away in 1931, the family moved to Stockholm.
Education and Early Career
Fischer first studied painting with an artist named Otte Sköld. But his path changed, and he joined the Swedish Navy for three years. His love for movies led him to Svensk Filmindustri in 1935. There, he learned about cinematography from Julius Jaenzon, who was a photographer for Victor Sjöström.
He worked as an assistant cameraman on 16 feature films. He became a main director of photography in 1942. This meant he was fully in charge of how the films looked.
Amazing Film Work
Gunnar Fischer was known for his work with directors like Ingmar Bergman and Carl Theodor Dreyer. He even worked with Walt Disney! In 2002, he received a special Guldbagge Award for his lifetime achievements in film. He also won the Ingmar Bergman Award in 1992.
His first time working with Bergman was on the film Port of Call (1948). They continued to work together until The Devil's Eye (1960). Fischer once said that he and Bergman weren't always "bowing servants" to each other. But he always admired Bergman greatly. He felt lucky to work with him.
His Unique Style
Film expert Peter Cowie said that Fischer was amazing at making films in monochrome. Monochrome means using only black, white, and shades of gray. He gave Bergman's movies a special "expressionist" look. This look had strong contrasts between light and dark. His style was inspired by the landscapes in films by Carl Theodore Dreyer and Victor Sjöström.
The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers says Fischer's style was part of a "Scandinavian tradition." They praised his close-up shots of faces. These shots showed the deep thoughts and feelings of the characters. Fischer was known for his striking images and cool lighting. He was the first cinematographer to beautifully show the harshness, feelings, and selfishness of Bergman's troubled characters.
The Seventh Seal
One of his most famous works was for Bergman's historical film The Seventh Seal. This movie showed a knight returning from the Crusades meeting the figure of Death. The film was shot in stark black and white. Its most famous scene shows the knight and Death playing chess on a dark, empty beach.
Fischer used a clever trick from theater to light this scene. He lit the shot so both characters stood out sharply against the dark, stormy waves. Some people said this image was impossible because it looked like there were two suns in the sky. Fischer simply said that if you can believe a knight plays chess with Death, then two suns shouldn't be a problem!
Personal Life
Fischer was married to Gull Söderblom. She was the sister of the popular actor Åke Söderblom. Gunnar Fischer lived to be 100 years old. He passed away on June 11, 2011. His grandfather was Elis Fischer, who was a chief executive of a company called Skandia.
Honours and Awards
- Guldbagge Honorary Award – 2002
Filmography
Biography
- Gunnar Fischer: Metamorphosis of Light (2021)
Selected Cinematography
- Just a Bugler (1938)
- Whalers (1939)
- It Is My Music (1942)
- Night in Port (1943)
- Don't Give Up (1947)
- Soldier's Reminder (1947)
- Private Bom (1948)
- Port of Call (1948)
- Thirst (1949)
- This Can't Happen Here (1950)
- To Joy (1950)
- Beef and the Banana (1951)
- Summer Interlude (1951)
- Skipper in Stormy Weather (1951)
- Secrets of Women (1952)
- Summer with Monika (1953)
- Hidden in the Fog (1953)
- Uncle's (1955)
- Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
- The Hard Game (1956)
- The Seventh Seal (1957)
- Encounters in the Twilight (1957)
- Wild Strawberries (1957)
- Playing on the Rainbow (1958)
- The Magician (1958)
- The Devil's Eye (1960)
- Siska (1962)
See also
In Spanish: Gunnar Fischer para niños
- List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)
