Vilgot Sjöman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vilgot Sjöman
Vilgot Sjöman with Lena Nyman during the production of I Am Curious (Yellow) from 1967.
Born	David Harald Vilgot Sjöman (1924-12-02)2 December 1924 Stockholm, Sweden
Died	9 April 2006(2006-04-09) (aged 81) Stockholm, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation	Writer, film director
Years active	1948–2004
Spouse(s)	Kristina Hasselgren ​ (m. 1955⁠–⁠1960)​ Lotta Sjöman ​ (m. 1969)​

David Harald Vilgot Sjöman (born December 2, 1924 – died April 9, 2006) was a Swedish writer and film director. He was famous for directing movies like 491 (1964), I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967), and I Am Curious (Blue) (1968). These films were important and talked about a lot.

Vilgot Sjöman's Early Life and Education

Vilgot Sjöman was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His family was a working-class family. His father, Anders W. Sjöman, was a builder. His mother's name was Mandis Pettersson.

When he was 15, Sjöman started working for a cereal company. But he kept studying and passed his studentexamen in 1945. After that, he went to Stockholm University. He also worked in a prison for a while. During this time, he wrote plays, but they were not performed.

Vilgot Sjöman's First Steps in Film

One of Sjöman's plays became his first novel, The Teacher (1955). This book was later made into a film called Defiance in 1952.

In 1956, Sjöman received a special scholarship. He used it to study film at UCLA in the United States. While there, he worked with director George Seaton. He helped with the film The Proud and Profane.

Sjöman returned to Sweden and wrote a book about Hollywood. It was called In Hollywood and came out in 1961.

Directing His First Films

Vilgot Sjöman directed his first movie in 1962. It was called The Mistress (Älskarinnan). Famous actors like Bibi Andersson and Max von Sydow were in it. The film was about a young woman who loved two men. Bibi Andersson won an award for her acting in this movie. She received the Silver Bear for Best Actress at a film festival.

In 1963, Sjöman also helped another famous Swedish director, Ingmar Bergman. He assisted Bergman with his film Winter Light.

Well-Known Movies and Awards

Sjöman's most famous film is I Am Curious (Yellow). This movie looked closely at Swedish society. It showed a young student interviewing people about different social groups.

In 1974, his film A Handful of Love won important awards. It won for Best Film and Best Director. These awards are very important in Sweden.

Later Career and Legacy

Sjöman directed his last film in 1995. It was a movie about Alfred Nobel. Nobel was the inventor who created the Nobel Prizes. The film was simply called Alfred.

Vilgot Sjöman passed away in Stockholm in 2006. He was 81 years old. He left behind his wife and three children.

After his death, a court case he started was won. He had argued that a TV company should not put commercials in his films. The court agreed that it damaged his "artistic integrity." He had even received an award in 2003 for fighting this case.

Vilgot Sjöman's Filmography

Films Directed by Vilgot Sjöman

Films Where Vilgot Sjöman Acted

• I Am Curious (Yellow) (Jag är nyfiken – en film i gult) (1967) - Vilgot Sjöman
• I Am Curious (Blue) (Jag är nyfiken – en film i blått) (1968) - Vilgot Sjöman
• Shame (1968) - TV-interviewer
• You're Lying (Ni ljuger) (1969) - Film director (uncredited)
• Till ... Do Us Part (Troll) (1971) - Man (his last acting role)

See also

In Spanish: Vilgot Sjöman para niños