This is a comparison between the Theatrical Version and the TV Version. Both can be found on the US Blu-ray released by Criterion.

Plot

Sweden, 1907: Family Ekdahl is a long-established and wealthy family with a theater background. During christmas dinners there usually is a cheerful atmosphere. This time, however, the family is saddened by the tragic death of Oscar Ekdahl who is also the director of the theater. Emilie marries the local bishop who brings a cold mood into the loving family. Especially Alexander suffers from the bishop’s harshness.

Fanny and Alexander was supposed to be Ingmar Bergmann’s last film and was also his first movie in Sweden from where he emmigrated in 1976. The movie extensively talks about the Ekdahls‘ family life and the audience both gets to see joyful and tragic moments. The characters get a lot of screentime and the dialogs are powerful and thrilling – especially once the character of the bishop is introduced. Over the course of the movie we thus get closely in touch with family Ekdahl and saying goodbye to the characters after five hours is difficult.

The Versions

Right from the start, Fanny and Alexander was meant tob e a four-part TV miniseries, which is also the version Bergmann preferred. Based on this series, he cut together a 190 minutes long theatrical version that misses out on roughly two hours of material. Ironically, the theatrical version was releaed prior tot he TV series. On the one hand, there are a lot of rather irrelevant cuts that take out a few seconds of footage. On the other hand, though, several elements of the plot were entirely taken out for theaters.

• The most noticeable oft he first part is the missing christmas dinner as well as a scene during which Oscar coms into the kids‘ room at night and tells them an imaginative story about a chair. Also, there is a missing fight between Carl and Lydia.
  
• The second part misses out on a longer theater scene, which shows how intensely Oscar wears himself out. Also, there is another scene during whigh the actors are performing in an almost empty theater hall. Several scenes before the funeral were taken out.
  
• The third part is missing out on a phone call between Emilie and Isak in her summer house. The most severe change is a missing scene with Alexander in the attic after he was abused by the bishop. The ghosts of the two dead girls appear to him and confront him about the lies he told about them. At the end there is anotherimportant scene missing where Emilie is lying in bed next to her children. She tries to protect them from the bishop. The latter threatens to destroy the future of Emilie’s children if she ever plans to leave him.
  
• The fourth part misses out on a scene of Isak telling the children a story. Also there is a missing conversation between Carl, Gustav and the bishop who talk about the further plans. Towards the end there are cuts to the scene of Emilie meeting her colleagues as well as Gustav’s speech.
  

Even though some of these cuts are not that noticeable, there are still quite a few significant moments missing. Thus, we recommend the TV version. Since it is split up into four parts, it is no problem to watch it step by step instead of one uniterrupted run.
The report follows the TV Version and thus is split into four parts.

Runtimes:

Theatrical Version: 189:12 min.

Part 1: 96:00 min. (report on Part 1)
Part 2: 78:08 min.
Part 3: 60:00 min. (report on Part 3)
Part 4: 86:51 Min. (report on Part 4)

[00:57:59][00:00:15]

The TV Version betins with the title screen referring to the second act.

TV Version: 21 sec.


[00:58:13][00:00:50]

Alexander watches the rehearsals for Hamlet.

The women behind the stage are shown earlier.

TV Version: 52 sec.


[00:58:18][00:01:47]

Again, there are some scenes of the rehearsal. Backstage, two actors play chess and on cue, a man uses a piece of metal to imitate thunder.

TV Version: 59 sec.


[00:58:27][00:02:55]

The Theatrical Version shows the two actors playing chess.

The TV Version shows more scenes of the rehearsals. Here and there, the prompter has to help out.

Theatrical Version: 3 sec.
TV Version: 2:33 Min


[00:58:57][00:05:55]

The Theatrical Version shows the thunder effect coming from the piece of metal.

The TV Version shows Alexander a little longer. After that, it's back to the rehearsals.

Theatrical Version: 2 sec.
TV Version: 36 sec.


[01:03:33][00:11:05]

Mej and Alexander watch the coach drive by.

Helena is shown slightly earlier.

TV Version: 26 sec.


[01:05:04][00:13:02]

Fanny and Alexander play a board game. The two housemaids talk.

TV Version: 7 sec.


[01:07:38][00:15:42]

During another scene, Fanny and Alexander walk to their father.

TV Version: 9 sec.


[01:08:40][00:16:54]

Helena is shown earlier. She looks up from her book.

TV Version: 3 sec.


[01:09:20][00:17:37]

The doctor examines Oscar a little earlier.

TV Version: 18 sec.


[01:10:00][00:18:36]

Oscar tells Emilie not to worry since he already feels better. He has to close his eyes because of the bright lights.

TV Version: 42 sec.


[01:10:27][00:19:45]

Emilie is shown earlier. Oscar repeats "Nothing".

TV Version: 4 sec.


[01:12:12][00:21:34]

Emilie looks to Oscar and sits down on his bed.

TV Version: 7 sec.


[01:12:18][00:21:47]

Emilie leans her head on Oscar's. He says that she should take over the theater. It is up to her to become art director. He wants a simple funeral and wants them to play Chopin's "Funeral March". Emilie promises everything. Everything should continue as usual. She is supposed to hold his hand. Then he says "Eternity". Emilie gets up.

TV Version: 2:05 min.


[01:15:46][00:27:19]

An officer comes to the house and offers commiserations. The regiment feels obliged to accompany the cortège. He offers his help.

Alexander locked himself up in the bathroom. Mej knocks at the door and says that he should come out since the bishop will show up. The latter enters and Alexander comes out of the bathroom. The bishop says that he feels sorry. Hesitantly he calms down Emilie.

The actors walk over to Emilie and also say how sad they are to have lost a good friend. They collectively walk to the corpse. Emilie says that Oscar talked about how to continue business after his death. She explains that Oscar wanted everything to continue as usual and that she is supposed to lead the theater from now on. The premiere of „Hamlet“ is supposed to take place as planned. The actors thank her.

TV Version: 6:31 min.