Roy Andersson (born 31 March 1943) is a Swedish film director, best known for his films A Swedish Love Story (1970) and Songs from the Second Floor (2000). More than any other, Songs from the Second Floor succeeded in cementing his personal style – a style characterized by long takes, absurdist comedy, stiff caricaturing of Swedish culture and Felliniesque grotesque. He has spent much of his professional life working on advertisement spots, directing over 400 commercials and two short films, but only directing five feature-length films in four decades. His 2014 film A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence won the Golden Lion award at 71st Venice International Film Festival.
August Heinrich Anderssen, Elisabeth Karoline Schenck
Siblings
Kjell Andersson
Awards
Golden Lion, Cannes Jury Prize
Nominations
Special Jury Prize
Star Sign
Aries
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Trademark
1
Absurdist comedy and surrealism
2
Bleak social criticism
3
Long tableaux shots
4
Meticulously designed sets
5
Stiff caricaturing of Swedish culture
6
Stationary camera, long takes
7
Gentle lighting so that shadows are never pitch black
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Quote
1
I was going to be an author, but I saw so many good movies.
2
[on his passion for making films] There are some subjects that I'm dealing with all the time. The vulnerability of the human being. Humiliation, when people humiliate each other and when they humiliate themselves.
3
[on audience] The audience should not find control over what they've seen. They should not feel comfortable. Well, they should be comfortable in the sense that it should be nice for them to sit and watch the movie, but they should not be very sure of what it's about. Is it humorous or tragic? In my opinion, in my films a larger portion is comedy than tragedy. But I know that many people think the contrary. I prefer comedy, but not a comedy that very easily read. As I said before, you shouldn't be too comfortable or sure of where you are. But of course the comic side of our existence is greater than the tragic side. There's more comedy than tragedy in life. But it depends on how you see it.
4
[on his mission as an artist] ...the small human being... (who) symbolises all of us. I'm trying to show what it's like to be human and to be alive.
5
[on the meaning behind A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence] The tension in existing between the banal and the serious; the wide spectrum of life, of existence. For me, there are three themes that are the most important. One is the lack of empathy, which is a very bad thing - especially nowadays - as it shows an increasing lack of respect. Vulnerability is also one of my themes. I am so sad if I see vulnerable people being humiliated. Humiliation is also a theme that preoccupies me.
6
[on lightening in cinema] Nowadays I prefer lighting without shadows. There should not be a possibility for people to hide. They should be seen. They should be illuminated all the time. That's what I mean when I say "light without mercy." You make the people, the human beings in the movie, very naked.
7
[on the wide shot] I think that the wide shot tells a lot about the human being that a close-up can't. About their place in the world. The wide shot defines the human being more than the close-up because, for example, the room where the person is tells about his tastes, his life. Even if it's not home, you can read the history of a person better in a wide shot. When you read this wide shot, there are so many elements that make the picture more tragic.
8
[on the motivation behind A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence] In (Bruegel's) painting, Hunters in the Snow, the birds appear to be speculating: 'What are the humans doing down there? Why are they so busy?'... A Pigeon Sat on a Branch consists of a bird's panoramic view of the human condition, in which the bird not only reflects on human existence but also worries deeply about it, as I do myself. The pigeon is astonished that humans do not see an approaching apocalypse, though it is in man's ability to avoid destroying the future for themselves. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch shows the looming apocalypse and offers the possibility to believe in our capacity to avoid it.
9
I'm trying to show we have to care for the little we have left. I want to show the vulnerability, and the weakness we carry.
10
I'm one for solidarity. A society where one shares, and feels responsibility towards others. Unfortunately, we've had a period where to look after one another is seen as old-fashioned. This is the path Sweden has taken politically. But it's evident that it hasn't worked out. It is a painful insight, which I think people will start to realise more and more.
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Fact
1
Is the author of two books.
2
His most important source of inspiration is painting and its history, and photo history as well. Especially the expressionism they had in Germany between the two World Wars.
3
Is a fan of Luis Bunuel, Vittoria De Sica, Federico Fellini and Samuel Beckett.
4
Village Voice branded him the "slapstick Ingmar Bergman - wacky yet depressing".
5
Ingmar Bergman was his inspector at the film school in Sweden he attended.
6
Finances his films by making commercials. He also spent much of his professional life working on advertisement spots, directing over 400 commercials.
7
In 1975, he took a 25-year break from film directing.
8
Lars von Trier once described Andersson as the only Palme d'Or competitor he truly fears.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron
2014
You, the Living
2007
Sånger från andra våningen
2000
Un matin partout dans le monde
2000
TV Short
Härlig är jorden
1992
Short
Something Has Happened
1987
Short
Trygare kan ingen vara
1980
Short
Så fruktansvärt onödigt
1979
Documentary
Giliap
1975
En kärlekshistoria
1970
Lördagen den 5.10
1969
Hämta en cykel
1968
Short
Den vita sporten
1968
Documentary
Besöka sin son
1967
Short
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron
2014
writer
You, the Living
2007
Sånger från andra våningen
2000
writer
Härlig är jorden
1992
Short
Something Has Happened
1987
Short
Giliap
1975
En kärlekshistoria
1970
Lördagen den 5.10
1969
writer
Hämta en cykel
1968
Short writer
Besöka sin son
1967
Short
Editor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sånger från andra våningen
2000
film editor
Something Has Happened
1987
Short
Giliap
1975
Lördagen den 5.10
1969
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sånger från andra våningen
2000
producer
Jonny Roova
1985
producer
Trygare kan ingen vara
1980
Short producer
Så fruktansvärt onödigt
1979
Documentary producer
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Man on the Roof
1976
second unit director - uncredited
Adalen 31
1969
assistant director
Cinematographer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Den vita sporten
1968
Documentary
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
For Those in Peril
2013
thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The European Film Awards
2015
TV Movie
Himself - Winner: European Comedy
Skavlan
2014
TV Series
Himself - Guest
71st Venice Film Festival Awards Ceremony
2014
TV Movie
Himself - Winner
Palme
2012
Documentary
Himself
LEV MÄNNISKA... för helvete så länge du kan!
2012
Documentary
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
2011
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself - Interviewee
Det är en dag imorgon också
2011
Documentary
Det naturliga ljuset
2010
Documentary short
Himself
Här är ditt liv
2010
TV Series
Himself
Videokväll hos Luuk
2007
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Metropolis
2007
TV Series
Himself
Med sikte på realism
2004
Video documentary
Himself
Obsessions du deuxième étage
2000
Documentary short
Himself
Sen kväll med Luuk
2000
TV Series
Himself
Gomorron
2000
TV Series
Himself - premiere in Cannes Film Festival may 2000
Refränger från källaren
2000
Documentary
Himself
Liv till varje pris
1998
Documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
European Film Award
European Film Awards
European Comedy
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2014
Visionary Award
Stockholm Film Festival
"Ever since his breakthrough with »En kärlekshistoria
2014
Golden Lion
Venice Film Festival
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2008
Directors' Week Award
Fantasporto
Best Director
Du levande (2007)
2008
Guldbagge
Guldbagge Awards
Best Direction (Bästa regi)
Du levande (2007)
2008
Guldbagge
Guldbagge Awards
Best Screenplay (Bästa manuskript)
Du levande (2007)
2008
Nordic Council's Film Prize
Nordic Council
Du levande (2007)
2007
Narcisse Award
Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Best Feature Film
Du levande (2007)
2007
Titra Film Award
Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Du levande (2007)
2002
Bodil
Bodil Awards
Best Non-American Film (Bedste ikke amerikanske film)
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
2001
Guldbagge
Guldbagge Awards
Best Direction (Bästa regi)
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
2001
Guldbagge
Guldbagge Awards
Best Screenplay (Bästa manuskript)
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
2000
Jury Prize
Cannes Film Festival
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
2000
Norwegian Film Critics Award
Norwegian International Film Festival
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
2000
Uppland Film Trust Award
Uppsala International Short Film Festival
1993
Special Jury Award
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
International Competition
Någonting har hänt (1987)
1993
Press Award
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
International Competition
Någonting har hänt (1987)
1993
First Prize
Odense International Film Festival
Härlig är jorden (1992)
1992
Canal+ Award
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
International Competition
Härlig är jorden (1992)
1992
Press Award
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
International Competition
Härlig är jorden (1992)
1992
Best Fiction
Tampere International Short Film Festival
International Competition
Härlig är jorden (1992)
1970
Interfilm Award - Recommendation
Berlin International Film Festival
En kärlekshistoria (1970)
1970
UNICRIT Award
Berlin International Film Festival
En kärlekshistoria (1970)
1970
IWG Golden Plaque
Berlin International Film Festival
En kärlekshistoria (1970)
1970
Journalists' Special Award
Berlin International Film Festival
En kärlekshistoria (1970)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Chlotrudis Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Best Production Design
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2016
Independent Spirit Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Best International Film
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2016
ICS Award
International Cinephile Society Awards
Best Original Screenplay
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
Audience Award
European Film Awards
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
European Film Award
European Film Awards
European Film
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
European Film Award
European Film Awards
European Director
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
European Film Award
European Film Awards
European Screenwriter
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
Guldbagge
Guldbagge Awards
Best Direction (Bästa regi)
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
City of Gothenburg Award
Göteborg Film Festival
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2015
Sydney Film Prize
Sydney Film Festival
Best Film
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014)
2009
Robert
Robert Festival
Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film)
Du levande (2007)
2007
Un Certain Regard Award
Cannes Film Festival
Du levande (2007)
2007
European Film Award
European Film Awards
European Director
Du levande (2007)
2000
Palme d'Or
Cannes Film Festival
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
1970
Golden Berlin Bear
Berlin International Film Festival
En kärlekshistoria (1970)
Known for movies
Sånger från andra våningen (2000) as Director
You, the Living (2007) as Director
En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron (2014) as Director
$200,000
