“The fact is, there’s an enigmatic relationship between Max and myself. He has meant a tremend

“The fact is, there’s an enigmatic relationship between Max and myself. He has meant a tremendous amount to me. Stravinsky once said something good. I heard Blomdahl and him discussing Alban Berg’s Lulu. They were discussing a singer. Stravinsky said she was a bad Lulu, because she was so vulgar. But then Blomdahl, as I remember it, said: ‘But Lulu’s the vulgarest female alive.’ And Stravinsky said: ‘Yes, and that’s why she must be played by an actress who hasn’t a trace of vulgarity in her—but can play it.’ I suppose that’s exactly what I find in Max von Sydow. As an actor, Max is sound through and through. Robust. Technically durable. If I’d had a psychopath to present these deeply psychopathic roles, it would have been unbearable. It’s a question of acting the part of a broken man, not of being him. The sort of exhibitionism in this respect which is all the rage just now will pass over, I think. By and by people will regain their feeling for the subtle detachment which often exists between Max and my madmen.”— Ingmar Bergman | 1968"Mr. Bergman was a man of great working discipline. He forced everyone to concentrate when it was important. No disturbing noise during rehearsal. A code of silence. But in between, when [the camera and lighting] was being changed and re-rigged, there were a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. He had a great sense of humor. He had a talent of making people feel that they were participating in something important and something aspiring. He created teamwork. Mr. Bergman had a great imagination and saw the possibilities within every one of his actors, and he gave us great challenges. It was very inspiring. Whatever good I have done on screen I owe to him. I have learned discipline. I have learned concentration and the joy of acting.”— Max von Sydow | 2013 -- source link

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