Helena Ekdahl of Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander is the sort of grand matriarch one aspires to grow into. She has that kind of contentment that comes with age, the perfect French twist, and a solid angle of repose. I only have one child, so my chances of being a grand matriarch are low, but the essence is potentially attainable nonetheless.
The repose aspect brings me to this scene, set in the Ekdhal family’s country summerhouse. Look at this parlor. It begs for that rocking chair. Sheltered from the summer heat—or maybe rain—in a small house on what I imagine is one of those Swedish islands accessible only by boat.
It wasn’t until having a baby—a moment when it feels almost obligatory to buy a rocking chair, that I rediscovered the hypnotic quality of gentle rocking. Always slightly in motion, or angled back at rest.
And to read in such a chair, I might suggest Tove Jansson The Summer Book for an additional dose of grand matriarch energy.
This is an edit suited for Bergman’s scene.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.