Waldemar Bergendahl (18 April 1933 – 21 March 2022) was a Swedish film director, film editor, film producer, cinematographer and screenwriter. Bergendahl is best known as the producer behind the films based on novels by Astrid Lindgren.
Life and career Bergendahl was born in April 1933 in Årsunda. He grew up on a farm between Årsunda and Gästrike-Hammarby. His parents were farmers with cows, horses, chickens, pigs and many other animals. Bergendahl later went to University in Gävle. Then he moved to Stockholm.
In 1957 Bergendahl lived along with the production manager of Europafilm in an apartment in Stockholm. The production manager told Bergendahl to apply for a job at the film company. One year later, Bergendahl was part of the film crew of Miss April, a film with Gunnar Björnstrand and Gaby Stenberg in the leading roles. At that time he did know anything about film work, so he tried to help wherever he could.
Bergendahl dreamed of becoming an actor, but realized soon that he was not suitable for the job. However, he wanted to continue working in the film industry and therefore decided to work as a producer.
In 1963 Bergendahl produced the film Raven's End. In 1984 he started working with Astrid Lindgren and produced Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. His film My Life as a Dog (1988) was nominated as the best non English film for the British Academy Film Awards.
Bergendahl produced around 120 films. He worked along with Astrid Lindgren, Tage Danielsson, Bo Widerberg, Lasse Hallström, Helena Bergström and many others. He always selected the employees for his films himself.
In 2010 Bergendahl was honored as a film producer by winning the Hedersguldbaggen.
Private life Bergendahl lived until his death in Stockholm. He has two younger sisters. In 2008 Bergendahl was diagnosed with Parkinson's.
Selected filmography
+Film Year Title Notes 1961 Lovely Is the Summer Night 1963 Raven's End 1967 Elvira Madigan 1967 Joe Hill 1984 Ronia, the Robber's Daughter 1985 False as Water 1985 My Life as a Dog 1986 Jönssonligan dyker upp igen 1986 The Children of Noisy Village 1987 Jim & Piraterna Blom 1987 Leif 1987 More About the Children of Noisy Village 1988 Strul 1988 Go'natt Herr Luffare short film 1988 Allrakäraste syster short film 1988 Gull-Pian short film 1988 Ingen rövare finns i skogen short film 1989 Brenda Brave short film 1989 Hoppa högst short film 1989 Hajen som visste för mycket 1989 The Women on the Roof 1989 Jönssonligan på Mallorca 1989 1939 1989 Peter och Petra 1990 Blackjack 1990 Nils Karlsson Pyssling 1990 Pelle flyttar till Komfusenbo 1991 Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia 1992 Lotta på Bråkmakargatan 1992 Svart Lucia 1993 Sökarna 1993 Lotta flyttar hemifrån 1993 The Slingshot 1993 Family Matters 1993 Sune's Summer 1996 Hamsun 1996 Bill Bergson Lives Dangerously 1997 Adam & Eva 1997 Pippi Longstocking 1997 Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue 1999 Adult Behavior 2002 Karlsson på taket 2004 Håkan Bråkan & Josef 2007 Mind the Gap 2007 Arn – The Knight Templar 2008 Arn – The Kingdom at Road's End
+Television Year Title Notes 1988 Mimmi TV series, 4 episodes 1997 Pippi Longstocking TV series, 1 episode 1999–2000 Eva & Adam TV series, 16 episodes 2002 Karlsson on the Roof TV series
Awards and nominations BAFTA Awards 1988: Best Foreign Language Film: My Life as a Dog (Nomination) Guldbagge 1986: Best Film (Bästa film): My Life as a Dog (Award) 1992: Best Film (Bästa film): Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia (shared with Ingrid Dalunde, Nomination) 1994: Best Film (Bästa film): The Slingshot (Nomination) 1996: Best Film (Bästa film): En på miljonen (Nomination) 1998: Best Film (Bästa film): Adam & Eva (Nomination) 2010: Hedersguldbaggen as film producer (Award)
References
External links