Fanny and Alexander (TV Mini Series)

Familjen Ekdahl firar jul (1983)

Gunn Wållgren: Helena Ekdahl

Quotes 

• Helena Ekdahl : Carl and Gustav Adolf are oversexed. They take after their father. He was oversexed. At times I thought it was too much of a good thing, but I never refused. Gustav Adolf is incorrigible. I've spoken with Alma, and she wisely says because he's the kindest husband in the world. It's fortunate that Alma is so understanding. Perhaps I ought to warn that nursemaid Maj. I must say she's very pretty, and good with the children. Beautiful coloring and a nice figure. Pity she limps, the poor thing.

• Helena Ekdahl : Why are you so sullen?

  Miss Vega : I'm not sullen.

  Helena Ekdahl : I can see you are. You're always sullen on Christmas Eve.

  Miss Vega : I don't know what you mean.

  Helena Ekdahl : You heard me. You're sullen.

  [exits] 

  Miss Vega : Old hag.

• Helena Ekdahl : There comes my family.

• Helena Ekdahl : That poor German woman he's married to. How could he have fallen for her? It must be something erotic. What do you think?

  Isak Jacobi : Erotic? Yes, perhaps.

• Helena Ekdahl : Are you sad because you've grown old?

  Isak Jacobi : I'm certainly not. Everything's getting worse. Worse people, worse machines, worst wars, and worse weather. I'm glad I'll soon be dead.

  Helena Ekdahl : You're an incorrigible old misanthrope and always have been. I don't agree with you.

  Isak Jacobi : I thought as much.

• Helena Ekdahl : I didn't think Oscar looked well. He wears himself out with that theater. And the idea of him playing the ghost. He should take it easy. Besides, he's an awfully bad actor.

• Helena Ekdahl : What you don't poke your nose into you don't have to pull it out of, as Grandma used to say.

• Helena Ekdahl : I've made some nice strong coffee. Much better than Vega's awful dishwater.

• Helena Ekdahl : You were a sweet lover. Like strawberries.

• Helena Ekdahl : I must wash up and redo my makeup, do my hair and put on my corset and silk dress. A weepy, lovesick woman turns into a self-possessed grandmother. We all play our parts. Some play them negligently, others with great care. I'm one of the latter.

• Helena Ekdahl : Do you remember when we sat there on the sofa kissing madly? You had unbuttoned my blouse, and something else too. Then suddenly the curtain was drawn aside, and there stood my dear husband. It was just like a play by Feydeau. I screamed and you made for the door. He rushed off to get his pistol, with me hanging on his leg. You became friends for life.

  Isak Jacobi : Your husband was a greathearted man.

• Helena Ekdahl : The happy, splendid life is over, and the horrible, dirty life engulfs us. That's the way it is.