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Jörn Donner

Jörn Donner

Producer · Died January 30, 2020, aged 86 · Helsinki, Finland

Jörn Donner was a Swedish-speaking Finnish writer, film director, actor, producer, politician and founder of Finnish Film Archive. Internationally he was best known for his film Fanny and Alexander (1982), that won four Academy Awards, including the award for the best foreign language film. In Finland he was known for his work as an author, as well as having been member of both, Parliament of Finland and European Union.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1933
Died
January 30, 2020 (aged 86)
From
Helsinki, Finland
Works as
Producer
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 64 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 8% in 30 days

What are Jörn Donner's films like?

Across their 6 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
25%
Survival
19%
Society
19%
Bonds
18%
Morality
9%
Power
5%
Ideas
5%
Isolation2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 3

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 2 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
4
Melancholic
4
Tense
3
Dread
2
Bittersweet
1
Other
2

How their films linger

Thought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jörn Donner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (3).

Subscription and free streaming for Jörn Donner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

64 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Memory of Ingmar Bergman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director · Producer · as Himself

  • Fuck Off 2 - Images from Finland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Screenplay · as Interviewer / Narrator / Himself

  • The Other Side of Hope(2017)

    as Poker Player

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Armi Alive! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • The Interrogation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · as Narrator (Uncredited)

  • Helsinki, Forever(2008)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Border (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Idea · Producer

  • Isäni jalanjäljillä (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer · as Self

  • Lovers & Leavers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Elokuvatuottaja

  • Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Producer

  • Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · as Self

  • Mannen utan ansikte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Producer

  • Goodbye Gibraltar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Producer

  • Uuno Turhapuro Suomen Tasavallan Herra Presidentti (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Jörkka Donner

  • Paradise America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Producer

  • Flight North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer

  • The Undressing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as keskustelija televisiossa

  • Fanny and Alexander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 4 episodes · Producer

  • Dirty Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · Novel · Producer · Screenplay

  • Angela's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Novel · Producer · as Gabriel

  • After the Rehearsal(1984)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Hockeyfeber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Regina ja miehet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Writer

  • Fanny and Alexander(1982)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Nine Ways to Approach Helsinki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Self - Narrator

  • The Worthless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Co-Producer

  • The Flight of the Eagle(1982)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Intervju med Ingmar Bergman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • The Grass Is Singing(1981)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Brutal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Two Forces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Producer

  • Frihetens murar(1978)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Black Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Producer

  • Slumbering Tones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Producer

  • Men Can't Be Raped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Policeman

  • Bluff Stop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Producer

  • Hemåt i natten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Producer

  • Taboo(1977)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The American Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Producer

  • Near and Far Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Producer

  • Pyhä perhe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Producer

  • Three Scenes with Ingmar Bergman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • Mommilan veriteot 1917 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Editor · Producer

  • Hangover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director · Writer · as Lasse, bilhandlare

  • Laukaus tehtaalla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Producer

  • Eight Deadly Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Editor

  • Hellyys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Petteri

  • Marja pieni! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Producer

  • Fuck Off! Images from Finland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · as Narrator/Interviewer

  • Anna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

  • Portraits of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Writer · as Pertti 'Pertsa'

  • Sixtynine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Writer · as Timo Paasi

  • Asfalttilampaat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Tohtori Bonell

  • Black on White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Juha Holm

  • Rooftree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Stimulantia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • Adventure Starts Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Writer

  • To Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director · Writer

  • A Sunday in September (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Writer

  • A Testimony About Her (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Writer

  • Some of These Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director · Writer

  • Aamua kaupungissa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Narrator

  • Jörn Donner kertoo Helsingistä (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Creator

  • Mannerheim, told by Jörn Donner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 63 titles, 61 of them dated from 1954 to 2018.

Biggest box office

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

$6.8M worldwide

Highest rated

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Midcredits 97th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting20 of 63: 7 only acting, 13 with another roleDirecting27 of 63: 5 only directing, 22 with another roleWriting21 of 63: 0 only writing, 21 with another roleProducing33 of 63: 22 only producing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score85thEditing7 of 63: 1 only editing, 6 with another roleOther crew2 of 63: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

63 titles, 26 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1950s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew1960s9 · 4 acting · 8 crew1970s21 · 5 acting · 21 crew1980s14 · 5 acting · 11 crew1990s5 · 1 acting · 4 crew2000s6 · 2 acting · 5 crew2010s4 · 2 acting · 3 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Jörn Donner's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 86th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · producer

Taboo (1977)

73rd percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Midcredits 97th · 83% liked

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Jörn Donner work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jörn Donner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ingmar Bergman shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors