This biopic centers on Knut Hamsun, a celebrated author in his native Norway. When fascism sweeps through Germany in the 1930s, the writer shocks his countrymen by allying himself with Hitler. Hamsun’s wife, Marie , also joins the Nazi cause, and goes so far as to tour in Germany, hosting public speaking engagements in the country. After the war ends, the author and his wife are further vilified in Norway, and ultimately sentenced for crimes against the state.
Director: Jan Troell.
Writers: Per Olov Enquist (screenplay), Thorkild Hansen (book), Jan Troell (script).
Stars: Max von Sydow, Ghita Nørby, Anette Hoff, Gard B. Eidsvold, Eindride Eidsvold, Åsa Söderling, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Erik Hivju, Ernst Jacobi, Edgar Selge, Per Jansen, Jesper Christensen, Svein Erik Brodal, Johannes Joner, Finn Schau, Eva von Hanno, Jørgen Langhelle.
Cinematographers: Mischa Gavrjusjov, Jan Troell.
RIP Max Von Sydow (April 10, 1929 – March 8, 2020).
Great movie!
(Thank you for the wonderful movies, Jon. They’re really helping us — or me, anyway! — get through this quarantine! Stay well!)
You’ve amassed an astonishing collection of Max von Sydow performances. Thank you very much !
YOU ARE THE MAN !! BEST MOVIE SITE
This is film is von Sydow as his peak. His portrayal of Hamsun nearly quivering with anger throughout his life and in his final years not quite coming to terms with his awful political life so sadly overshadowing his art. This film offers us Hamsun’s complex life revealing his naive and foolish blood and soil fascism but at the same time his lonely and dependent old age. von Sydow’s performance is just unbeatable.
Many thanks, Jon for this very fitting tribute to a great actor.
A very impressive tribute to a great actor. Like many, he had to accept several lesser films to keep working but when he had the opportunity he really shone. This is a superb obituary tribute to an actor and his art.
2:16:00 onwards: this is how “the state” treats his slaves, always did and always will. Those, wo believe in anything politicians and representatives/”authorities” of the state say, always were, are and always will be betrayed. Fuck them, don’t obey, those people have no morales at all.
This is a tough movie to watch, requires thinking viewers and a clear mind. It does not judge, it leaves the judging to the viewers.
IMHO WWII was, as most wars, an imperial war to destroy an upcoming nation. This war still continues to this very day (against Russia and against Germany, in fact against Europe as a whole). Hamsun saw this clearly, I think.
Essential viewing. 10/10.
And Max von Sydow is his maybe best performance. But who can say, he had so many stellar performances, maybe more than any other actor ever had … and ever will.