| Pelle the Conqueror | |
|---|---|
 Original Swedish poster | |
| Directed by | Bille August |
| Screenplay by | Bille August Per Olov Enquist Bjarne Reuter Max Lundgren |
| Based on | Pelle Erobreren byMartin Andersen Nexø |
| Produced by | Per Holst |
| Starring | Max von Sydow Pelle Hvenegaard Erik Paaske Bjørn Granath |
| Cinematography | Jörgen Persson |
| Edited by | Janus Billeskov Jansen |
| Music by | Stefan Nilsson |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Svensk Filmindustri(Sweden) Kærne Film(Denmark) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 157 minutes[1] |
| Countries | Denmark Sweden[2] |
| Languages | Scanian Danish Swedish |
| Budget | $4.5 million[3] |
| Box office | $2,053,931[4] |
Pelle the Conqueror (Danish:Pelle Erobreren,Swedish:Pelle Erövraren) is a 1987epic film co-written and directed byBille August, based upon the 1910 novel of thesame name by Danish writerMartin Andersen Nexø. The film tells the story of two Swedish immigrants to Denmark, a father and son, who try to build a new life for themselves. It starsPelle Hvenegaard as the young Pelle, withMax von Sydow as his father, and also featuresAxel Strøbye andAstrid Villaume.
A co-production of Denmark and Sweden, August chose to adaptBoyhood, the first part of Nexø's novel, seeking to make an epic and citing the novel's status as essential reading in Denmark. Pelle Hvenegaard was 11 when he was cast, after some 3,000 children auditioned. Like many other boys in Denmark, he was named by his family for the novel's eponymous character.
The film screened at the1988 Cannes Film Festival and theNew York Film Festival. It was critically acclaimed, winning thePalme d'Or and the 1988Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and numerous other honours.
In the late 1850s, the elderly emigrant Lasse Karlsson and his son Pelle reached the Danish island ofBornholm after leavingSkåne County, in southern Sweden, following the death of the boy's mother. Lasse finds it difficult to secure work, given his advanced age and Pelle's youth. They are forced to toil at a large farm, where they are generally mistreated by the managers.
The managers work under the tyrannical Kongstrup, who has a history of affairs with female employees, resulting in illegitimate children. Among such children is Rud, who befriends Pelle and helps him learnDanish. Eventually, Pelle becomes more confident and begins attending school, though he is stilldiscriminated against as a foreigner. Pelle also befriends the Swedish worker Erik, who is constantly harassed for alleged sloth. Erik shares his dream of visiting America, China, and "Negroland" with Pelle, aiming to "conquer" the world. Rud runs away after poor performance at school, but Pelle begins to excel.
After Kongstrup impregnates Mrs. Kongstrup's visiting niece Miss Sine, his wife castrates him for his abuses. Lasse begins an affair with Mrs. Olsen, believed to be a widow since her husband has not returned from a long sea voyage. Pelle is teased at school for his father's affair.
At the farm, Erik is injured and disabled after attempting to lead a revolt against management. Mrs. Olsen's husband returns from his voyage, and Lasse is overcome with depression and alcoholism. The two appeal to the Kongstrups for aid against their harassment. Mrs. Kongstrup offers support, but her husband remains silent. Pelle receives a promotion but, after witnessing Erik forced from the farm, vows to leave. Lasse initially resolves to go with him, before deciding he is too old to travel. He sends Pelle alone into the world.
The film, based on the 1910 novel of thesame name byMartin Andersen Nexø, was aco-production by Danish and Swedish companies. As the story had both Danish and Swedish elements, cooperation between producers in both countries had practical benefit.[5]
The screenplay, by directorBille August,Per Olov Enquist,Max Lundgren, andBjarne Reuter, adapted only the firstBoyhood part of Nexø's four-volume work.[6] August decided to film the novel, considered essential reading in Denmark, and he wanted to make anepic film.[3]
For the title role,Pelle Hvenegaard, who was 11, was cast after August and the crew auditioned 3,000 children. August decided on Hvenegaard, who he said demonstrated concentration, patience and self-control.[3] The boy was coincidentally named after the character in Nexø's book, as are many boys in Denmark, given the decades-long popularity of the book.[7]
The film marked the first collaboration between production designerAnna Asp, who had previously worked onOffret (1986), and August, who had attended aStockholm school of photography with her.[8] Asp said that in designing the house seen inPelle the Conqueror, she wanted to evoke a prison, and thus built the walls and painted them black and white.[9]
Filming took place for nearly six months. Its budget of $4.5 million, secured from the Danish and Swedish film institutes, made it one of the most costly films made in the Scandinavian countries.[3]
The film was screened in theCannes Film Festival in May 1988, and subsequently at theNew York Film Festival in September 1988.[10] The film's awards attracted the attention of foreign distributors, withMiramax releasing it in the United States.[11]
Buoyed by theAcademy Award recognition,[11]Pelle the Conqueror grossed $2,053,931 in North America,[4] a "respectable" figure for a foreign film.[11] The film had a re-release atGolden West College in Los Angeles in March 1993.[12]
Pelle the Conqueror was released to critical acclaim in the U.S.[11]Roger Ebert gave it three and a half stars, comparing it toJan Troell'sThe Emigrants (1971), sayingMax von Sydow's Oscar nomination was "well deserved" and the novicePelle Hvenegaard "never steps wrong."[7] Vincent Canby, writing forThe New York Times, called it "a vividly re-created, minutely detailed panorama of a particular time," and said it was a "scandal" that Von Sydow did not winBest Actor at Cannes.[10]Peter Travers, writing forPeople, said that Von Sydow exhibited "wrenching simplicity and power," but the film "is maddeningly mediocre."[13] Swedish directorIngmar Bergman told August he saw the film seven times, subsequently choosing August to direct the filmThe Best Intentions.[14]
Mark Chalon Smith, writing inThe Los Angeles Times in 1993, praised the film as faithful to the novel and said "CinematographerJorgen Persson ... captures several memorable images of the starkly beautiful Danish terrain."[12]Time Out wrote "Despite occasional lapses into sentimentality, the film is saved by its performances and its uncluttered depiction of harsh impoverished lives," particularly praising von Sydow.[15] In 2004,The New York Times placed the film on its list of "the Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made."[16] Sarah Lutton, writing for theBritish Film Institute, namedPelle the Conqueror one of "10 great Danish films" and called Von Sydow "extraordinary."[17] Von Sydow later also called it "a very beautiful film."[18] The film holds an 84% rating onRotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews.[19]
Pelle the Conqueror won thePalme d'Or at the1988 Cannes Film Festival[20] The film also won theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, 1988;[21] it was submitted to the Academy by the Danish government, giving Denmark its second consecutive win afterBabette's Feast.[22] The Oscars ceremony also marked Max von Sydow's first nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Actor.[23]
