Kundskabens træ (1981)

Director:

Nils Malmros

Writers:

Frederick Cryer (writer)
Nils Malmros (writer)

Release Date:

November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

As a group of Danish children pass into adolescence, gradually the most popular girl becomes an outcast...

Plot Keywords:

Children | Coming Of Age | School | Teenager | Vulgarity

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Eva Gram Schjoldager	...	Elin
Jan Johansen	...	Niels Ole
Line Arlien-Søborg	...	Anne-Mette
Marian Wendelbo	...	Elsebeth
Gitte Iben Andersen	...	Lene
Brian Theibel	...	Willy Bonde
Erno Müller	...	Hr. Særlang
Merete Voldstedlund	...	Anne-Mettes mor
Karin Flensborg	...	Elins mor
Knud Andreasen	...	Elins far
Lone Elliot	...	Majbrit
Astrid Holm Jensen	...	Ina
Bo von Der Lippe	...	Jørn
Morten Nautrup	...	Flemming
Marin Lysholm Jepsen	...	Helge

Also Known As:

Tree of Knowledge (International: English title)

Runtime:

110 min | USA:101 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Park Allé, Århus, Jylland, Denmark

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At Anne Mette's party, where the youngsters decide to dance in the dark, some books (Politiken's History of Denmark) can be seen on the shelf. The party takes place in 1958. The books were published from 1962-1966

Movie Connections:

Referenced in De unge år: Erik Nietzsche sagaen del 1 (2007)

Unknown Danish masterpiece

This film is the most shrewd and insightful film about puberty I have ever seen - and one of the best films I have ever seen period. It follows a group of Aarhus schoolchildren from the age of 13-15 in 1958-60. The film notices all the small details, the internal power struggles and the growing sexuality of young teens. Much like Heavenly Creatures the film shows the "wonders" of growing up as both beautiful and frightful at the same time. Anyone regardless of nationality can recognise the conflicts and small dramas depicted here. After seeing it I felt as if Malmros had had a crystal ball and looked into the youth of everyone on the planet. Despite the fact that it is filmed in a hyper realistic, almost documentary, style, Malmros manages to fill add dramatic effects through music and background effects to effectively heighten the drama. The last ten minutes of the film builds up tension to the (completely unpredictable, but inevitable) climax and the striking power of the movie's ending sticks with you for hours after the film is over. I truly hope some distributor picks this up for a DVD release internationally - it is too big a masterpiece to be hidden away in Denmark (check out the external reviews if you want more proof)