Katinka (1988) Ved vejen (original title)

Director:

Max von Sydow

Writers:

Herman Bang (novel)
Klaus Rifbjerg (writer)

Release Date:

19 August 1988 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Fritt efter Herman Bangs roman

Plot:

A new foreman, Huus, arrives in a sleepy Danish village, much to the delight of the unmarried women there...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

5 wins

Cast

Tammi Øst	...	Katinka
Ole Ernst	...	Bai
Kurt Ravn	...	Wilhelm Huus
Erik Paaske	...	Linde
Anne Grete Hilding	...	Mrs. Linde
Tine Miehe-Renard	...	Agnes
Ghita Nørby	...	Helene
Birthe Backhausen	...	Mrs. Abel
Bodil Lassen	...	Louise Abel
Vibeke Hastrup	...	Ida Abel
Henrik Koefoed	...	Bentsen
Kim Harris	...	Togfører
Kjeld Nørgaard	...	Kiær
Birgitte Bruun	...	Emma
Dick Kaysø	...	Andersen
Paul Hüttel	...	Doktor
Søren Sætter-Lassen	...	The Lieutenant
Anna Lise Hirsch Bjerrum	...	Marie
Bjarne G. Nielsen	...	Herman Bang
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bo Christensen
Klaus Rifbjerg

Directed by
Max von Sydow

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Herman Bang		novel
Klaus Rifbjerg		writer

Produced by
Bo Christensen	....	producer
Katinka Faragó	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Georg Riedel

Cinematography by
Claus Loof
Sven Nykvist

Film Editing by
Janus Billeskov Jansen

Production Design by
Peter Høimark

Costume Design by
Ole Glæsner
Annelise Hauberg
Pia Myrdal

Makeup Department
Malin Birch-Jensen	....	makeup artist
Birthe Lyngsøe	....	makeup artist
Kim Olsson	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Lene Nielsen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Hedegaard	....	assistant director
Jan Jung	....	second unit director

Art Department
Ivar Baungaard	....	props
Ena Eisel	....	props
Merete Engbæk	....	property assistant
Magnus Magnusson	....	props

Sound Department
Hans Erik Arhn	....	sound mix engineer
Michael Dela	....	sound
Pauline Griffith	....	sound effects
Carl Aage Hansen	....	sound
John Nielsen	....	sound
Bjarne Risbjerg	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Jan Michael Jensen	....	lighting assistant
Michael Wils Jensen	....	lighting technician
Rolf Konow	....	still photographer
Gunnar Nielsen	....	grip
Jesper Bo Rasmussen	....	lighting assistant
Ricki Rasmussen	....	lighting assistant
Otto Stenov	....	lighting technician
Emil Øigaard	....	lighting assistant

Editorial Department
Michael Frank Nielsen	....	color timer

Music Department
Jan Glæsel	....	music consultant

Other crew
Niels Bjørn Larsen	....	choreographer
Lotta Mothander	....	script
Peter Poulsen	....	producer consultant

Production Companies

• Channel Four Films
• Det Danske Filminstitut
• Film Four International (in association with)
• Nordisk Film
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)

Distributors

• VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Ved vejen" - Denmark (original title)

Runtime:

96 min | Sweden:95 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | Iceland:L

Company:

Channel Four Films

90 minutes & 180 repetitions by the audience of one question: Are you ever going to get interesting, movie?

If someone actually did invent a machine that made time pass at a lower rate than it does, giving us longer lives, he would be celebrated. When it is a film, however, that makes it appear as though it's twice(or more) its running time by virtue of moving at a snail's pace, we're less enthusiastic. I borrowed this from the library(fairly quickly, too, what a wonder that no one else wanted it) to make sure I hadn't missed anything, since we read the novel for Danish class(honestly, could the exam situation be threatening to a greater degree than it is? Possibly if loaded weapons were aimed at you during your presentation and subsequent dialog with the teacher and censor, and even then, I'm not sure it would be), and, well, it's nearly entirely physical description and dialog(in Jutlandic, no less), no narration, and you have to pay close attention(it was written a number of years ago, as well) to figure out what is actually going on(this is easier, of course, as you can see it). Bang did succeed, though; it is not a boring read. It's vivid and rich, you can "sense" the stuff he's telling us of, exactly as he intended. And that's why, while it shouldn't, it surprised me that this was so flat, and essentially the opposite of what I've just said about the source material(it follows the plot, cutting it down somewhat). This elicits next to no emotional response, other than occasionally annoyance. It's not poor from a technical standpoint, if it feels "empty". This tries to inject dumb, silly humor. There is good acting in this; Nørbye clearly makes an effort, and she's not the only one. This has far less characterization than the original. All of these are the same problems as many of our pictures, maybe especially the ones that are based on books and are from this period of time. Still, this remains a particularly bad case. No, what Herman gave us wasn't a screenplay, but it was already cinematic in its language. Perhaps the fault lies in the direction; this is the first and only attempt Sydow has made at such. Hopefully it can serve as a warning to others. And the punishment for anyone else who screws up that job. There is a little disturbing content and a couple of mature themes in this. I recommend this solely to those who refuse to accept my words on this being slow, not engaging and a waste of an hour and a half. 5/10