Gymnaslærer Pedersen (2006)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Hans Petter Moland

Writers:

Hans Petter Blad (screenplay)
Dag Solstad (book)

Release Date:

24 February 2006 (Norway)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Rebellion Has Started!

Plot:

A drama focused on Norwegian society in the 1970s, an era dominated by Marxism and Leninism. |

Plot Keywords:

1970s | Marxism | Nudity | Political Activist | Communist

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Kristoffer Joner	...	Gymnaslærer Knut Pedersen
Ane Dahl Torp	...	Nina Skåtøy
Anne Ryg	...	Lise Tanner
Jan Gunnar Røise	...	Werner Ludal
Stig Henrik Hoff	...	Jan Klåstad
Fridtjov Såheim	...	Gunnar Bøe
Silje Torp Færavaag	...	Anne Britt Bru
Jon Øigarden	...	Harald Tholfsen
Elin Sogn	...	Unni Langmoen
Henriette Steenstrup	...	Fru Bøe
Robert Skjærstad	...	Unni Langmoens man
Linn Skåber	...	Rektor
Eli Anne Linnestad	...	Gerd Tangen
Ståle Rue	...	Tor
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal	...	Distriktrepresentant

Also Known As:

Pedersen: High-School Teacher (International: English title)

Runtime:

Norway:123 min

Country:

Norway

Language:

Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Norway:11 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-15

Company:

Motlys

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Pedersen is called in to the principal's office early in the movie, she is reading/taking notes in a book with a barcode on the front. Barcodes were used for the first time on merchandise in 1974, and these were not widely used in Norway at the time of the movie.

Quotes:

Harald: We had some pints of beer.
Nina Skåtøy: How many?
Harald: 3
Nina Skåtøy: That would cost 42 kroner
[angry voice]
Harald: What? Why shouldn't I be allowed to drink some beer!?
[laughs]
Nina Skåtøy: I just point to the fact that it costs you 42 kroner each week
Nina Skåtøy: Those money are needed by the
[communist]
[...]

Soundtrack:

Oh! Pretty Woman

Great, but melancholy and thought-provoking.

"Gymnaslærer Pedersen" is based on the novel " Gymnaslærer Pedersens beretning om den store politiske vekkelsen som har gjemsøkt vårt land" by Dag Solstad, one of the greatest Norwegian authors in modern time. The title means (in somewhat directly translated English): " Gymnaslærer(Gymnaslærer: teacher working in upper secondary school)Pedersens (name) report on the great political awakening that has haunted our country" The political awakening we're talking about, is the Marxist-Leninist movement, also called AKP (Arbeidernes kommunistparti:The labour communist party) The action takes place in the 1970's, and is a description of how the communist-movement rose and fell. The communist-movement used a romanticized description of both Soviet and China (during Mao), as an example of how they wanted the world to be. In an increasingly capitalist country, the communists dreamed of armed revolution. Pedersen tells his story of how these thoughts affected him, and how he experienced AKP and the Marxist-Leninism.

I think this is a great movie, not only because it has a simple but touching story, but also because it has elegant ways of emphasizing points and references. It also have some great filming.

The whole story is really good, but melancholy and thought-provoking, which are qualities I like in a movie. I think this movie really makes you think through your political beliefs (if you have some), and it makes you realize how important it is to view issues from more than just one angle. I don't think it is a political movie, because it doesn't tell you what to believe. It merely gives you an impression of how this political awakening affected some lives, and what became of it. Enjoy:)