Laila (1929)

A spirited Norwegian Lass is torn between two suitors and two cultures.

Director:

George Schnéevoigt

Writers:

Jens Andreas Friis (novel), George Schnéevoigt

Stars:

Mona Mårtenson, Tryggve Larssen, Harald Schwenzen

Cast

Cast overview:
Mona Mårtenson	...	Laila
Tryggve Larssen	...	Jåmpa
Harald Schwenzen	...	Anders
Peter Malberg	...	Aslag Laagje
Cally Monrad	...	Mor Laagje, hans kone
Henry Gleditsch	...	Mellet
Finn Bernhoft	...	C.O. Lind, handlesmann
Lilly Larson-Lund	...	Hans hustru
Ibe Brekke	...	Magga, tjenestepike hos Lind
Aslag Aslagsen Sara	...	Lasse, en tjenestegutt
Rasmus Christiansen	...	Bror til C.O. Lind
Alice O'Fredericks	...	Inger
Mattis Morotaja	...	Melet som liten gutt

Storyline

A spirited Norwegian Lass is torn between two suitors and two cultures.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | partially lost film | adoption | winter | love | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Norway

Release Date:

12 October 1929 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Laila - Die Tochter des Nordens

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lunde Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

165 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Viewed by many critics as the crowning achievement of Norway's silent cinema. Ironically, the film's director, George Schnéevoigt, is Danish and the lead actress, Mona Mårtenson, is Swedish.

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Quotes

Laila: Your eyes remind me of someone, but I do not know who.

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Alternate Versions

A verson of this movie was shown in a film-festival in Haugesund, Norway in 1992. The change was that it where shown with some new composed music by "Kjetil Bjørnstad".

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Connections

Remade as Laila (1937)

User Reviews

Nature, Ethnography And Social Prejudices

The Danish silent film director Herr George Schnéevoigt had previous to his excellent oeuvre "Laila" (1929) a reputable career as a cinematographer, working in many early Herr Carl Theodor Dreyer silent films as well as in Herr Gunnar Sommerfeldt's "Markens Grode" (1921), another excellent Norwegian silent oeuvre. The latter is certainly very important in order to understand the magnificent and exquisite treatment of wild nature and the smooth dramatic intensity in "Laila".

Filmed in varied and beautiful Norwegian places ( interiors were shot at Nordisk Film Company's Studio ) Herr Schnéevoigt drew on his experience as a cinematographer to reflect the cinematic and dramatic potential of Norwegian landscapes for his adaptation of the eponymous novel by Herr J. A. Friis. Laila is a young fraulein who, when her parents take her to be baptized in a distant town from home, is lost after her family is chased by wolves. Herr Jampa, a Lapp and servant of a wealthy reindeer owner Herr Lagje, finds the baby and thus she is raised as a Lapp.

The tundra is the constant background in "Laila" determining the dramatic elements of the story as well the daily lives of the characters, combining thrilling sequences like the attack of the hungry wolves and the danger of deadly waterfalls. The Lapps live in a cold and hard environment but even there love thrives even though difficulties transpire when prejudice comes to the surface ( The Lapps are a racial and social minority within Norway ).

In spite of the realism of the setting and the accurate depiction of the idiosyncrasies of the locals Herr Schnéevoigt is not constructing a documentary. "Laila" is fiction and tells a universal story, a "common" one about true feelings and love against a harsh background and a brilliant depiction of ancient cultures in the tundra. Herr Schnéevoigt brilliantly combines nature, ethnography and social prejudices to make a film with terrific cinematic power wherein adventure, romance and melodrama are given equal weight. The actors are inspired and perfectly suited to their roles as Lapps or Norwegians, two different and divergent cultures.

At this point it is necessary to say this beautiful restored silent film was recently released in modernen disc format by the longhaired youngsters at "Flicker Alley" in collaboration with some Norwegian foundations. The disc includes a brand new piano score by Herr Robert Israel. Flicker Alley has made it possible for silent film fans around the world to enjoy what is one of the best Norwegian silent films ever made.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must defrost himself.