Pathfinder (1987)

A Warband intent on slaughter terrorizes northern Scandinavian villages in 1000 AD.

Director:

Nils Gaup

Writer:

Nils Gaup

Stars:

Mikkel Gaup, Ingvald Guttorm, Nils Utsi

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mikkel Gaup	...	Aigin
Ingvald Guttorm	...	Aigin's Father
Nils Utsi	...	Raste
Henrik H. Buljo	...	Dorakas
Nils-Aslak Valkeapää	...	Siida-Isit
Helgi Skúlason	...	Tsjuderen med arret
Inger Utsi	...	Aigin's Sister
Svein Scharffenberg	...	Tsjuderen, høvding
Knut Walle	...	Tchude Interpreter
John Sigurd Kristensen	...	Tchude Strongman
Sara Marit Gaup	...	Sahve
Anna Maria Blind	...	Varia (as Anne-Marja Blind)
Ellen Anne Buljo	...	Aigin's Mother
Svein Birger Olsen	...	Diemis
Sverre Porsanger	...	Sierge

Storyline

Around the year 1000 AD warlike people, the so-called "tjudes," roam in northern Scandinavia. As they brutally kill a family in a remote area, including the parents and their little daughter, the families teenage son, Aigin, observes the slaughter. He manages to flee from these killers and reaches a camp with other Lapps whose inhabitants are worried if he has been able to hide his track. Afraid of the murderous people, they decide to flee to the coast. The boy stays alone to avenge his families murder. Unfortunately, they get him before he can do anything and force him to lead them to the other Lapps. He guides them but has a plan to destroy the barbarous people before reaching the camp.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1000 | early middle ages | high middle ages | middle ages | folktale | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The villains in the film, the "tjuder", are not supposed to be vikings, as some sources claim. Tjud or chud is a term historically applied to several Finnic peoples, in the early Russian annals. They often appear in Sami stories (like the one on which this film is based) as traditional, generic villains. Vikings where a trade among the Norse (Scandinavian) Germanic tribes. Note that the clothing and weaponry of the "tjuder" in the film are very different to the ones used by vikings. The script actually stated the "tjuder" to be eastern. But the filmmakers felt it would be offensive to Russian viewers so they made up a language for them to speak, making their origin rather vague.

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Quotes

Sierge: We'll see more from the crest.
Diemis: It'll be dark soon. What is it?
Sierge: The boy shouldn't be out there.
Diemis: Why?
Sierge: He's bad luck.
Diemis: Come on.
Sierge: No, I'll stay.
Diemis: All you'll find up here are the spirits of the mountains.
Sierge: Spirits? It's not spirits we have to fear.

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Connections

Remade as Pathfinder (2007)

User Reviews

What a relief to watch good non-Hollywood movies

Pure brilliance this is!

Living very close to the land and culture that's described in the film I really enjoyed this film. The way everything's been explained and displayed in the film is very satisfying. And I might add that it's not required to have an interest in the culture to watch this movie. That is to say that the movie works on every level! Gaup delivers a very strong and entertaining movie. I only wish it can have a broader audience, because it deserves it. I have no problem recommending this film to anyone with a slight interest in movies!

Details

Country:

Norway

Language:

Saami

Release Date:

7 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pathfinder

Filming Locations:

Berlevåg, Finnmark, Norway

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,950, 13 May 1990

Gross USA:

$10,628

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$242,994

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmkameratene A/S, Mayco, Norsk Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1