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

Remade in 2007, starring Karl Urban and Clancy Brown, this version had the titular character, played by Urban, to be a viking child raised by Native Americans, who then fights the returning vikings some 15 years later.

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Quotes

Aigin: They... killed all of my family. Even my little sister.

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Connections

Referenced in Áigin (2014)

User Reviews

Hidden gem

A magical movie in that it connects the viewer to two world at once--the here-and-now world and the mystical world which connects all people to creation. This is hinted at in the double meaning of "pathfinder", as Rasti points out to "the lad" when he explains the difference between them and the bandits. The bandits, Rasti says, have lost their way, in a spiritual as well as literal way. So the Pathfinder is guide for both this and the spirit world. In leading the bandits to their death, the lad becomes their Pathfinder in the spiritual sense as well--leading them further along the path of spiritual self-destruction that they have set out on. Having followed this path to the end, he is able to return to his people and become their new Pathfinder. The spiritual symbolism of the story also resonates with Christian symbolism--the hero who offers his life so others may live, who is cast down into the abyss only to rise out of it to bring the good news of salvation and life to his people. But it's also a wonderful tale that takes the viewer to a different time, place, and culture. A tale made even more remarkable by how familiar it seems in its otherness. It's also a wonderful piece of movie-making. Cinemagraphically it must look magnificent on the big screen--the sense of isolation would only be magnified. In a way it's almost a silent movie--the dialogue is eloquently sparse and one could probably follow the story without subtitles. A very rewarding and satisfying movie.

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