Hamsun (1996)

Norwegian Nobel Laureate Knut Hamsun's controversial support for the Nazi regime during WW2 and its consequences for the Hamsun family after the war.

Director:

Jan Troell

Writers:

Per Olov Enquist, Marie Hamsun (autobiography Regnbuen)

Stars:

Max von Sydow, Ghita Nørby, Anette Hoff

9 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max von Sydow	...	Knut Hamsun
Ghita Nørby	...	Marie Hamsun
Anette Hoff	...	Ellinor Hamsun
Gard B. Eidsvold	...	Arild Hamsun (as Gard Eidsvold)
Eindride Eidsvold	...	Tore Hamsun
Åsa Söderling	...	Cecilia Hamsun
Sverre Anker Ousdal	...	Vidkun Quisling
Erik Hivju	...	Dr. Gabriel Langfeldt
Edgar Selge	...	Terboven
Ernst Jacobi	...	Adolf Hitler
Svein Erik Brodal	...	Holmboe
Per Jansen	...	Harald Grieg
Jesper Christensen	...	Otto Dietrich
Johannes Joner	...	Finn Christensen
Finn Schau	...	Doctor

Storyline

Knut Hamsun is Norway's most famous and admired author. Ever since he was young he has hated the English for the starvation they caused Norway during WWI. When the Germans occupy Norway on April 9, 1940, he welcomes them and the protection they can give from Great Britain. He supports the national socialist ideals, but opposes the way these ideals are turned into action - that Norwegians are jailed and executed. His wife Marie travels in Germany during the war as a sign of support from Knut and herself.

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Plot Keywords:

knut hamsun | nazi | author | politician | norwegian author | 

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Taglines:

His wife wanted Hitler. Hitler wanted him.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Germany Norway Sweden Denmark

Language:

Norwegian Swedish German Danish English

Release Date:

6 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hamsun

Filming Locations:

Norsk Film Studio A/S, Jar, Norway

Box Office

Budget:

SEK 40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,529, 10 August 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$50,000, 31 December 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), Det Danske Filminstitut, Merkur Film A/S

Technical Specs

Runtime:

159 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Voice of Bergman (1997)

User Reviews

An interesting movie about an interesting character in our literature history

First of all I'd like to say that this movie was more exciting than I would have thought it to be in the start. Which is always a plus. In the beginning it was odd to me that Knut Hamsun were played by a Swedish actor and his wife Marie Hamsun were played by a Danish actor. But to tell you the truth, after a while you hardly noticed the language difference. And they could probably not have found a better Knut and Marie for this movie. The movie starts right before the second world war, and the 'action' in it is mostly about the Hamsun family's life during the second world war and afterwards. It was kind sad that the movie started so late in Hamsun's life, seeing that he was around the age of 80 (?) in the war years. Because Knut Hamsun had an utterly exciting life before that, and the most of his writings were written before that. It was confusing to me who his kids were at times, seeing that they weren't introduced to us that well. This is a great movie about an Norwegian author who rather took side with the Germans during the second world war, since he despited the English. Or was he on the German side? this movie takes up this dilemma, which no one yet can be a 100% sure about. But just remember. This movie only takes the Last years of Knut Hamsun's life. You should know a few things about his life before this, if you want to understand the movie properly.