I Am Dina (2002)

Dina grows up in a village at a fjord in 1860s north Norway. As child, she accidentally kills her mom and loses her rich dad's love. She grows up to be a clever, pretty, wild and strange woman. She marries a rich Frenchman.

Directors:

Ole Bornedal, Tony Spataro

Writers:

Ole Bornedal, Jonas Cornell

Stars:

Maria Bonnevie, Gérard Depardieu, Christopher Eccleston

10 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maria Bonnevie	...	Dina
Gérard Depardieu	...	Jacob
Christopher Eccleston	...	Leo Zhukovsky
Bjørn Floberg	...	Edvard, Dina's Father
Pernilla August	...	Hjertrud, Dina's Mother
Amanda Jean Kvakland	...	Little Dina
Hans Matheson	...	Tomas
Jørgen Langhelle	...	Anders
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Niels
Wenche Foss	...	Mistress Karen
Søren Sætter-Lassen	...	Lorch
Kate Hardie	...	Stine
Bodil Udsen	...	Olivia
Mateen Sandvik Ram	...	Little Thomas
Eli Anne Linnestad	...	Housekeeper

Storyline

In Northern Norway during the 1860s, a little girl named Dina accidentally causes her mother's death. Overcome with grief, her father refuses to raise her, leaving her in the care of the household servants. Dina grows up wild and unmanageable, with her only friend being the stable boy, Tomas. She summons her mother's ghost and develops a strange fascination with death as well as a passion for living. Family friend Jacob encourages Dina's father to hire Lorch, a tutor who introduces her to the cello. When Dina is old enough, she marries Jacob and moves to Reinsnes, a port he runs with his mother, Karen, and his stepsons Niels and Anders . Niels doesn't like Dina's wild ways, or the fact that she has taken over accounting duties at Reinsnes. Dina's eccentric tendencies become even stronger, eventually leading Jacob into an accident of his own and bringing Tomas back into her life.

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Plot Keywords:

19th century | reference to alexander pushkin | pierre joseph proudhon | anarchist | father daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

This is my story

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Norway's official submission to the 75th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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Quotes

Benjamin: You've got to stay here!
Dina: No.
Benjamin: If you go, I won't be here when you get back!
Dina: And where will you be?
Benjamin: I might be dead!
Dina: Then you have had a short life.
Benjamin: I don't care!
Dina: Benjamin, everyone cares about their own life.
Benjamin: Well, I don't! I will come back as a ghost!
Dina: I should hope so. Then I won't have lost you completely.

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Alternate Versions

The "International version" contains a different ending than the original version.

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Soundtracks

Film III
Written and Performed by Jorane

User Reviews

What you are,you are forever.

I don't really like to write reviews but I've read the one for this particular movie and I can't let others read it and think the movie is as bad as it is accused of being.First of all I've read the book by Herbjorg Wassmo and there is a reason why the original dialog is "my momma left me",Dina is after all like a child.The film simply emphasizes the same aspects as the book.The acting is not at all bad,Maria Bonnevie is simply great,intense and embodies the exact spirit of the wild gray-eyed flamboyant teen.An 18-year-old woman with eyes as old as stones.If you have the opportunity to watch it I strongly recommend you do because it can change your perception on life.You find yourself asking do the people around me exist or is the world full of insipid people who I should look through? Dina's character is simply magnetic and you can't help not being attracted to her and hating those who get to be around her while you can't.I especially enjoyed the scenes where she plays the cello,seeing her hold it between her thighs,seeing her possess it like she does with everything from her horses to men.And some of the most enjoyable scenes are the ones where Dina is either in the presence of Lorch or Tomas,fascinating characters themselves each addicted to Dina in his own way.I loved this movie and I wouldn't recommend it if I wouldn't know you will too.

Details

Official Sites:

Bluecom AS (norwegian, english) [Norway]

Country:

Norway Sweden France Germany Denmark

Language:

English Norwegian French

Release Date:

8 March 2002 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Dina

Filming Locations:

Kjerringøy, Bodø, Nordland, Norway

Box Office

Budget:

NOK141,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,691,510

Company Credits

Production Co:

ApolloMedia Distribution, Felicia Film, Gemini Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 122 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1