Sweet Land (2005)

In 1920, Inge, a German national, travels from Norway to rural Minnesota for her arranged marriage to Olaf, a Norwegian farmer; bureaucracy and prejudice cause major complications.

Director:

Ali Selim

Writers:

Will Weaver (short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat"), Ali Selim

Stars:

Elizabeth Reaser, Lois Smith, Patrick Heusinger

9 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elizabeth Reaser	...	Young Inge
Lois Smith	...	Old Inge
Patrick Heusinger	...	Young Lars
Stephen Pelinski	...	Old Lars
Tim Guinee	...	Young Olaf
Robert Hogan	...	Old Olaf
Alan Cumming	...	Young Frandsen
Paul Sand	...	Old Frandsen
Jodie Markell	...	Donna Torvik
Sage Kermes	...	Mae Torvik
Kirsten Frantzich	...	Lee
Stephen Yoakam	...	Einar Torvik
Karen Landry	...	Rose Torvik
James Cada	...	Minister Thorwald
Debbie DeLisi	...	Sarah Torvik

Storyline

As Inge buries her husband Olaf on their Minnesota farm in 1968, we relive her life story as she tells her grown grandson about how she arrived from Germany in 1920 as Olaf's postal bride and of the obstacles they overcame in order to marry...

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Plot Keywords:

minnesota | 1920s | prejudice | norwegian | marriage | 

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Taglines:

A love story

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief partial nudity and mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Florida Film Festival.

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Goofs

During the train depot scene, the pendulum of the regulator clock on the wall is not moving yet as the scenes progress, the hands of the clock move from 2:10 to 3:30. Impossible for hands to move without the pendulum as it was not an electric clock and certainly not a quartz movement circa 1920.

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Quotes

Harmo: I can help you out.
Young Olaf: With our mortgage?
Harmo: Sure.
Young Olaf: Banking and farming don't mix.

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Soundtracks

Eskimo Kisses
Music and Lyrics by Thomas Lieberman (as T.F. Lieberman)
Published by Liza Rose Music (ASCAP)
Performed by Thomas Lieberman (as Tom Lieberman)

User Reviews

The plot summary, and the trailer, both suggest a really great movie. Sweet and pretty girl from Norway comes to America,over comes struggles, and finds love.

And I think that's what many viewers pass their ultimate judgment on - what they think the movie is about.

The actual movie, though, falls far short. Let me count the ways.

It's pace, if there is one, is glacial.

Olaf, for most of the movie is beyond shy and retiring, he's border line retarded.

The minister hates Inge with a passion, then does a 180, decides he loves the girl, based on....what? Seeing her work hard in the corn field? The neighbors raise $7,000 and give it to Olaf so Olaf can keep his farm? No, to keep his neighbor's farm, which he bought without any money. When his 'bid' was the highest, all the banker lets the other bidders, the ones with real money, take off, despite knowing that Olaf does have anywhere near enough money.

On the other hand, viewers were fortunate enough to see what was probably the prettiest immigrant girl who came across the ocean. Lucky Olaf.

The general concept could have resulted in a really sweet movie - the actual story line was thread bear.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Norwegian

Release Date:

31 July 2008 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Behajóztam az életébe...

Filming Locations:

Dawson, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$41,860, 15 October 2006

Gross USA:

$1,706,325

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,843,537

Company Credits

Production Co:

120dB Films, Beautiful Motion Pictures LLC, Channel Z Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1