Growth of the Soil (film)

1921 film

Growth of the Soil

Norwegian| Markens grøde
Directed by| Gunnar Sommerfeldt
Written by| Gunnar Sommerfeldt
Based on| Growth of the Soil, by Knut Hamsun
Produced by| Gunnar Sommerfeldt
Starring| Amund Rydland
Karen Thalbitzer
Almar Hamsun
Sivert Eliassen
Gunnar Sommerfeldt
Cinematography| George Schnéevoigt
Music by| Leif Halvorsen
Distributed by| Norrøna Film

Release date

* 1921 (1921)

Running time

| 117 minutes
Country| Norway
Language| Norwegian

Growth of the Soil (Norwegian: Markens grøde) is a Norwegian silent film from 1921 based on Knut Hamsun's novel Growth of the Soil.[1][2] The Danish filmmaker Gunnar Sommerfeldt wrote the screenplay and directed the film, and he also played the role of the bailiff Geissler in the film.[3] Sommerfeldt invested DKK 240,00 in the film, which was a considerable sum in 1921.

## Story

[edit]

Growth of the Soil (1921)

The film opens with images from a forest under a glacier, where Isak Sellanrå is clearing the land. Eventually, however, the perspective begins to change, and smaller stories break in and toward the story of Isak and Inger. A modern society is emerging around the two. The story of young Barbro walking into the river with her child, but still ending with Aksel, also receives significant attention.

## Filming

[edit]

The filming took place in Rana Municipality in Norway and was a very big local event.[4] A number of locals were used as extras and for minor roles.[4] Isaac's clearing was filmed in Røvassdalen, and other parts were filmed at Tverånes in Mo i Rana, and Hemnesberget and Korgen. A couple of Sami were also hired from the neighboring Swedish municipality of Tärna.[4]

## Rediscovery

[edit]

For many years, the film was presumed lost.[5] It then reappeared in several places. An American professor owned shortened edition, and it is believed that this 60-minute film was the version that was screened in the United States in 1928. A longer version surfaced in the Netherlands.[6] These two copies were combined to create the version that was screened in 2009 during Hamsun Days.

## Cast

[edit]

* Amund Rydland: Isak
* Karen Poulsen: Inger (credited as Karen Thalbitzer)
* Ragna Wettergreen: Oline
* Gunnar Sommerfeldt: Geissler, the bailiff
* Inge Sommerfeldt: Barbro
* Almar Bjørnefjell: Elesius, a young farmer
* Sigurd Berg Bruland: Brede Olsen, a farmboy
* Siljusson av Terna: Os-Anders
* Sivert Eliassen. Sivert
* Ernst Vaumund: Aksel Strøm
* Rolf Christensen
* Sigurd Køvatn
* Sesse Schanke

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hjort, Mette; Lindqvist, Ursula (2016). A Companion to Nordic Cinema. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons Inc. p. 290.
2. ^ Alnæs, Karsten (1996). Historien om Norge: En ny arbeidsdag. Oslo: Gyldendal. p. 296.
3. ^ Parrill, William B. (2015). European Silent Films on Video: A Critical Guide. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 171.
4. ^ a b c Markens grøde: en filmhistorisk begivenhet: 1921-1994. Rana: Nasjonalbibliotekavdelinga. 1994. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
5. ^ Koteng, Hedda Hiller (27 November 2008). "Markens Grøde opp fra jorden". Rana Blad. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
6. ^ Pedersen, Bjørn Tore (3 August 2009). "Fikk skryt av Hamsun selv". NRK. Retrieved 27 March 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Growth of the Soil at IMDb