Pelle the Conqueror (1987)
Directed by Bille August
Genres - Drama, Culture & Society |
Sub-Genres - Period Film, Coming-of-Age, Family Drama |
Release Date - Dec 21, 1988 (USA) |
Run Time - 157 min. |
Countries - Denmark, Sweden |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Long but rewarding, the Danish-Swedish Pelle the Conqueror is based on the early passages of Martin Andersen Nexø's four-volume novel. Pelle (Pelle Hvengaard) is the son of a 19th-century Swedish farmer (Max Von Sydow). Seeking escape from their poverty-stricken surroundings, father and son emigrate to Denmark. Upon arrival, however, they are treated like indentured servants, leading to a profound ideological turnaround for the impressionable Pelle. In the original novel, he ended up embracing Communism, but Nexø's political overtones are soft-pedalled in the film, which concentrates on the close, indestructible relationship between Pelle and his father. Directed by Bille August, Pelle the Conqueror won the 1988 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Characteristics
Moods
Themes
Keywords
coming-of-age, farmhand, father, son, stabbing
Attributes
High Artistic Quality, High Production Values