Hamsun: Norway's accidental traitor . . . .

Posted by mr grits on April 18, 2010 at 22:19:42

This film covers the last seventeen years of Norway's Nobel winner Knut Hamsum. Revered as a patriarchal figure to Norway, Hamsun unwittingly became a spokesman for Nazi Germany's propaganda machine as Hamsum was seduced into believing that Norway would hold a special place in Europe after Hitler united it.

Hamsum's misguided support was fueled from his hatred of England which blockaded food shipments during WWI. He hated everything the English stood for with what seemed to be rather good reasons: their unbridled imperialism and the way they treated enemies and their conquered in India and South Africa. He willingly spoke against England hoping for their crushing defeat at the hands of Germany. Hamsun's wife became inspired by Quisling and other Nazis who were careful to explain how very important a woman's place was in national socialism. She became inflamed with the spirit and toured Germany doing readings and speaking on the behalf of Knut with her own words. At the end of the war both he and his wife were arrested and it was only then that he became aware of the Holocaust and all the Nazi's evil outside Norway.

Von Sydow does his usually great job and ages quite a bit in Hamsun's last years. His tumultuous relationship with his wife was figured prominently in his last years and his relationship with his children was nearly non-existent.

This is a historians film that relies heavily on building the characters of Knut and Marie. Pensive and sometimes tedious it has its place as a film of historical merit.

2 hrs 34 mins

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - Hamsun: Norway's accidental traitor . . . . - mr grits 22:19:42 04/18/10 (2)

RE: Pan- - patrickU 08:24:05 04/19/10 (0)

My impression of Hamsun was that he was more than an unwitting spokesman for the Nazis - Doug Flynn 00:57:46 04/19/10 (0)

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.