Hunger (1966 film)
Encyclopedia
Hunger is a 1966 black-and-white
drama film directed by Denmark's
Henning Carlsen
, starring Swedish
actor Per Oscarsson
, and based upon the novel Hunger
by Norwegian
Nobel Prize-winning author Knut Hamsun
. Filmed on location in Oslo, it was the first film produced as a cooperative effort among the three Scandinavian countries.
With its stark focus on a life of poverty and desperation, the film is considered a masterpiece of social realism
. Film historians suggest it is the first Danish film to gain serious international attention since the work of Carl Theodor Dreyer
. It is one of the ten films listed in Denmark's cultural canon by the Danish Ministry of Culture.
) comes to the city from the country. He stands on a bridge, overlooking running water, writing but clearly starving. He visits a pawnbroker several times. He sells his waistcoat for a few cents, then gives the money to a beggar. Other money that falls into his hands he also gives away. He has written an article that a newspaper editor (Henki Kolstad) agrees to publish if he makes some corrections, but Pontus is too proud to accept an advance when offered, so he leaves elated but still hungry. He begs a bone for his dog, which he gnaws on secretly in an alley. He often has the chance to make things better for himself, but his pride gets in the way, such as when he declines the much-needed help of a worried friend.
When he is unable to pay his rent, the landlady (Else Heiberg) evicts him. Another landlady shortly does the same. Hunger is constantly overwhelming Pontus and he drifts between hallucination and reality while struggling to survive. He suffers humiliations which lead him to the edge of insanity. He applies for an accounting job but is rejected, and fails a physical exam to be a fireman because he wears glasses. One hallucination revolves around Ylajali (Gunnel Lindblom
), an apparently refined woman he has met on the street. Despite their mutual flirtations, nothing ever evolves between them. On a sudden impulse, Pontus takes a job as a crew member on an outbound freighter
. His destination is unknown.
and won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
in 1967. For his leading role, Oscarsson won Best Actor
awards at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival
, 1967 Bodil Awards
and the USA's National Society of Film Critics
award for Best Actor in 1968. The film was also selected as the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 39th Academy Awards
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
drama film directed by Denmark's
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Henning Carlsen
Henning Carlsen
Henning Carlsen is a Danish film director, screenwriter, and producer most noted for his documentaries and his contributions to the style of Cinéma vérité. Carlsen's 1966 social-realistic drama Hunger was nominated for the Palme D'Or and won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film...
, starring Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
actor Per Oscarsson
Per Oscarsson
- External links :...
, and based upon the novel Hunger
Hunger (novel)
Hunger is a novel by the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun and was published in its final form in 1890. Parts of it had been published anonymously in the Danish magazine Ny Jord in 1888. The novel has been hailed as the literary opening of the 20th century and an outstanding example of modern,...
by Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Nobel Prize-winning author Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
. Filmed on location in Oslo, it was the first film produced as a cooperative effort among the three Scandinavian countries.
With its stark focus on a life of poverty and desperation, the film is considered a masterpiece of social realism
Social realism
Social Realism, also known as Socio-Realism, is an artistic movement, expressed in the visual and other realist arts, which depicts social and racial injustice, economic hardship, through unvarnished pictures of life's struggles; often depicting working class activities as heroic...
. Film historians suggest it is the first Danish film to gain serious international attention since the work of Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jr. was a Danish film director. He is regarded by many critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest directors in cinema.-Life:Dreyer was born illegitimate in Copenhagen, Denmark...
. It is one of the ten films listed in Denmark's cultural canon by the Danish Ministry of Culture.
Plot
In 1890 Kristiania (Oslo), an impoverished and lonely writer named Pontus (Per OscarssonPer Oscarsson
- External links :...
) comes to the city from the country. He stands on a bridge, overlooking running water, writing but clearly starving. He visits a pawnbroker several times. He sells his waistcoat for a few cents, then gives the money to a beggar. Other money that falls into his hands he also gives away. He has written an article that a newspaper editor (Henki Kolstad) agrees to publish if he makes some corrections, but Pontus is too proud to accept an advance when offered, so he leaves elated but still hungry. He begs a bone for his dog, which he gnaws on secretly in an alley. He often has the chance to make things better for himself, but his pride gets in the way, such as when he declines the much-needed help of a worried friend.
When he is unable to pay his rent, the landlady (Else Heiberg) evicts him. Another landlady shortly does the same. Hunger is constantly overwhelming Pontus and he drifts between hallucination and reality while struggling to survive. He suffers humiliations which lead him to the edge of insanity. He applies for an accounting job but is rejected, and fails a physical exam to be a fireman because he wears glasses. One hallucination revolves around Ylajali (Gunnel Lindblom
Gunnel Lindblom
Gunnel Lindblom , is a Swedish film actress and director. As an actor she has been particularly associated with the work of Ingmar Bergman, though in 1965 she performed the lead role in Miss Julie for BBC Television...
), an apparently refined woman he has met on the street. Despite their mutual flirtations, nothing ever evolves between them. On a sudden impulse, Pontus takes a job as a crew member on an outbound freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
. His destination is unknown.
Cast
- Per OscarssonPer Oscarsson- External links :...
... Pontus - Gunnel LindblomGunnel LindblomGunnel Lindblom , is a Swedish film actress and director. As an actor she has been particularly associated with the work of Ingmar Bergman, though in 1965 she performed the lead role in Miss Julie for BBC Television...
... Ylajali - Birgitte FederspielBirgitte FederspielBirgitte Federspiel was a Danish film, theater, and TV actress. As a younger woman she won two Bodil Awards for film with the first win in 1951....
... Her sister - Knud RexKnud RexKnud Rex was a Danish stage and film actor.-Filmography:*Sol over Danmark - 1936*Den gamle præst - 1939*Komtessen på Stenholt - 1939*Frøken Kirkemus - 1941*Natekspressen Knud Rex (30 March 1912 - 24 December 1968) was a Danish stage and film actor.-Filmography:*Sol over Danmark - 1936*Den gamle...
... Landlord - Hans W. PetersenHans W. PetersenHans W. Petersen was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 40 films between 1921 and 1974.He was born and died in Denmark.-Selected filmography:* Skal vi vædde en million? * Han, hun og Hamlet...
... Grocer - Henki Kolstad ... Editor
- Roy Bjørnstad ... Konstantin
- Sverre Hansen ... Painter
- Pål SkjønbergPål SkjønbergPål Eugen Bucher Skjønberg is a Norwegian actor.He was born in Stavanger as a son of actress Henny Skjønberg and actor Eugen Skjønberg . He is the older brother of actor Espen Skjønberg. They grew up in Bærum and Oslo. In 1946 he married actress Elisabeth Bang .He made his stage debut for Bærum...
... Constable - Else Heiberg ... Landlady
- Lise Fjeldstad ... Little girl
- Carl OttosenCarl OttosenCarl Ottosen was a Danish actor, screenwriter and film director. He appeared in 70 films between 1947 and 1972.He was born and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*De pokkers unger - 1947*Bag de røde porte - 1951...
... Sailor - Osvald HelmuthOsvald HelmuthOsvald Helmuth was a Danish stage and film actor and revue singer.-Biography:HIs career began in Randers in 1913, and he later appeared in the Nørrebro Teater in Copenhagen...
... Pawnbroker - Sigrid Horne-RasmussenSigrid Horne-RasmussenSigrid Horne-Rasmussen was a Danish stage and film actress. She was married to Danish actor and comedian Dirch Passer.- Filmography :*Sol over Danmark - 1936*Bolettes brudefærd - 1938...
... Landlady
Awards
The film was nominated for the Palme D'OrPalme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
and won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
Bodil Award for Best Danish Film
The Bodil Award for Best Danish Film is one of the categories for the Bodil Awards presented annually by the Danish Union of Film Critics . It was created in 1948 and is one of the oldest film prizes in Europe. The judging committee can decide not to give out the award if no deserving films are...
in 1967. For his leading role, Oscarsson won Best Actor
Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Actor Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.- Award Winners :-External links:* * ....
awards at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival
1966 Cannes Film Festival
The 19th Cannes Film Festival was held on May 5-20, 1966. To honour the festival's 20th anniversary, a special prize was given.-Jury:*Sophia Loren *Marcel Achard *Vinicius de Moraes *Tetsuro Furukaki...
, 1967 Bodil Awards
Bodil Awards
The Bodil Awards are the major Danish film awards given by Denmark's National Association of Film Critics . The awards are presented annually at a ceremony in the Imperial Cinema in Copenhagen. Established in 1948, it is one of the oldest film awards in Europe...
and the USA's National Society of Film Critics
National Society of Film Critics
The National Society of Film Critics is an American film critic organization. As of December 2007 the NSFC had approximately 60 members who wrote for a variety of weekly and daily newspapers.-History:...
award for Best Actor in 1968. The film was also selected as the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 39th Academy Awards
39th Academy Awards
The 39th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1966, were held on April 10, 1967 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California...
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
See also
- List of submissions to the 39th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Danish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film