Driving with Greenland Dogs
Plot
This groundbreaking 1897 documentary short captures Johan Carl Joensen, a Danish colonial manager who had recently returned from Greenland, demonstrating his dog sledding skills in Copenhagen's Fælledparken. The film shows Joensen skillfully maneuvering his traditional Greenlandic dog sled through the urban park, with his team of husky-like dogs pulling the sled across the grass and paths. The footage provides a rare glimpse into Arctic transportation methods being showcased in a completely different environment, creating a striking contrast between the Greenlandic tradition and the Danish urban setting. The film serves as both an ethnographic document and an early example of bringing exotic practices to European audiences for their education and entertainment.
Director
Cast
About the Production
Filmed using Peter Elfelt's own camera, which he had acquired after studying film techniques in Paris. The production was challenging as it required transporting multiple Greenland dogs and a full sled to Copenhagen. The filming took place during a single day in the park, with Elfelt having to manually crank the camera while capturing the moving dogs and sled. This was one of the first films shot outdoors in Denmark, requiring Elfelt to deal with natural lighting conditions that were difficult to control.
Historical Background
This film was created during the very dawn of cinema, just two years after the Lumière brothers held their first public screening in Paris. In 1897, motion pictures were still a novelty, and most films were short actuality documentaries showing real events or scenes. Denmark was quickly establishing itself as an early pioneer in cinema, with Peter Elfelt leading the way. The film also reflects Denmark's colonial relationship with Greenland, which had been under Danish control since 1814. The late 19th century was a period of great interest in ethnography and documenting 'exotic' cultures and practices for European audiences. This film served both as entertainment and as an educational document about Danish colonial territories and their unique cultural practices.
Why This Film Matters
As one of Denmark's first films, 'Driving with Greenland Dogs' holds immense historical importance in Danish cinema history. It represents the beginning of Denmark's rich film tradition that would later produce internationally acclaimed directors like Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film is also significant as an early example of ethnographic documentary, capturing a cultural practice that might otherwise have been lost to history. It demonstrates how early cinema was used to bridge geographical distances and bring distant cultures to local audiences. The film's preservation allows modern viewers to witness both the early techniques of filmmaking and a traditional Greenlandic practice from the 19th century. It stands as a testament to how cinema began as a medium for documenting reality before evolving into narrative storytelling.
Making Of
Peter Elfelt, who worked as a royal court photographer, was inspired to make films after attending a demonstration of the Lumière brothers' cinematograph in Paris in 1896. He purchased his own camera and began experimenting with filming techniques. For 'Driving with Greenland Dogs,' Elfelt collaborated with Johan Carl Joensen, who had recently returned from his posting in Greenland. The filming required significant logistical coordination, including transporting the sled dogs from Greenland and finding a suitable location in Copenhagen. Fælledparken, a large public park, was chosen for its open spaces. The filming was done in a single take, with Elfelt having to manually crank the camera at a consistent speed while following the moving sled. The dogs, unused to the urban environment, were initially difficult to control, but Joensen's expertise helped complete the successful take.
Visual Style
The cinematography is characteristic of the earliest films - a single static shot with the camera positioned to capture the full action. Elfelt used a Lumière camera, which required manual cranking at approximately 16 frames per second. The framing was carefully composed to show both the dogs, the sled, and Joensen as he maneuvered through the park. The black and white film stock of the era provides high contrast images, with the white dogs standing out against the darker background. The camera work, while simple by modern standards, was technically impressive for its time, requiring steady operation and proper exposure in outdoor conditions without modern light meters.
Innovations
This film represents several technical achievements for its time. It was one of the first films shot outdoors in Denmark, requiring Peter Elfelt to master filming in natural lighting conditions. The successful capture of moving subjects (both dogs and sled) demonstrated early mastery of tracking motion, which was challenging with the hand-cranked cameras of the era. The film also shows early understanding of documentary filming - capturing real action rather than staged performances. The preservation of the film itself is a technical achievement, as most films from this period have been lost due to the unstable nature of early film stock.
Music
This is a silent film, as synchronized sound technology would not be developed for another 30 years. During its original exhibition in 1897, the film would have been accompanied by live music, typically a pianist or small orchestra playing appropriate music to enhance the viewing experience. The music would likely have been light and upbeat to match the novelty and entertainment value of seeing the dogs in action. Modern screenings of the restored film often feature newly composed scores or period-appropriate music to recreate the original viewing experience.
Memorable Scenes
- The opening shot shows Johan Carl Joensen standing beside his traditional Greenlandic sled, with the team of dogs harnessed and ready. As he commands the team, the dogs begin pulling the sled across the grass of Fælledparken, creating a striking image of Arctic transportation in the heart of Copenhagen. The camera captures the smooth motion of the dogs working in unison, with Joensen skillfully guiding them through the park paths, demonstrating the expertise he gained during his time in Greenland.
Did You Know?
- This is considered one of the first Danish films ever made, marking Denmark's entry into cinema history
- Peter Elfelt was a photographer by trade and only began making films after seeing the Lumière brothers' work in Paris
- Johan Carl Joensen was an actual colonial administrator who had spent years in Greenland, lending authenticity to the demonstration
- The film was shot on 35mm film using a Lumière camera that Elfelt had purchased
- This is believed to be the first documentary film made in Denmark
- The dogs used in the film were actual Greenland sled dogs, specially brought to Denmark for the demonstration
- The film was part of a series of short documentaries Elfelt made about Danish life and culture
- Only one copy of the film is known to survive today, preserved in the Danish Film Institute
- The original title in Danish was 'Kørsel med Grønlandske hunde'
- This film predates the first narrative films by several years, belonging to cinema's actuality film period
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception is difficult to document as film criticism was not yet established as a profession in 1897. However, newspaper accounts from the time suggest that audiences were fascinated by the novelty of seeing moving images, particularly of such an unusual sight as Greenlandic dogs sledding in a Copenhagen park. Modern film historians and archivists recognize the film as a crucial document in the history of Danish cinema and early documentary filmmaking. The Danish Film Institute considers it one of the most important artifacts from the earliest period of Danish film production, representing the nation's entry into the new medium of motion pictures.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1897 would have been amazed by this film, as moving pictures were still a complete novelty. The sight of dogs pulling a sled through a park would have been both entertaining and educational. Contemporary accounts suggest that Elfelt's films were popular attractions at the Panopticon in Copenhagen, where they were shown alongside other short films. Modern audiences viewing the preserved film are struck by its historical significance and the glimpse it provides into both early filmmaking techniques and 19th-century life. The film serves as a time capsule, allowing viewers to witness a moment from over 125 years ago.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Lumière brothers' actuality films
- Early ethnographic photography
- Travelogues and expedition documentation
This Film Influenced
- Subsequent Danish documentary shorts by Peter Elfelt
- Early ethnographic films
- Danish colonial documentaries
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
The film is preserved and archived at the Danish Film Institute (Det Danske Filminstitut). It has been digitally restored and is considered one of the most important surviving examples of early Danish cinema. The preservation includes both the original film elements and a digital copy for access and study. The film is occasionally screened at film festivals and special events focusing on cinema history.