Growth of the Soil

About the production

Filmed on location in authentic Norwegian wilderness to capture the harsh beauty of the setting. The production faced significant challenges due to the remote filming locations and primitive equipment available in early 1920s Norwegian cinema. Director Gunnar Sommerfeldt insisted on using natural lighting and real weather conditions to enhance the film's realism.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

By 1921, distribution was widening and Growth of the Soil reached audiences through the theatrical channels dominant before television.

Why this film matters

Reference works on 1921 cinema cite Growth of the Soil when tracing genre and regional production patterns.

Making of

The production of 'Growth of the Soil' was a monumental undertaking for the nascent Norwegian film industry of the early 1920s. Director Gunnar Sommerfeldt, primarily known as a theater director, undertook the ambitious project of adapting Knut Hamsun's complex novel just four years after its publication. The casting of Amund Rydland as Isak was considered a masterstroke, as his rugged, authentic appearance and powerful screen presence perfectly embodied the novel's protagonist. The film crew faced extreme weather conditions while shooting in the Norwegian wilderness, often working in sub-zero temperatures with primitive equipment. Karen Poulsen's portrayal of Inger required significant makeup work to authentically depict the character's harelip, a sensitive subject for the time. The production utilized local farmers and villagers as extras, many of whom had never seen a film camera before, adding to the documentary-like quality of many scenes. Sommerfeldt insisted on long, uncut takes to capture the rhythm of rural life and the slow, deliberate pace of agricultural work, creating a meditative quality that was unusual for silent cinema of the era.

What critics said

Audience data from 1921 is sparse; reception for Growth of the Soil is inferred from reissue and archival interest.

Did you know?

• Based on Knut Hamsun's Nobel Prize-winning novel 'Markens Grøde' (1917), widely praised works in Norwegian literature
• This was one of the earliest feature film adaptations of a Nobel Prize-winning work
• Director Gunnar Sommerfeldt also played a role in the film
• The film was considered lost for decades before a partial restoration was completed in the 1970s
• Amund Rydland, who played Isak, was one of Norway's most prominent stage actors of his time
• The film's production coincided with Norway's emerging national cinema identity
• Real farmers and local villagers were used as extras to enhance authenticity
• The film was shot during actual Norwegian winter conditions, adding to the realism but creating production difficulties
• Only a few copies of the original film survived, making it a rare piece of early Norwegian cinema
• The adaptation was praised for remaining faithful to Hamsun's philosophical themes about modernization versus traditional values

Awards & recognition

• No major awards were given for this film, as the Norwegian film award system was not established until decades later

Visual style

The cinematography of 'Growth of the Soil' is characterized by its naturalistic approach and breathtaking use of the Norwegian landscape. The film employs extensive location shooting in the actual wilderness of Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen, capturing the stark beauty and harshness of the environment. Long takes and wide shots emphasize the isolation of the characters and their smallness against the vast, unforgiving landscape. Natural lighting is used throughout, creating authentic seasonal variations and capturing the unique quality of Nordic light. The camera work often adopts a static, observational style that mirrors the patient, methodical nature of agricultural work. Close-ups are used sparingly but effectively to convey the emotional states of the characters, particularly during moments of hardship or revelation. The film's visual composition frequently frames characters against the horizon or within the landscape, reinforcing the central theme of humanity's relationship with nature. This naturalistic approach was innovative for its time and influenced subsequent Norwegian cinematography in its treatment of landscape as character.

Innovations

For its time and place, 'Growth of the Soil' demonstrated significant technical achievements in Norwegian cinema. The film's successful location shooting in remote wilderness areas represented a major logistical accomplishment for the early 1920s Norwegian film industry. The use of natural lighting throughout the production was technically challenging but resulted in a visual authenticity that was uncommon for the period. The film's runtime of 112 minutes made it one of the longer Norwegian productions of its era, requiring sophisticated narrative structure to maintain audience engagement. The preservation of footage showing actual farming techniques and rural Norwegian life provides invaluable documentary value. The makeup effects used to create Inger's harelip were notably realistic for the period. The film's survival, albeit in incomplete form, testifies to the relative quality of the original film stock used. These technical aspects, while perhaps not revolutionary by international standards, represented significant steps forward for the emerging Norwegian film industry.

Music

As a silent film, 'Growth of the Soil' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The typical score would have been provided by a theater organist or small ensemble, using popular classical pieces and mood music to accompany the action. Specific information about the original musical accompaniment is scarce, but it likely included Norwegian folk melodies and classical pieces that reflected the film's serious tone and rural setting. Modern restorations of the film have been accompanied by newly composed scores that incorporate traditional Norwegian musical elements. Contemporary screenings often feature live musical performances with instruments typical of Norwegian folk traditions, including the Hardanger fiddle. The absence of synchronized sound emphasizes the visual storytelling and allows the natural sounds of the farm work and landscape to exist in the viewer's imagination, potentially enhancing the film's meditative quality.

Famous quotes

The earth is faithful, but it demands much in return

A man is nothing without his land

Progress comes, but the soil remembers

In the wilderness, we find ourselves

The railroad brings the world, but takes away the soul

Memorable scenes

• Isak's first arrival at the barren land and his initial struggle to break the soil
• The wedding scene between Isak and Inger, showing the formation of their partnership
• Inger's emotional departure for prison, leaving her family behind
• The arrival of the railroad in the remote valley, symbolizing the encroachment of modernity
• The final scenes showing the aged Isak contemplating his life's work and the changes that have come to his world

What audiences thought

Norwegian audiences of the early 1920s responded positively to the film, particularly those familiar with Hamsun's beloved novel. Many viewers appreciated seeing their national literature brought to life on screen, and the film's authentic depiction of rural Norwegian life resonated with audiences who still had strong connections to agricultural communities. The film's themes of perseverance and the dignity of hard work struck a chord with a population recovering from the disruptions of World War I. However, the film's slow pace and serious tone may have limited its appeal to more urban audiences seeking entertainment. The limited distribution and preservation challenges of the era meant that relatively few Norwegians actually saw the film compared to modern standards. Today, the film is primarily viewed by cinema enthusiasts, students of Norwegian culture, and those interested in the history of Scandinavian film, who appreciate it as a window into early 20th-century Norwegian cinema and values.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Knut Hamsun's novel 'Markens Grøde'
• Swedish silent cinema's naturalistic style
• Danish literary adaptations
• German expressionist visual techniques
• Norwegian folk traditions

This film influenced

• Later Norwegian rural dramas
• Scandinavian films about isolation and nature
• Literary adaptations from Nordic literature
• Documentaries about traditional farming
• Modern Norwegian arthouse cinema

Film restoration

Partially preserved - Only fragments of the original film survive, with approximately 60% of the original footage recovered. The Norwegian Film Institute completed a restoration in the 1970s using existing prints and fragments. Some scenes remain lost, reconstructed through still photographs and intertitles. The surviving elements are stored at the Norwegian Film Archive in Oslo.

Where to watch

• Norwegian Film Institute's archive screenings
• Specialized silent film festivals
• European film archives with screening permissions
• Academic film studies collections
• Occasional broadcasts on Norwegian cultural television channels