Historien om en gut
Plot
Historien om en gut follows the story of a young schoolboy who faces unjust punishment when a mischievous classmate secretly places their teacher's watch in his pocket. Fearing the consequences of this false accusation, the boy decides to run away from home and school, embarking on an adventure at sea. His journey takes him through various challenges and encounters as he stows away on a ship, experiencing the harsh realities of life away from the comfort of home. The film chronicles his growth from a naive child to someone who must navigate the adult world of sailors and port cities. Eventually, circumstances lead to his return home where the truth about the watch incident is revealed, bringing resolution to his ordeal.
Director
About the Production
The film was produced during the golden age of Norwegian silent cinema, when director Peter Lykke-Seest was one of the country's most prolific filmmakers. The production utilized actual Norwegian locations and maritime settings to enhance authenticity. The casting of the director's son Esben Lykke-Seest in the lead role was common practice in early cinema, where family members often participated in productions. The film was shot during the challenging post-World War I period when resources for film production were limited in Norway.
Historical Background
Historien om en gut was produced in 1919, during a crucial period in Norwegian and world history. The film emerged in the immediate aftermath of World War I, when Norway, though neutral during the war, was experiencing significant social and economic changes. The Norwegian film industry, which had shown promise in the 1910s, was facing increasing competition from American films that dominated the market. This period saw the last wave of significant Norwegian silent film production before the industry's decline in the 1920s. The film reflects the cultural values of the time, emphasizing themes of personal responsibility, the importance of family, and the challenges of growing up. The maritime setting was particularly relevant to Norway, as the country's identity was closely tied to seafaring and fishing traditions. The film also represents the transitional nature of European cinema in 1919, as filmmakers were developing more sophisticated narrative techniques while still working within the constraints of silent film technology.
Why This Film Matters
Historien om en gut holds an important place in Norwegian film history as one of the surviving examples of early Norwegian feature filmmaking. The film represents the work of Peter Lykke-Seest, a pioneer who helped establish the foundations of Norwegian cinema. Its focus on a child protagonist was relatively innovative for the time, contributing to the development of coming-of-age narratives in Scandinavian cinema. The film's preservation, even in incomplete form, provides valuable insight into Norwegian society and filmmaking techniques of the silent era. It demonstrates how Norwegian filmmakers attempted to create stories that resonated with local audiences while competing with international productions. The maritime themes reflect Norway's cultural identity and relationship with the sea, making the film an important cultural document as well as entertainment. The film also represents the family-oriented approach to early filmmaking in Norway, where production was often a collaborative effort involving family members and local talent.
Making Of
The production of Historien om en gut took place during a transitional period in Norwegian cinema, when the industry was moving from short films to feature-length productions. Director Peter Lykke-Seest, who had previously worked as a writer and journalist before entering filmmaking, brought a literary sensibility to his films. The casting of his son Esben was not unusual for the time, as early cinema often relied on family members and theater actors due to the limited pool of trained film performers. The maritime sequences presented significant technical challenges for 1919 filmmaking, requiring the crew to work on actual ships and in potentially dangerous conditions. The film's production was hampered by post-war economic difficulties, which affected the availability of film stock and equipment. Despite these challenges, Lykke-Seest managed to create a visually compelling narrative that captured the essence of Norwegian coastal life.
Visual Style
The cinematography of Historien om en gut reflects the technical capabilities and aesthetic preferences of Norwegian silent cinema in 1919. The film utilizes natural lighting for many outdoor scenes, particularly the maritime sequences, creating a sense of authenticity and connection to the Norwegian landscape. The camera work is relatively static compared to later films, which was typical of the period, but shows evidence of growing sophistication in composition and framing. The film makes effective use of location shooting, capturing the distinctive architecture of Oslo and the rugged beauty of the Norwegian coastline. Interior scenes demonstrate the careful arrangement of shots common in silent cinema, with attention to visual storytelling through actors' positioning and movement. The film's visual style emphasizes clarity and narrative function over artistic experimentation, which was characteristic of Peter Lykke-Seest's approach to filmmaking. The surviving footage shows a competent use of medium shots and close-ups to convey emotional moments, particularly in scenes involving the young protagonist.
Innovations
Historien om en gut demonstrated several technical achievements for Norwegian cinema in 1919. The film's successful integration of location shooting, particularly the maritime sequences, represented a significant accomplishment given the technical limitations of the period. The production managed to film on actual ships and in harbor locations, requiring considerable logistical planning and technical expertise. The film's use of child actors in leading roles was relatively innovative for Norwegian cinema, showing the industry's growing confidence in handling more complex dramatic material. The film's editing techniques, while basic by modern standards, showed improvement over earlier Norwegian productions, with more sophisticated scene transitions and narrative pacing. The film's preservation of multiple reels, though incomplete, indicates that the production quality was sufficient to warrant careful handling and storage. The technical aspects of the film reflect the growing professionalism of the Norwegian film industry in the late 1910s, as filmmakers developed more sophisticated approaches to visual storytelling.
Music
As a silent film, Historien om en gut was originally accompanied by live musical performance during theatrical screenings. The typical accompaniment would have consisted of a pianist or small orchestra performing popular musical pieces of the era, along with specially composed or improvised music to match the on-screen action. The score likely included classical pieces, popular songs, and Norwegian folk melodies to enhance the film's cultural authenticity. Musical cues would have been carefully timed to coincide with dramatic moments, such as the protagonist's decision to run away, his adventures at sea, and his eventual return home. The emotional scenes would have been underscored with romantic or melancholic music, while the adventure sequences would have featured more dynamic and rhythmic compositions. Unfortunately, no specific information about the original musical accompaniment for this film has survived, which is common for Norwegian silent films of this period.
Famous Quotes
"En gutts eventyr begynner med en liten feil" (A boy's adventure begins with a small mistake)
"Havet kaller til dem som våger å lytte" (The sea calls to those who dare to listen)
Memorable Scenes
- The opening schoolroom scene where the watch is secretly planted in the boy's pocket, creating the central conflict of the film
- The emotional moment when the young protagonist decides to run away from home, packing his small belongings
- The tense sequence of the boy stowing away on the ship, hiding from the crew as the vessel departs
- The storm at sea scene, demonstrating the technical capabilities of 1919 Norwegian filmmaking
- The final reunion scene where the truth about the watch is revealed and the boy is welcomed home
Did You Know?
- The film's lead actor Esben Lykke-Seest was only 12 years old when he starred in this production, marking one of the earliest child lead performances in Norwegian cinema history.
- Director Peter Lykke-Seest was a prolific filmmaker in Norway's silent era, directing over 30 films between 1912 and 1924.
- The film was produced by Kosmorama Film, one of Norway's earliest film production companies, which was instrumental in developing the Norwegian film industry.
- Historien om en gut was one of the last significant Norwegian silent films before the industry began to decline in the 1920s.
- The maritime scenes were filmed using actual Norwegian ships and harbor facilities, providing authentic period detail.
- The film's themes of childhood injustice and adventure were common in Scandinavian literature and cinema of the period.
- Only a partial print of the film is known to exist today, making it a rare example of early Norwegian feature filmmaking.
- The film's release coincided with the aftermath of World War I, when Norwegian cinema was experiencing a brief renaissance before the dominance of American films.
- Peter Lykke-Seest often wrote his own screenplays, and this film was likely adapted from his original story.
- The film was distributed internationally under various titles, including 'The Story of a Boy' in English-speaking markets.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception of Historien om en gut was generally positive, with Norwegian critics praising the film's authentic Norwegian setting and the performance of young Esben Lykke-Seest. Reviews from 1919 highlighted the film's emotional appeal and its successful portrayal of childhood experiences. Critics noted the film's technical achievements, particularly the maritime sequences, which were considered ambitious for Norwegian cinema of the period. The film was recognized as one of Peter Lykke-Seest's more accomplished works, demonstrating his growth as a filmmaker. Modern film historians view the film as an important artifact of early Norwegian cinema, though its incomplete preservation status makes full assessment difficult. The film is often cited in academic studies of Scandinavian silent cinema as an example of how Norwegian filmmakers attempted to create culturally relevant content during a period of increasing American dominance.
What Audiences Thought
Historien om en gut was well-received by Norwegian audiences upon its release in 1919. The film's story of a young boy's adventures resonated with family audiences, and its Norwegian setting and cultural references made it particularly appealing to domestic viewers. Contemporary accounts suggest that the film performed respectably at the box office, especially in Oslo and other major Norwegian cities. The performance of young Esben Lykke-Seest was particularly praised by audiences, who found his portrayal of the troubled schoolboy convincing and emotionally engaging. The film's maritime elements also appealed to Norwegian audiences, many of whom had personal or family connections to seafaring. While the film did not achieve the same level of popular success as some of Lykke-Seest's earlier works, it maintained a solid audience following during its theatrical run. The film's themes of childhood injustice and adventure were universally understood and appreciated by audiences of the time.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Contemporary Scandinavian literature
- German Kino films
- Danish silent cinema
- 19th century coming-of-age stories
- Maritime adventure narratives
- Social realist literature
This Film Influenced
- Later Norwegian coming-of-age films
- Scandinavian children's cinema
- Norwegian maritime films
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Film Restoration
The film is partially preserved with only incomplete footage surviving. Some reels are known to exist in the Norwegian Film Institute's archives, though the film is not complete. This makes it a rare and valuable example of early Norwegian feature filmmaking. The surviving footage has been digitized for preservation purposes, but the film remains incomplete, with some sequences possibly lost forever. Efforts continue to locate missing footage in other archives and private collections.