''Ditte, Child of Man'', ( da, Ditte Menneskebarn), is a 1946 socio-realistic

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

drama directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen based on the novel by Martin Andersen Nexø. The film stars Tove Maës in the tragic story of an impoverished young girl who becomes the victim of harsh social conditions. The film has been noted as the first example of the more realistic and serious Danish film in the post-World War II era. ''Ditte, Child of Man'' is one of the ten films listed in Denmark's cultural canon by the Danish Ministry of Culture.

Story

Ditte ( Tove Maës), born illegitimately, is deserted as a young girl by her alcoholic mother Sørine (

Karen Lykkehus Karen Lykkehus (22 October 1904 – 25 October 1992) was a Danish actress. She worked on the stage at the Det Ny Theater from 1928 to 1930 and Frederiksberg Theater. Lykkehus entered film in 1933 in '' De blaa drenge'' in which she starred al ...

). She moves in with her grandparents Maren (Karen Poulsen) and Søren Mand (Rasmus Ottesen). But after Søren dies, it is Ditte who becomes the old woman's only support. It is the small girl's deepest sorrow that she has no father, so she is pleased when she hears that Lars Peter (Edwin Tiemroth) will marry her mother and they will all live together. However, it is Ditte who becomes like a mother to Lars Peter's three small children. Their poverty is so oppressive, it drives Ditte's mother to kill Maren, and Sørine is sent away to prison. Ditte, despite her young age, must assume all of the household's responsibilities. As time passes, a warm relationship develops between Ditte and Lars Peter. One day, Lars Peter's brother Johannes (Ebbe Rode) appears. Johannes is a poor knife and scissors sharpener who informs them of his big business schemes, however, his schemes bring nothing but disappointment. Lars moves away and Ditte must find herself a job. Ditte takes a job as a servant on a rural farm. The farm owner's weak-willed son Karl (Preben Neergard), who is completely controlled by his mother (Maria Garland), falls in love with Ditte and they develop a happy romance. However, when Ditte becomes pregnant, Karl does nothing while his mother forces Ditte to leave the farm. Deeply distraught, Ditte searches after Lars Peter, the only parental figure who ever showed her kindness and understanding. Ditte discovers her mother has been paroled from prison and Ditte begins a new life—forgiving and caring for her mother—at the same time that she becomes the mother of her own illegitimate child.

Cast

* Tove Maës as Ditte *

Karen Poulsen Karen Poulsen (10 May 1881 – 15 February 1953) was a Danish stage and film actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or ...

as the Grandmother * Rasmus Ottesen as the Grandfather *

as Ditte's Mother * Jette Kehlet as Ditte when she was a girl *

Edvin Tiemroth Edvin Tiemroth (18 February 1915 – 16 November 1984) was a Danish actor and film director. He appeared in 15 films between 1939 and 1976. He also directed 13 films between 1954 and 1974. His 1960 co-directed film '' The Last Winter'' was e ...

as Lars Peter *

Kai Holm Kai Holm (4 March 1896 – 10 July 1985) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 41 films between 1927 and 1979. He was born in Lemvig, Denmark and died in Denmark. Filmography *'' Vester Vov-Vov'' - 1927 *'' Tordenstenene'' - 1927 *'' Ha ...

as Innkeeper *

Maria Garland Maria Garland (16 May 1889 – 26 October 1967) was a Danish stage and film actress. Selected filmography *'' Verdensgiften'' - 1914 *'' Professor Petersens Plejebørn'' - 1924 *'' En kæreste for meget'' - 1924 *'' Kraft og skønhed'' ...

as Karl's Mother *

Preben Neergaard Preben Neergaard (2 May 1920 – 22 July 1990) was a Danish stage and film actor. Filmography *'' Ungdommens rus'' - 1943 *'' Vredens dag'' - 1943 *''Teatertosset'' - 1944 *''Elly Petersen'' - 1944 *''De røde enge'' - 1945 *'' Diskret ophold'' ...

as Karl * Henny Lindorff Buckhøj as Sine the maid * Ebbe Langberg as Christian Ditte's brother * Lars Henning-Jensen as Paul Ditte's brother * Hanne Juhl as Ditte's sister * Per Buckhøj as Head Clerk *

Valsø Holm Valsø Holm (31 December 1906 – 19 December 1987) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 80 films between 1937 and 1982. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark. Filmography *'' En søndag på Amager'' - 1941 *'' To som ...

as Johansen the dayworker

Reception

Danish film historian Ib Monty wrote that ''Ditte, Child of Man'', in its harsh portrayal of social conditions was the first example of the realistic serious Danish film. It followed the growing trend in contemporary European cinema during the post-war period after World War II. Monty wrote that the film "was a tremendous success in Denmark and it also won a certain international recognition."Monty, Ib However, film reviewers in the United States (where the movie was seen in an edited version which removed any nudity) dismissed the movie as being too broad and melodramatic.Wollstein, Hans J. Maes in a later interview replied that people there hadn't yet been confronted with poverty in such a realistic portrayal.

References

External links

*
Ditte Menneskebarn
at Den Danske Film Database (In Danish)
Ditte Menneskebarn
Det Danske Filminstitut (In Danish) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ditte, Child Of Man 1940s Danish-language films 1946 films Films directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen Danish drama films 1946 drama films Danish Culture Canon Films scored by Poul Schierbeck Films based on Danish novels Danish black-and-white films