''Growth of the Soil'' ( no, Markens grøde) is a

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe *Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway *Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including the ...

silent film from 1921 based on

Knut Hamsun Knut Hamsun (4 August 1859 – 19 February 1952) was a Norwegian writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. Hamsun's work spans more than 70 years and shows variation with regard to consciousness, subject, perspective a ...

's novel ''

Growth of the Soil ''Growth of the Soil'' (Norwegian ''Markens Grøde'') is a novel by Knut Hamsun which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. It follows the story of a man who settles and lives in rural Norway. First published in 1917, it has since been tra ...

''. The Danish filmmaker

Gunnar Sommerfeldt Gunnar Sommerfeldt (4 September 1890 – 30 August 1947) was a Danish actor and film maker. In 1919 he directed '' Saga Borgarættarinnar'', which was released in 1920 and was the first feature film shot in Iceland. Sommerfeldt also wrote the scr ...

wrote the screenplay and directed the film, and he also played the role of the bailiff Geissler in the film. Sommerfeldt invested DKK 240,00 in the film, which was a considerable sum in 1921.

Story

The film opens with images from a forest under a glacier, where Isak Sellanrå is clearing the land. Eventually, however, the perspective begins to change, and smaller stories break in and toward the story of Isak and Inger. A modern society is emerging around the two. The story of young Barbro walking into the river with her child, but still ending with Aksel, also receives significant attention.

Filming

The filming took place in the

Rana Rana may refer to: Astronomy * Rana (crater), a crater on Mars * Delta Eridani or Rana, a star People, groups and titles * Rana (name), a given name and surname (including a list of people and characters with the name) * Rana (title), a histori ...

district and was a very big event. A number of locals were used as extras and for minor roles. Isaac's clearing was filmed in

Røvassdalen Røvassdalen is a valley in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. The upper part of the valley is located within the Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park. The river of Røvassåga flows through the valley, and later it joins with ...

, and other parts were filmed at Tverånes in

Mo i Rana Mo i Rana () is a List of towns and cities in Norway, city, and the administrative centre of the Municipalities of Norway, municipality of Rana, Norway, Rana, in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Helgeland region of Nordland, just sou ...

, and

Hemnesberget Hemnesberget is a village in the municipality of Hemnes in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the Hemnes peninsula which lies on the south side of the Ranfjorden. Hemnes Church is located in this village. The village has a population ( ...

and Korgen. A couple of Sami were also hired from the neighboring Swedish municipality of Tärna.

Rediscovery

For many years, the film was presumed lost. It then reappeared in several places. An American professor owned shortened edition, and it is believed that this 60-minute film was the version that was screened in the United States in 1928. A longer version surfaced in the Netherlands. These two copies were combined to create the version that was screened in 2009 during Hamsun Days.

Cast

Amund Rydland Amund Rydland (25 November 1888 – 16 February 1967) was a Norwegian stage and film actor and theatre director. Born in the village of Alversund, Lindås municipality in Hordaland, he made his stage debut at Det Norske Teatret in 1913, and serv ...

: Isak *

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 (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of ...

: Inger (credited as Karen Thalbitzer) *

Ragna Wettergreen Ragna Wettergreen (19 September 1864 – 27 June 1958) was a Norwegian actress. Biography Ragna Wettergreen was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. She was the daughter of Olaus Olsen and Inger Marie Rynning Kristianisen. She was the sist ...

: Oline *

: Geissler, the bailiff *Inge Sommerfeldt: Barbro *Almar Bjørnefjell: Elesius, a young farmer *Sigurd Berg Bruland: Brede Olsen, a farmboy *Siljusson av Terna: Os-Anders *Sivert Eliassen. Sivert *Ernst Vaumund: Aksel Strøm *

Rolf Christensen Rolf Christensen (August 4, 1894 – May 18, 1962) was a Norwegian actor and film director who was particularly well known for his roles in operettas, plays, and farces. Christensen debuted on stage in 1918 at the Trondheim National Theater and ...

*Sigurd Køvatn *Sesse Schanke

References

{{reflist 1921 films Norwegian silent feature films Films based on works by Knut Hamsun Norwegian black-and-white films Norwegian drama films 1921 drama films Silent drama films