''Hunger'' ( da, Sult, sv, Svält) is a 1966

black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

film directed by Denmark's

Henning Carlsen Henning Carlsen (4 June 1927 – 30 May 2014) was a Danish film director, screenwriter, and producer most noted for his documentaries and his contributions to the style of cinéma vérité. Carlsen's 1966 social-realistic drama ''Hunger'' (''Sul ...

, starring

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

actor

Per Oscarsson Per Oscar Heinrich Oscarsson (28 January 1927 – 31 December 2010) was a Swedish actor. He is best known for his role in the 1966 film ''Hunger'', which earned him a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. Early life Oscarsson was born, along ...

, and based upon the novel ''

Hunger In politics, humanitarian aid, and the social sciences, hunger is defined as a condition in which a person does not have the physical or financial capability to eat sufficient food to meet basic nutritional needs for a sustained period. In the ...

'' by

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 ...

Nobel Prize-winning author

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 ...

. Filmed on location in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

, it was the first film produced as a cooperative effort among the three

Scandinavian countries Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swede ...

. With its stark focus on a life of poverty and desperation, the film is considered a masterpiece of

social realism Social realism is the term used for work produced by painters, printmakers, photographers, writers and filmmakers that aims to draw attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class as a means to critique the power structure ...

. Film historians suggest it was the first Danish film to gain serious international attention since the work of

Carl Theodor Dreyer Carl Theodor Dreyer (; 3 February 1889 – 20 March 1968), commonly known as Carl Th. Dreyer, was a Danish film director and screenwriter. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, his movies are noted for their emotional aus ...

. It is one of the ten films listed in Denmark's cultural canon by the Danish Ministry of Culture.

Plot

In 1890 Kristiania (Oslo), an impoverished and lonely writer named Pontus (

) comes to the city from the country. He stands on a bridge, overlooking running water, writing but clearly starving. He visits a pawnbroker several times. He sells his waistcoat for a few cents, then gives the money to a beggar. Other money that falls into his hands he also gives away. He has written an article that a newspaper editor (Henki Kolstad) agrees to publish if he makes some corrections, but Pontus is too proud to accept an advance when offered, so he leaves elated but still hungry. He begs a bone for his fictitious dog, which he gnaws on secretly in an alley. He often has the chance to make things better for himself, but his pride gets in the way, such as when he declines the much-needed help of a worried friend. When he is unable to pay his rent, the landlady (Else Heiberg) evicts him. Another landlady shortly does the same. Hunger is constantly overwhelming Pontus and he drifts between hallucination and reality while struggling to survive. He suffers humiliations which lead him to the edge of insanity. He applies for an accounting job but is rejected, and fails a physical exam to be a fireman because he wears glasses. One hallucination revolves around Ylajali (

Gunnel Lindblom Gunnel Märtha Ingegärd Lindblom (18 December 1931 – 24 January 2021) was a Swedish film actress and director. Career As an actress, Lindblom was particularly associated with the work of Ingmar Bergman, though in 1965 she performed the l ...

), an apparently refined woman he has met on the street. Despite their mutual flirtations, nothing ever evolves between them. On a sudden impulse, Pontus takes a job as a crew member on an outbound freighter. His destination is unknown.

Cast

... Pontus *

... Ylajali *

Birgitte Federspiel Birgitte Federspiel (6 September 1925 – 2 February 2005) was a Danish film, theater and TV actress. She won two Bodil Awards for best actress in 1955 (''Ordet'') and 1959 (''En fremmed banker på'').Knud Rex Knud Rex (30 March 1912 – 24 December 1968) was a Danish stage and film actor. Filmography * '' Sun Over Denmark'' - 1936 *''Den gamle præst'' - 1939 *''Komtessen på Stenholt'' - 1939 *'' Frøken Kirkemus'' - 1941 *'' Natekspressen (P. ...

... Landlord *

Hans W. Petersen Hans W. Petersen (28 January 1897 – 27 April 1974) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 40 films between 1921 and 1974. He won the Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role as Victor in '. He was born and had died in De ...

... Grocer *

Henki Kolstad Henki Kolstad (3 February 1915 – 14 July 2008) was a Norwegian actor and pop-cultural national treasure. With his debut at the Oslo national theater, he was known for his appearances in '' Olsenbanden'', the children's series Jul i Skomakergata ...

... Editor *

Roy Bjørnstad Roy Bjørnstad (September 29, 1925 – November 25, 2005) was a Norwegian actor. Bjørnstad made his debut in 1945 at the People's Theater in Sweden. Throughout his career, he was associated with several theaters in Norway, including the Trønd ...

... Konstantin * Sverre Hansen ... Painter *

Pål Skjønberg Pål Eugen Bucher Skjønberg (20 October 1919 – 3 February 2014) was a Norwegian actor. He was born in Stavanger to actors Eugen (1889–1971) and Henny Skjønberg (1886–1973). He was the older brother of actor Espen Skjønberg. They g ...

... Constable *

Else Heiberg Else Cathrine Heiberg (November 5, 1910 – November 25, 1972) was a Norwegian actress. Heiberg started her professional career as a pianist and dance teacher, and she made her stage debut at Bergen's National Theater in 1934 in the role of a y ...

... Landlady *

Lise Fjeldstad Lise Barbra Skappel Fjeldstad (born 17 June 1939) is a Norwegian actress, and daughter of the conductor and violinist Øivin Fjeldstad. A graduate of the Norwegian National Academy of Theatre in 1963, she started working at Det Norske Teatret (the ...

... Little girl *

Carl Ottosen Carl Ottosen (18 July 1918 – 8 January 1972) was a Danish actor, screenwriter and film director. He appeared in 70 films between 1947 and 1972. Filmography *''De pokkers unger'' - 1947 *'' Bag de røde porte'' - 1951 *''Vejrhanen'' - 195 ...

... Sailor *

Osvald Helmuth Osvald Helmuth (14 July 1894 – 18 March 1966) was a Danish stage and film actor and revue singer. Life and career HIs career began in Randers in 1913, and he later appeared in the Nørrebro Teater in Copenhagen.

... Pawnbroker *

Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen (22 September 1915 – 24 April 1982) was a Danish stage and film actress. She was married to Danish actor and comedian Dirch Passer. Filmography * '' Sun Over Denmark'' – 1936 * ' – 1938 * ''I dag begynder livet'' ...

... Landlady

Awards

The film was nominated for the

Palme D'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

and won the

Bodil Award for Best Danish Film The Bodil Award for Best Danish Film ( da, Bodilprisen for bedste danske film) is one of the categories for the Bodil Awards presented annually by the Danish Film Critics Association. It was created in 1948 and is one of the oldest film prizes in E ...

in 1967. For his leading role, Oscarsson won

Best Actor Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to th ...

awards at the

1966 Cannes Film Festival The 19th Cannes Film Festival was held from 5 to 20 May 1966. To honour the festival's 20th anniversary, a special prize was given. The Grand Prix du Festival International du Film went to the '' Signore & Signori'' by Pietro Germi, in tie wit ...

, the

Best Actor award Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play. The term most often refers to the ...

at the

4th Guldbagge Awards The 4th Guldbagge Awards ceremony, presented by the Swedish Film Institute, honored the best Swedish 1966 and 1967, and took place on 9 October 1967. ''Persona'', directed by Ingmar Bergman, was presented with the award for Best Film. Awards * B ...

, 1967

Bodil Awards The Bodil Awards are the major Danish film awards given by the Danish Film Critics Association. The awards are presented annually at a ceremony in Copenhagen. Established in 1948, it is one of the oldest film awards in Europe. The awards are given ...

and the USA's

National Society of Film Critics The National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) is an American film critic organization. The organization is known for its highbrow tastes, and its annual awards are one of the most prestigious film critics awards in the United States. In January 2014, ...

award for Best Actor in 1968. The film was also selected as the Danish entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the

39th Academy Awards The 39th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1966, were held on April 10, 1967, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. They were hosted by Bob Hope. Only two of the Best Picture nominees were nominated fo ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee.Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

References

Sources

External links