''Ditte, Child of Man'' () is a 1946 socio-realistic Danish drama directed by

Bjarne Henning-Jensen Bjarne Henning-Jensen (6 October 1908 – 21 February 1995) was a Danish film director and screenwriter. He directed 21 films between 1941 and 1974. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark. He was married to Astrid Henning-Jen ...

based on the novel by

Martin Andersen Nexø Martin Andersen Nexø (26 June 1869 – 1 June 1954) was a Danish writer. He was one of the authors in the Modern Breakthrough movement in Danish art and literature. He was a socialist throughout his life and during the Second World War moved ...

. The film stars

Tove Maës Tove Maës (30 April 1921 – 31 December 2010) was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of " Morten Korch" films, in particular '' The Red Horses''. Maës was a three-time recipient of ...

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 (

), born illegitimately, is deserted as a young girl by her alcoholic mother Sørine ( Karen Lykkehus). 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

as Ditte * Karen Poulsen as the Grandmother * Rasmus Ottesen as the Grandfather * Karen Lykkehus 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 (1960 fi ...

as Lars Peter * Kai Holm 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 skøn ...

as Karl's Mother *

Preben Neergaard Preben Neergaard (2 May 1920 – 22 July 1990) was a Danish stage and film actor. Filmography *1943: '' Ungdommens rus'' *1943: '' Vredens dag'' *1944: '' Teatertosset'' *1944: '' Elly Petersen'' *1945: ''De røde enge'' *1946: '' Diskret ophol ...

as Karl * Henny Lindorff Buckhøj as Sine the maid *

Ebbe Langberg Ebbe Langberg (1 August 1933 – 3 February 1989) was a Danish actor and film director. He appeared in 45 films between 1946 and 1988. Career Langberg debuted as Lotte's little brother in Ditte menneskebarn (1946) and also starred as a child i ...

as Christian Ditte's brother * Lars Henning-Jensen as Paul Ditte's brother * Hanne Juhl as Ditte's sister *

Per Buckhøj Per Buckhøj (10 February 1902 – 21 October 1964) was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 36 films between 1942 and 1958. Partial filmography * ''Flådens blå matroser'' (1937) – Mand, der trues * ' (1942) – Landsretssagfører Berggre ...

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