Pelle the Conqueror

The ending was not based in reality.

Danish: Pelle Erobreren, Swedish: Pelle Erövraren (Pelle the Conqueror) (1987) is an epic film directed by Bille August, based upon the 1910 novel of the same name by Danish writer Martin Andersen Nexø. The film tells the story of two Swedish immigrants to Denmark, a father & son, who try to build a new life for themselves. The film stars Pelle Hvenegaard as the young Pelle, with Max von Sydow as his father, & also features Axel Strøbye & Astrid Villaume. Here are the pros & cons of this film as I see it, I hope this helps you.Pros:1. Excellent cinematography2. The acting is superb & the film is well directed3. Universal and timeless in nature when it comes to the subject & experience of immigration of manyCons:1. If you are looking for a happy story, this is not it, I am glad I watched it, but would not watch more than once

All 36 reviewers -- even the gentleman who awarded only 1-star -- agree, and deservedly so, that in its own right, this is an outstanding film at every level. Such arguments as have been generated relate only to how the DVD has been packaged. No extras, English language dubbing, subtitles that spell out each and every noise on the sound-track, and the absence of 22 minutes compared with the original Danish and European versions. As is so often the case, the 36 reviews seem to describe several different products, including even VHS versions, and Amazon lists at least two products with the same cover as the copy I purchased from them that is from Trinity Home Entertainment and dated 2006. It would have been nice to have had at least the option of seeing the restored footage, as well as some critical background to the literary origin of the movie and a synopsis of the 4-volume novel from which it is derived. But this is not a Criterion release, and is not priced as such. Everyone who buys it knows (or should know) what it provides and what it does not. The only genuine issue becomes how well does it present the actual movie that North American audiences actually saw in their cinemas? For my money, the only fair answer is "pretty darn well". Visually and acoustically, the quality is first rate. Generally, I hate dubbed films because everyone is made to speak with an American accent, but in this copy, more sensitivity has been employed; the accents all have a genuine Scandinavian inflexion and I did not experience a single moment of discomfort in that regard. True, the subtitles do announce the background noises for the hearing - impaired: at worst it was slightly amusing, but generally it did not cause me any irritation. Warts and all, this is a very satisfying presentation of a unique masterpiece, one of the very greatest from that part of our planet.

This is a truly great movie. It demonstrates human emotions on a grand scale. It takes place around the turn of the century. A father (played by Von Sydow) and his son Pelle (played by Pelle Hvenegaard) are forced to travel from Sweden to Denmark in order to leave a life of poverty and despair (Pelle's mother died). Pelle is only 12, and his father is over 50. Only reluctantly does a farmer hire them (the father is too old, and the kid is too young). Little did they know that the life in Denmark was physically harsh and emotionally draining. Prejudice was common against the foreigners. Pelle is very dependent upon his emotionally weak father who will not defend his son and likes alcohol.In the end, Pelle demonstates his strength beyond most adult men.This movie is directed and produced so clearly and accurately that it draws you into the the harsh, physically filthy and emotionally draining life on the farm. Since it is filmed over the course of about one year, you need not doubt that the georgous scenery is real. The blizzard, the ice, and the fields are real. In fact, Pelle Hvenegaard was named 12 years before the production after Pelle from the novel. Pelle is an uncommon Swedish name. His acting was so good that one forgets this was a movie.The ending put me in tears. Although it was somewhat predictable, it still packed an emotional punch. It took my breath away.I can recommend this Academy Award winning movie to anyone.

"Pelle the Conqeror" won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film back in 1988 and that, for me, is generally a category that warrents a look. Pelle did not fail me because it is an outstanding movie. It's a sort of "Giants in the Earth" with a shorter emigration trip. A man somewhat up in years travels from Sweden to Denmark with his young son (roughly 10-12 years old). The goal is a better life than what they left behind in Sweden (along with their recently deceased wife/mother). As the ship lands, many are hired right off the boat but there is little interest in the combination of two males; one too old and the other too young. They eventually get a job but one in which neither employer nor employee got what they were looking for.Pelle is the young lad and it is through his perspective that most of the movie emerges and what a series of events we see. There are many relationships, insults and injuries, deaths and drownings, love and hatred, joys and sorrows in this 2 1/2 hour movie. Yet, with all that happens, it seems to move along very well. The writer/director Bille August deserves great praise (and the Oscar) for weaving together a snapshot of life in this small community that Pelle and his father find themselves. The character development and the humanity on display create a most compelling series of vignettes. The final scene fortells the movies title in a way in which we can believe. As we anticipate Pelle's future, we can't help but remember his recent past.

Bille August is known for quality films like the Ingmar Bergman family story The Best Intentions, Jerusalem, based on Selma Lagerlöf's novel and Smilla's Sense of Snow based on Peter Høeg's book. He first came to prominence with films about youth, such as Zappa and Faith, Hope, Love..Then Bille August made the nearly three-hour Pelle the Conqueror. It won Palme d'Or at Cannes, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. The reviews were good, but it didn't become an international hit at the box office.The story is good, beautifully told, traditional maybe, but as well told as the film is made in general. Pelle Conqueror has been regarded as a faithful interpretation of the Danish literary classic of the same name, written by Martin Andersen Nexø - in four parts. Bille August's long film focuses on the first of those, the 1906 novel about Pelle's childhood. There is no real conquering here yet, but only the humble beginnings of a man as a child, a boy of twelve..The focus is the warm relationship between the father, Lassefar and the son, Pelle. The story is big, so we also see a lot of other people in the turn of the century in question. Nexø wrote about the working class and the class differences based on his own experiences. The film is linked to Bernardo Bertolucci's film 1900 which depicts the same time in Italy. August's film is about Swedish immigrants in Denmark. Pelle the Conqueror does not preach like 1900, Bille August is more modest than Bertolucci, but as a director he doesn't reach the same heights as his Italian counterpart.Ingmar Bergman said he watched Pelle the Conqueror many times and then decided to give the story of his own family to Bille August to direct. But this does not mean that August's Pelle is great film art. As an epic it's fragmented, a bit disjointed like the already long film might have been cut to make it shorter. But the episodic form of Pelle is still very enjoyable. Jörgen Persson's cinematography is a constant delight to the eye.All the actors and actresses are reliable, Scandinavian professionals. The main roles are inspired choice. The 12-year-old Pelle Hvenegaard even got his name from the same literature character he is now representing in the film. Acting in his only film young Hvenegaard gives a delicate, honest performance, never giving in to the traps of sentimentalism . Max von Sydow is the perfect "Lassefar", father of Lasse. He is a benevolent father and a widow, not very smart or courageous, nor without faults, but his sincerity is beyond any doubt.The 30th anniversary, restored edition Blu-ray of Pelle the Conqueror is coming out in May 2017 with bonus materials in North America.The version which I saw is Koch Media's good quality but inexpensive Blu-ray without additional features. Audio in Swedish, English and German, subtitles only in German.★ ★ ★Pelle the Conqueror - Pelle erobreren (1987)Directed by: Bille August.

The lack of language options is a disappointment in this version. The English dubbed version was reasonably well done and Max von Sydow's voice was obviously his own, but the DVD with the original Danish track and English subtitles had much more audio atmosphere. However this shortcoming is compensated for by the amazing visual quality of the blu ray encoding.The stark beauty of Bornholm's landscapes and seasons was captured perfectly in this transfer, retaining and even enhancing the atmosphere of the original.

it's a good story so i give it away to a friend i give it 3 Star's

The product has a title in English, so I assumed it would come at least with English subtitles. But no, so I have had to order another copy that is advertised as having sub titles.

Classic Movie, .Nice clean clear image on this blu rayThe movie runs for 2h.23m.the only extras are a trailer and photo gallery .They are no English subtitles, ,but you have the option of using the dubbed English soundtrack .well worth a look at this wonderful movie,