Hamsun (film)

Selected cast

Production

The plans for the film have a history from 1979, when Thorkild Hansen, the author of the book Processen mod Hamsun contacted Troell, wanting him to direct a Norwegian television series based on the book. Max von Sydow was meant to do the part as Hamsun already then. But NRK dropped out on the project, believing it would be too controversial.

Fourteen years later, in 1993, von Sydow brought the project back to life when he got the Danish production company Nordisk Film interested in adapting the book, this time with Per Olov Enquist, who had written Troell's previous film Il Capitano, providing the screenplay.

The shooting took place during the spring and summer 1995, with a budget of around 40 million SEK. Noteworthy is that the most expensive scene filmed, where Marie Hamsun witnesses the attack and sinking of the German cruiser Blücher in the Oslofjord at the battle of Drøbak Sound on 9 April 1940, was cut from the finished product.

Release

The film was initially meant to be released in the autumn 1996 at the Venice Film Festival, but was brought forward to the spring as Norwegian television would release another film about Hamsun the same year. It also saved the film from having to compete against Bille August's historical epic Jerusalem.

During the Swedish release Troell and the producer heavily criticized the distributor, Svensk Filmindustri, for the sloppy handling of the film, something he had also experienced with his previous film Il Capitano.