Trollsyn (1994)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ola Solum

Writer:

Anja Breien (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Maren, a young girl, is the sole survivor of the Black Death in her Norwegian village. Using instincts...

Plot Keywords:

Black Death | Death | Young Girl | Village | Psychic

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Julia Onsager Steen	...	Maren, Jostedalsrypa
Liv Bernhoft Osa	...	Mor
Bjørn Willberg Andersen	...	Far
Reidar Sørensen	...	Asser
Baard Owe	...	Lars
Oddbjørn Hesjevoll	...	Oddmund
Knut Husebø	...	Knut
Bjørn Sundquist	...	Skråbukken
Inger Heldal	...	Husfrua
Svein Rønning	...	Husbonden
Hallvard Holmen	...	Sønn
Espen Skjønberg	...	Fortelleren (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maria Bakketeig
Harald Brenna	...	(voice)
Karen Dalaker
Knut Haugmark	...	(voice)
Hilde Heier
Merete Hjelle
Mona Lamo
Arnhild Litleré	...	(voice)
Hallvard Lydvo	...	(voice)
Inge Steinheim	...	Eiliv
Anne Stray	...	(voice)
Geo von Krogh

Also Known As:

Second Sight
Trollsyn - Sagnet om Jostedalsrypa (Norway) (promotional title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Norway

Language:

Norwegian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Norway:11

Company:

Northern Lights

A grim but deeply moving glimpse of medieval Norway.

It distresses me to have to disagree with Shane Burridge, whose reviews are always well informed and intelligent. In this case I must, lest any viewers who would appreciate this film are deterred. I have to confess to a particular interest, since I used to teach medieval literature. Even reasonably decent movie recreations of medieval life are very few, while cosmetic fantasies are legion. The plot of this film is admittedly limited in scope, but the detail and atmosphere of Norway at the time of the "Black Death" which, as Mr Burridge points out, killed two-thirds of the population, are completely engrossing and terrifying. A village wedding feast can lead virtually to the end of the world and this is experienced by a small girl, spared only because she was away on the mountain side minding the sheep! Perhaps the ending is a little too contrived, but without it the film would be unendurably sad, as indeed must have been so for so many millions at the time. The picture is bleak but beautiful to watch, the actors are completely believable and the leading child is so engaging (but not in any way cute) that the experience is one that I shall never forget. The bonus is that the dialogue is in Norwegian. (Not medieval, but then the home audience had to understand it.) This will never, I admit, appeal to a wide audience, at least outside Norway, but for those who know what they are looking for, it is a small treasure.