Barbara (1997 film)

Barbara

DVD release cover
Directed by Nils Malmros
Produced by Per Holst
Written by John Mogensen
Nils Malmros
Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen (novel)
Starring Anneke von der Lippe
Lars Simonsen
Music by Gunner Møller Pedersen
Cinematography Jan Weincke
Edited by Birger Møller Jensen
Distributed by Nordisk Film
Release dates
  • 2 October 1997 (1997-10-02)
Running time
 143 minutes
Country Denmark
Language Danish

Barbara is a 1997 Danish drama film directed by Nils Malmros and stars Anneke von der Lippe and Lars Simonsen. Adapted from the classic Faroese novel by writer Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, the film is about a minister in the 18th century who is captivated by the overt sexuality of a promiscuous woman and marries her. Set in the Faroe Islands, the film was Malmros' first diversion from his usual subject of adolescents in Århus, and his own experiences.[1]

Malmros describes Barbara as "a melodrama -a depiction of grandiose feelings set against a magnificent natural background, told with a wonderfully ironic undertone." [1]

Plot

The aptly named ship Fortuna arrives in Tórshavn, bringing Poul (Lars Simonsen), the new pastor for the parish of Vágar, and the populace has gathered for the event. Among them is Barbara (Anneke von der Lippe), the widow of two former pastors for whose untimely deaths she is blamed by many. Pastor Poul is warned about her but falls for her charms, despite the fact that when three French ships come to port she follows the example of most of the other women in the town and allows herself to be seduced by a French sailor. As the widow of the parish, she has a house of her own on Vágar, and she and Poul leave for their respective homes there. Inevitably, they marry, but when in Tórshavn on a subsequent visit, Barbara meets and falls for the foppish Andreas Heyde (Peter Reichhardt), on a research trip from Copenhagen. Poul persuades Barbara to leave with him; however, when Christmas approaches he feels duty-bound to visit the outlying island of Mykines, despite Barbara's entreaties that he not do so. Andreas has now arrived nearby to spend Christmas at the home of the chief magistrate of the island. Despite his misgivings, Poul answers the call of duty, hoping to return almost immediately, but he is delayed by the weather for eleven days, and on his return he discovers that Barbara has left for Tórshavn with Andreas. After a confrontation between Poul and Andreas, instigated by Gabriel, Andreas is finally persuaded to leave for Copenhagen, without Barbara, and she makes a desperate and futile attempt to reach his ship, once more the Fortuna, as it leaves.

Cast

Actor Role
Anneke von der Lippe Barbara
Lars Simonsen Poul Aggersoee
Trond Høvik Gabriel
Jesper Christensen Sorenskriveren (Judge)
Jens OkkingLagmanden
Helene Egelund Susanne
Jytte Kvinesdal Anna Sophie
Peter Hesse Overgaard Hr. Wenzel
Ove Pedersen Landfogden
Peter Reichhardt Andreas Heyde
Henning Jensen Provst Anders Morsing
Bodil Udsen Armgard
Birgitte Federspiel Ellen Katrine
Henny Moan Magdalene

Awards

Barbara received the Audience Award at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival as well as the 1998 Robert Award for Best Film. It was Denmark's submission for the 1998 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.[2][3] The film was also entered into the 48th Berlin International Film Festival.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Wettbewerb/In Competition". Moving Pictures, Berlinale Extra (Berlin). 11–22 February 1998. p. 10.
  2. ↑ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  3. ↑ "44 Countries Hoping for Oscar Nominations". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 24 November 1997. Archived from the original on 13 February 1998. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Berlinale: 1998 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2012-01-14.

External links

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