Björn Skagestad Movies
This medieval period drama from Norway is based on Scandinavian-author Sigrid Undset's classic novel. The story is set in Norway's Gudbrandsdal valley during the 14th century. The tale begins when Kristin is 7-years-old and living a peaceful, relatively happy life with her family. It has not always been so happy though, as her parents have already buried three sons and nearly lost Kristin's little sister in a logging accident. Though still quite young, Kristin has been betrothed to marry Simon Darre, a wealthy neighbor's son. Unfortunately, the young girl already prefers the company of Arne to Simon. Time passes and Kristin suffers an attempted rape in the forest. She is confused by the act and asks her family to send her to a convent. Later the young woman sees a handsome knight, Erlend Nikulausson, and falls head-over-heels. Unfortunately, Erlend has more pressing romantic problems trying to deal with his previous lover. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
A fourteen year-old boy who is neglected by his father and disregarded by his decadent mother begins to experience a remarkable transformation in director Svend Wam's haunting drama. When things around the house begin to grow dire, dejected adolescent Lakki begins spending most of his time on the streets. Unfortunately for Lakki the streets are no more kind than home, and it isn't long before he is being brutalized by a vicious punk rocker. When feathers inexplicably begin sprouting out of Lakki's back, the miraculous event compels the frightened youngster to fight for his life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Material success has warped the lives of two men who chased after that goal in this partially experimental film on a failed legacy. Atle (Svein Sturla Hungnes) is a psychiatrist and a professor, and Eigil (Knut Husebo) works in the theater, and although both have arrived at exactly the status they always wanted, they are unhappy. The world they have bequeathed to their now-grown children is rampant with unemployment, drugs, and depressed humanity in general. Materialistic pursuits are not so easily counter-acted, and as this extravagant, pretentious, gross, very long, box-office winner in Norway tells its viewers, the answers adopted by Atle, Eigil and others like them (booze and climbing higher up the ladder to a "safer" position above everyone else) are a part of the problem.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Svein Sturla Hungnes, Knut Husebö, (more)
- 1983
A physical attraction between Simone Cambrai (Bibi Andersson) an agent for a French press, and Steiner Carlsen (Bjoern Skagestad) a cover designer for a Norwegian firm turns into a sexual relationship when the two meet at a book fair in Frankfurt. Although they carry on an affair through letters and tapes until they can meet again, they do not seem able to get past their glamorous exteriors to something at a deeper level. When issues arise that call for communication on a more profound basis, the relationship starts to falter. This movie itself functions more on a superficial level, making it only skin deep for many viewers. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bibi Andersson, Björn Skagestad, (more)
- 1981
Having gone through many personal struggles, Eli (Lil Terselius) returns to her native village and begins to work on the farm of Ingeborg Eriksdotter (Anita Bjork), eventually tending a plot that once belonged to her family. But Eli has been gone a long time, and the opaque villagers see her as an outsider -- she is suspicious from the start. The year is 1625, and stories of witches conjuring up evil are a part of the daily culture. Eli unwittingly makes matters worse for herself when she is able to cure the sick with herbs, and when she begins an affair with Aslak (Bjoern Skagestad) a farmhand -- clearly she must have cast a spell on him. This all adds up to a witch hunt with a ready-made "witch." Eli, in the end, is officially accused of witchcraft by a devious bailiff, while Ingeborg makes every attempt to save her, and Aslak himself does not survive the stress -- hardly a good omen for the outcome of the trial. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Björn Skagestad, Anita Björk, (more)
- 1979
John and Disa are a decent couple; she is level-headed, and he has a pretty good job. A handsome lad, much given to idealistic musings, his poorly thought-out ethical ditherings cause him to lose both his job and his wife. His only friend is Bernhard, an older rich man, who cannot offer him much useful advice. He is bolstered up somewhat by his affair with Sonja, who has a very orderly life, despite the fact that she is quite poor. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Björn Skagestad, Lena Nyman, (more)
