Emigration is a great subject for films. The misery at the beginning, the hope in the middle and often the desillusion at the end.
Usually the country of destination is America. Often the country of origin is Italy (for example the first episode in "KAOS" (1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani) and many films of Martin Scorsese). Sometimes the country of origin is Ireland, as in "Brooklyn" (2015, John Crowley).
The country of origin being one of the Scandinavian countries is less common, maybe because Scandinavian countries are seen today as very prosperous. However in "Fargo" (1996, Joel and Ethan Coen) Scandinavian people in the state of Minnesota play a prominent role. More explicit about the emigration from Scandinavia to the United States of Americs is Jan Troell in his major works "The emigrants" (1971) and "New land" (1972).
"Pelle erobreren" is about emigration within Scandinavia, from Sweden to Denmark, by Pelle (Pelle Hvenegaard) and his father Lasse (Max von Sydow). After the arrival in Denmark Lasse and Pelle have a hard time. Lasse is too old to find a job easily and Pelle too young.
Apart from emigration it is a film about coming of age. In two pivotal scenes Pelle sees that his father has not the courage to fight against their oppressing and exploitative employers and that his ambition does not go very much further than coffee in bed on Sundays.
Lasse does not possess the energy anymore to convert a disappointment in new hope (i.e. A further emigration). Pelle does!
Judging by the title Pelle is the main character, but in my opinion Lasse is equally important for the story. Although not a hero this character is easy to understand and sympathetic in his own non heroic way. The character of Lassse is played very convincingly by Max von Sydow. A regular Ingmar Bergman actor in the '50s and '60's, at the time of release of "Pelle erobreren" (1987) many would have thought that vom Sydow was in the autumn of his career. In reality he would go on acting nearly until his death in 2020.
Usually the country of destination is America. Often the country of origin is Italy (for example the first episode in "KAOS" (1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani) and many films of Martin Scorsese). Sometimes the country of origin is Ireland, as in "Brooklyn" (2015, John Crowley).
The country of origin being one of the Scandinavian countries is less common, maybe because Scandinavian countries are seen today as very prosperous. However in "Fargo" (1996, Joel and Ethan Coen) Scandinavian people in the state of Minnesota play a prominent role. More explicit about the emigration from Scandinavia to the United States of Americs is Jan Troell in his major works "The emigrants" (1971) and "New land" (1972).
"Pelle erobreren" is about emigration within Scandinavia, from Sweden to Denmark, by Pelle (Pelle Hvenegaard) and his father Lasse (Max von Sydow). After the arrival in Denmark Lasse and Pelle have a hard time. Lasse is too old to find a job easily and Pelle too young.
Apart from emigration it is a film about coming of age. In two pivotal scenes Pelle sees that his father has not the courage to fight against their oppressing and exploitative employers and that his ambition does not go very much further than coffee in bed on Sundays.
Lasse does not possess the energy anymore to convert a disappointment in new hope (i.e. A further emigration). Pelle does!
Judging by the title Pelle is the main character, but in my opinion Lasse is equally important for the story. Although not a hero this character is easy to understand and sympathetic in his own non heroic way. The character of Lassse is played very convincingly by Max von Sydow. A regular Ingmar Bergman actor in the '50s and '60's, at the time of release of "Pelle erobreren" (1987) many would have thought that vom Sydow was in the autumn of his career. In reality he would go on acting nearly until his death in 2020.