Mad Ship

Depression and poverty. The age old subject of many stories. Given it is not very difficult to come up with negative aspects of life the story and the ultimate goal should rise above the occassion. Unfortunately, besides all ill fortune that lands upon the leading actors very little happens.

The vast majority of this film is just a setup for the eventual title reference. It is very unfortunate, as the part that is now left untold would have been probably much more interesting than the one that has been told so many times. Also, while this setup stirrs up some potential tragedies and drama between the dream (farm) and the reality (bank), these are mostly left unexplored.

However, what is the most lamenting fact is that the film is very claustrophobic. As if everything happens in a box where the walls constantly crawl closer. There is no feel of wide and unobstrucated praire where the wind whirls free. Camera does not pan and reveal the emptiness surrounding the characters. As the subject is nothing new, at least the few good clichés could have been picked from the presentation category.

Sadly, the vast emptiness is in the story and how it is being told. There is nothing that would attract a season viewer. There is very little that would inspire or motivate either, so perhaps these depressing stories that have very little color in them are better left untold.

The young couple Tomas and Solveig Sorenson has left poor conditions in Scandinavia in search of the American dream. Winding up in the Canadian prairie, establishing their little family, but not much later they find the dream lost in the great depression. The farm they are renting is turning up no food or profit, and Solveig wants to go back home. But the ticket fairs are just as far away as their dream. Tomas goes to the city to find work, where no work is to be found. The distance between them has consequences that is going to take a toll on their relations and lives.

Based on a true story, this hard hitting Canadian depression tragedy is not for the faint hearted, or those in no need of heavy stuff. Well acted by Norwegian and Danish stars in the main roles; Line Verndal (as Solveig) and Nicolaj Lie Kaas (as Tomas), we're following a tragedy which there where many of in the toll of the great depression. Filmed in bleak whitish colors expressing the time almost 100 years ago, as well as giving the right impression of depressing times, we see the dreams go down the drain one after another. Of course very realistically told, and with both lyrical and expressive amounts of feelings, we get the sense of reading a classic novel like Knut Hamnsun's "Starvation". Quite alike, though with a couple of decades earlier, we get the frustration down to the bone marrow of the suffering.

A strong story, which slowly but strongly are gripping you, sending the thoughts of the many ancestors of those who went in the search of the big dream. Today more than 30 million descendants of Scandinavian immigrants are living in Northern America. Now the poverty is great amongst large groups of the American population, whilst Scandinavia is on top of all statistics when it comes to wealth, democracy, transparency, dream realizing as well as securing equality and prosperity. In less than 100 years we've seen the table turn 180 degrees. In such perspective, this is food for thought. Dreams comes with a expiration date.

Fundamental life lessons abound in this very well done film. Many of the foundations of modern American society were still being defined during this time. Created by and for banks, the Dust Bowl Days of the 1930's helped to define just how much power over our own destinies we were willing to give away and the consequences for doing it. But some things are today, very much as they were back then. Not a lot has changed in many respects and this film should serve as a reminder of just how easily lives can be torn apart. One last thing, the ending couldn't have been done any better! Very nice. But an even more appropriate title for this film might have been, 'Stolen Harvest.'

(2012) Mad Ship DRAMA

We've seen this like hundred times before except that this version is probably the dullest and most depressing. Takes place during the Great Depression with Scandinavian immigrant, Cameron (Gil Bellows) bleak reality keeping his farm functioning, as he used his house for collateral to pay back a loan to the bank. So he goes to town seeking for some work, leaving his wife and kids to fend for themselves. Take my word for it, it doesn't get any better. And the brief glimpse scene at the beginning is also part of the end, where Cameron is dragging a ship. Parts of this movie seems like it was inspired by a book written by a Robin Hobb novel.