Telegrafisten

This is a rare happening in norwegian cinema. Here we have a beautifully crafted film with excellent acting that's miles ahead of the normal fare of norwegian movies from the eighties.

The movie is loosely adapted on one of Knut Hamsuns lighter novels, "Sværmere" ("Dreamers"), and it tells the story of telegraphist and hobby-inventor Ove Rolandsen during some flirtatious summer months. He is just about to do the invention of his life, but is constantly distracted by his female admirers and his need for money. Although this sounds like some easy going comedy, the pacing and directing makes the film more focused on characters and mood. In a way, it can be compared to the happier works of Ingmar Bergman.

The acting is kept stylized, to maintain the offbeat tone of Hamsuns archetypal characters. But while this device can be distancing, it has the opposite effect in this film; creating characters that are oddly lovable. Some of the most famous norwegian theatre actors give their best screen roles in this film, and I dare say they have never reached this level since.

The cinematography and music also deserves a mention. Everything unites and elevates this film into a very complete and elegant movie experience.

Highly recommended!

The other review shows what happens when literature is assigned in class.

I saw this film in a Hamsun retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and in this context it seemed reasonable, charming, atmospheric and well-photographed. Maybe even delightful. And I've been to this part of Norway, and enjoyed that, too.

Sure glad no one forced me to watch this film in school. This way I really enjoyed it. I wish it were available on DVD in the US.

I loved the book (maybe it gains in translation....) and thought this a fair stab at transferring it to the screen. I imagine Hamsun is a tricky author to adapt. Gustavson does manage to capture some of the whimsy of the source material; however, Hamsun is not all sweetness and light, and I think the director finds it harder to tap into the darker side of some of the characters, Rolandsen especially. Good performances all round, though, and beautiful scenery (unless you're Scandinavian and bored with that sort of thing).

It seems the previous commentators have described the background for the film well enough ! So there is no need I add more! The film is very nice, about forbidden love in late 19 th century Norway, and the social conditions in Northern Norway in those times, a in very typical Hamsun setting ! I saw the film at the Norway film festival in Rome,Italy 1995, and I became interested in Norwegian cinema, as a consequence ! I find it unfortunate that the only negative comment of the film is highlighted on the film page , it does injustice to the film, as it deserved to be distributed in the rest of Europe ! Also the total vote seems to be wrong, it should be in the 7 or 8 area, judging from the total votes bar graph , showing a lot of votes in that area........something is not right here !...... as Jimi Hendrix said in his song 'Red House' !!

"Telegrafisten" is one of the worst movies that I`ve ever seen and this is how Norwegian movies mostly are: pis# poor! The movie is based on a poor book, has a poor script, bad directing, terrible actors and a totally uninteresting story taking place on a small island in the northern part of Norway. We were forced to watch this crap at school last year, and I recommend all of you to steer clear of this guff.

0,5/10