Nove Vidas

This was not the war movie I expected. I figured that since it was about a famous member of the resistance movement, it would be about the sabotage they did, but that's only a small part in the movie's opening. Most of the film is not about the sabotage, but his escape. The enemy is obviously the Nazis, but just as much the fear of Norwegians giving him in, and most of all nature and the elements themselves. This makes for a much more interesting movie than I had anticipated.

That said, this is still an old movie, made in a small country which back then were not famous for their movies. The acting hasn't aged well, and there's some annoying editing that's obviously meant to cover up some difficult sequences. That said, there's also some really nice shots, and they actually went to the trouble of getting actors speaking the right dialects (or, mostly at least!).

This never felt like a very exciting film, but more like a slow, brooding reflection over what people went through during the second world war, and also just how dedicated people can be in helping each other.

It's a no brainer if your aim is to see a Norwegian classic, and it's not a bad choice if you want to see a different ww2-movie.

This film is a biopic based on the daring escape made by norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud. Baalsrud encountered everything from, frostbite, snowblindness, heavily armed German troops, snowstorms etc on his way to neutral Sweden.

This film is very much a traditional, heroic, depiction of Baalsrud and his escape but it's entertaining with amazing nature scenes, fastpaced action, and some very daring stunts that most have been very dangerous in 1957.

The film does not focus on too much depth, characters etc and it doesn't need too because the action is enough. Jack Fjeldstad who plays Jan Baalsrud is good and there are some scenes here that requires a lot of emotional acting that easily could've become ridiculous but Jack Fjeldstad uses some subtlety in order to convey these emotions.

The rest of cast does a good job too but only serves their purpose to drive the film forward. The most impressive part of this film is the action, just like Max Manus (2008)it gives the viewer a fun ride.

The biggest difference and flaw is that Ni liv (1957)does not have that darker undertones that Max Manus (2008)have, nor do we get to know Jan Baalsrud as much as we do in Max Manus (2008).

But if you are looking for a entertaining chasefilm during WW2 in the snowy mountain area in Norway then this film is the first you should see. Also if you liked The Great Escape (1963), First Blood (1982) etc can expect a good experience.

Oddly, this film has been totally unknown to me, as far as I know never been mention on Swedish TV, magazines, etc. It's shame because this film needs a good DVD edition with lots of extras.

While watching this I ask myself why nobody has done any films about Swedish volounteers during WW2? There are some like,Allan Mann, Erik G:son Lewenhaupt, Gustav Lönnbergh etc who was decorated and fought on various fronts. It would be nice to see at least a documentary about these guys but alas, no such luck.

One of the most astonishing and enthralling true adventure stories ever put to the screen It begins with an ambushed commando raid which leaves all but one of the expatriate resistance fighters dead or captured. Though he too has been shot,that one survivor, Jan Baalsrud, takes off on a courageous, incredible trek into the wilds of the Lyngen Alps. The Nazis pursue him relentlessly; he suffers frostbite and snow blindness, a terrible fall in an avalanche; at last,delirious and near death he chances on a cabin where the first of a series of remarkably brave and clever men and women come to his aid. These `ordinary heroes' will eventually get the crippled Baalsrud to safety and freedom, and the amazing story of how they do it, and of how Baalsrud lives through the doing. It fill us with admiration and wonder at what the human spirit is capable of. Most highly recommended indeed.

...no beast could have done it! (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Guillaumet's words ,in "les Camarades") This famous sentence was on my mind all along the movie, which I had never heard of before and which was a big surprise for me.Once again,thanks to my good IMDb pal,Oystein ,who provided me with one fine work from his native country.I will try and introduce it to my French cinebuffs friends cause it is virtually unfairly unknown over here.

A resistant fighter ,during WW2,stays in an hospital.He seems seriously wounded.He remembers :the film will consist of a very long flashback.

After all his companions have been killed or captured ,the hero begins a long odyssey to get to the Sweden border.Little by little,we realize that the enemy is no longer the Nazis who occupy his homeland :it's the white spaces,the frozen fjords ,the cold,the wolves ,a hostile nature .The film is so intense that we often "feel "the hero's sufferings.

Remarkable sequences:the hallucinations,the hero sees a woman ,then a neon reading "GRAND HOTEL" while he is lost in a white hell;all these humble people who risk their life for their compatriot,particularly the woman and her baby and the good old grandpa;the "resurrection " when Jan rose from the snow,like a Nordic Lazarus;the final rein deers stampede .

This is really a splendid effort from Norway.

This movie is a true story!

If you are a Norwegian and know your history, you know the enormous sacrifices ordinary Norwegians (sivilians) put them self through throughout the war, but you still may want to know more about Jan Baalsrud (search Wikipedia). MANY like him fought and died with the goal to free Norway.

Another well known Norwegian story from WWII, is the sabotage mission against Norsk Hydro, manufacturing heavy water, to be used by the Germans. Two movies was made:

Norwegian version: "Kampen om Tungtvannet" (1948). The actual saboteurs play the roles themselves. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040504/

American version: "The Heroes of Telemark" (1965). Starring Kirk Douglas. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059263/

For you who may not know what kind of people these movies is about, I will try to explain:

Norwegians has always been a proud population, and have always been known to fight for our freedom. We have our history with Denmark and Sweden, but that is another story. In WWII we were invaded by the Germans. It happened fast. But, we never would except this and civilians got together secretly, often called "Gutta på skauen", in English; "The boys in the woods" - The Resistance Movement", to start to fight against the Germans. Some did minor sabotage jobs and other went to England for further training, and bigger missions.

This movie is based on one of those people, Jan Baalsrud, who went to England for training for missions in Norway.

Directly related to this movie: He and many other Norwegian commandos was on a mission to destroy a German air control tower. Under this time they also tried to recruit for the Norwegian resistance movement. And, it's here the movie begins. One civilian they contact, betrays them, and contact the Nazi's. The mission fails because of this.

Jan Baalsrud survives the failed mission and must escape to Sweden (a neutral country).

This escape IS the movie, and he needs all the lives he can get to survive this trip (that's why it's called "Nine Lives").

It is quite a fantastic and horrible journey, and we get a insight on how much these people are willing to sacrifice (pain/death) to save this man. Jan Baalsrud himself, goes trough as much pain a human being can stand.

I will not tell the story, watch the movie. Just remember, it's a true story!

Verdict:

7/10 for the genuine performance. The movie is a little dated, but still quite watchable.