The Danish Poet
Torill Kove, a Norwegian-Canadian animator with Canada’s NFB (National Film Board) won an Oscar this year for Best Animated Short Film. Her film, The Danish Poet, is a “charming 15-minute meditation on life’s peculiar coincidences, based loosely on a tale her father told her about how he met the woman who would become his wife and her mother. It is narrated by Liv Ullmann, the legendary Norwegian-born actress and director and Ingmar Bergman muse.” – from the Montreal Gazette.
Now I’ve just discovered that the film can be viewed in its entirety on the NFB website! You can also read more about this Canada-Norway Co-production, view an interview of Torill, short clips of the film and order a copy on its own website. I hope you enjoy this delightful animation as much as I did!
UPDATE Feb.28th, 7 p.m.: Some readers may be interested to know that Art Daily has short excerpts of the winners at the Academy Awards, including The Danish Poet.
UPDATE March 5th: It’s come to my attention that the full-length feature is no longer available on this site. It seems that it was up for the duration of the contest, which has ended. I think I struck it lucky finding it just before. Time to either buy it or rent it!
UPDATE Dec. 2013: It is available to subscribers or to buy the DVD.
UPDATE March 2014: Quite by accident I discovered it may be viewed for free at Open Culture.
February 27, 2007 in Culture, Films, Other artists by Marja-Leena
“Video content not available in the United States,” the NFB website tells me.
Oh, how odd! I’m sorry, Dave…and any other US readers that encounter this. As I’m writing this, my husband is reading an email from our Danish friend (visiting US) who said the same thing. I wonder if you can at least see the clips?
I was able to watch the excerpt, Marja-Leena. Wish I could have seen the full film. I’ve always admired Liv Ullman.
MB – oh, I’m glad you could see that little bit, and yes, I really like Liv Ullman too. In some ways she reminds of Ingrid Bergman, whom I also admired greatly.
M-L, thanks for these excellent links. I could only see the clip of the Danish animation but I loved it and will try to gt the whole thing. Beautifully drawn and designed – my kind of movie!
Natalie – as a cartoonist yourself, I can see this would really interest you. I certainly enjoyed the simplicity and charm of the writing and the drawing. Let me know what you think of it when you do see the whole film.
I could only get the clip, but could see its qualirt. Love the shrink.
Qualirt? Sorry – qulaity. No QUALITY. New keyboard.
Anna, sorry about that. I rather like the sound of “qualirt”!