Pelle the Conqueror

Also known as Pelle Erobreren, Pelle erövraren

1987 film directed by Bille August

Film · TMDB

7.3

In the late 19th century, two Swedish emigrants, Lasse Karlsson and his son Pelle, arrive on the Danish island of Bornholm hoping to find work on a farm and save enough money to travel to the United States of America.

Released: 1987-12-21157 minDir: Bille AugustDrama

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Cast

Pelle Hvenegaard as Pelle Karlsson
Max von Sydow as Lasse Karlsson - Farmhand
Erik Paaske as Stengården Foreman
Björn Granath as Erik - Swedish Farm Worker
Astrid Villaume as Mrs. Kongstrup
Axel Strøbye as Kongstrup - Kungsgården Landlord

Themes

farm

~9 min read

Article

Pelle the Conqueror (Danish: Pelle Erobreren, Swedish: Pelle Erövraren) is a 1987 epic film co-written and directed by Bille August, based upon the 1906 novel of the same name by Danish writer Martin Andersen Nexø. The film tells the story of two Swedish immigrants to Denmark, a father and son, who try to build a new life for themselves. It stars Pelle Hvenegaard as the young Pelle, with Max von Sydow as his father, and also features Axel Strøbye and Astrid Villaume.

A co-production of Denmark and Sweden, August chose to adapt Boyhood, the first part of Nexø's novel, seeking to make an epic and citing the novel's status as essential reading in Denmark. Pelle Hvenegaard was 11 when he was cast, after some 3,000 children auditioned. Like many other boys in Denmark, he was named by his family for the novel's eponymous character.