Nordic National Cinemas (Hardcover)

This work explores the film histories and cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, tracing the 20th-century development of each country's domestic film prodcuction and cinema audiences. The author discusses the place in cinema history of international figures such as Mauritz Stiller, Victor Sjostrom, Carl Dreyer and Ingmar Bergman, directors of films like "Vampyr", "Ordet", "Wild Strawberries", and "Cries and Whispers". The author looks at national film makers: August Blom, Bodil Ipsen, Lau Lauritzen and Nils Malmros; and also discusses contemporary film-makers like Gabriel Axel, the Kaurismaki brothers and Lars Von Trier. In discussing the film culture of each country, each section considers three specific questions: state control and support of film production; the cultural characteristics of Nordic film which both unify and define each country; and film production, content and form. In a final chapter, the authors assess the direction and future of the Nordic cinemas.