Originally published October 18, 2016. Updated April 14, 2018.
The Emigrants/The New Land, 1971/1972.
Directed by Jan Troell
Starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullman
SYNOPSIS:
A Swedish couple voyage to America and attempt to put down roots in a beautiful but forbidding new world.
The intensely naturalistic directorial work of Jan Troell makes this one of the defining artworks for capturing a sense of the hopes and fears involved in moving to a new place. Set in the mid-19th century, the two films create a story that is compelling in both its artistry and spirit of adventure. Beset by problems and trials at every new turn, young Swedish couple Karl Oskar and Kristina are forced to contemplate the nature of survival, human interaction and ultimately existence itself…
In Småland, Sweden Karl Oskar and Kristina are farm owners who have put up with failing crops and bad season after season for a few years. Feeding their young children and their animals is becoming increasingly difficult, and this plus a backdrop of religious intolerance – more of an impact for Kristina’s uncle Daniel, a preacher – informs their decision to leave their homeland for the vast, mysterious mass of America. Travelling with them are Daniel and Karl Oskar’s younger brother Robert, a romantic soul who dreams of a better life and freedom from his slave-like working conditions. After some discussion, the two brothers take it as read that life across the sea will indeed be better, and manage to convince Kristina that it will be the best option for all of them. Soon, they are off and coping with the considerable difficulties associated with such a strenuous trip.
Incredibly beautiful, the two films bring such a wealth of colour and life to the screen that a real feeling of sympathetic empathy for the characters can truly be explored. In effect, the film viewed today opens up a whole host of questions and interesting subjects. The whole nature of emigration (and immigration) for one thing is brought into sharp focus, and the struggles that the characters go through can be compared to anyone escaping oppression or looking to make a better life for themselves.
Troell’s work is not overtly political, rather he lets the pictures talk for themselves. For that is what they are; pictures. The filmmaker has the genius of creating frames that are like an oil painting; beautifully textured records of life itself and the moments in time that we all experience on some level.
DVD/BLU-RAY EDITION:
- New high-definition digital restorations of both films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-rays
- New introduction by theater and film critic John Simon
- New conversation between film scholar Peter Cowie and director Jan Troell
- New interview with actor Liv Ullmann
- To Paint with Pictures, an hour-long documentary from 2005 on the making of the films, featuring archival footage as well as interviews with Troell, Ullmann, producer and co screenwriter Bengt Forslund, actor Eddie Axberg, and composer Georg Oddner
- Trailers
- New English subtitle translations
- PLUS: An essay by critic Terrence Rafferty
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert W Monk is a freelance journalist and film writer.
