Arne Sucksdorff
Encyclopedia
Arne Sucksdorff was a Swedish
movie director, considered one of cinema's greatest documentary filmmakers. He was particularly celebrated for his visually poetic and scenic nature documentaries. His works include Pojken i trädet (The Boy in the Tree) and the Academy Award-winning Människor i Stad (Symphony of a City
).
Perhaps Sucksdorff's most widely admired work was the internationally acclaimed Det Stora Äventyret (1953) (The Great Adventure) about a year in the outdoors told in semidocumentary fashion from the viewpoint of a farmboy. It is noted for its remarkable photography and authentic scenes of nature, and its appeal to children for its story of domesticated otters. The film won the International Prize at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival
and the Big Silver Medal (Documentaries and Culture Films) at the 4th Berlin International Film Festival
.
In the early '60s, Sucksdorff moved to Rio de Janeiro
, where he taught cinema at the film school and continued making documentaries, such as Mitt hem är Copacabana (My Home Is Copacabana
).
In later life, he became an outspoken critic of deforestation
and a fervent environmentalist
.
Sucksdorff's last film was the 1971 feature Cry of the Penguins (also titled Mr. Forbush and the Penguins
), starring John Hurt
and Hayley Mills
.
He died of pneumonia in 2001 at his birthplace, Stockholm
, Sweden
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
movie director, considered one of cinema's greatest documentary filmmakers. He was particularly celebrated for his visually poetic and scenic nature documentaries. His works include Pojken i trädet (The Boy in the Tree) and the Academy Award-winning Människor i Stad (Symphony of a City
Symphony of a City
Symphony of a City is a 1947 Swedish documentary short film directed by Arne Sucksdorff. It won an Academy Award in 1949 for Best Short Subject ....
).
Perhaps Sucksdorff's most widely admired work was the internationally acclaimed Det Stora Äventyret (1953) (The Great Adventure) about a year in the outdoors told in semidocumentary fashion from the viewpoint of a farmboy. It is noted for its remarkable photography and authentic scenes of nature, and its appeal to children for its story of domesticated otters. The film won the International Prize at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival
1954 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Jean Cocteau *Jean Aurenche *André Bazin *Luis Buñuel*Henri Calef *Guy Desson *Philippe Erlanger *Michel Fourre-Cormeray *Jacques-Pierre Frogerais...
and the Big Silver Medal (Documentaries and Culture Films) at the 4th Berlin International Film Festival
4th Berlin International Film Festival
The 4th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 18 to June 29, 1954.-Films in competition:* Det stora äventyret by Arne Sucksdorff* Hobson's Choice by David Lean* Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa...
.
In the early '60s, Sucksdorff moved to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, where he taught cinema at the film school and continued making documentaries, such as Mitt hem är Copacabana (My Home Is Copacabana
My Home Is Copacabana
My Home Is Copacabana is a 1965 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Sucksdorff. It was entered into the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Leila Santos de Sousa - Lici * Cosme dos Santos - Jorginho...
).
In later life, he became an outspoken critic of deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and a fervent environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
.
Sucksdorff's last film was the 1971 feature Cry of the Penguins (also titled Mr. Forbush and the Penguins
Mr. Forbush and the Penguins
Mr. Forbush and the Penguins, also known as Cry of the Penguins, is a 1971 British film, directed by Arne Sucksdorff, Alfred Viola and Roy Boulting. It stars John Hurt, Hayley Mills, Dudley Sutton and Tony Britton.-Cast:...
), starring John Hurt
John Hurt
John Vincent Hurt, CBE is an English actor, known for his leading roles as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mr. Braddock in The Hit, Stephen Ward in Scandal, Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York...
and Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
.
He died of pneumonia in 2001 at his birthplace, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Selected filmography
- My Home Is CopacabanaMy Home Is CopacabanaMy Home Is Copacabana is a 1965 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Sucksdorff. It was entered into the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Leila Santos de Sousa - Lici * Cosme dos Santos - Jorginho...
(1965) - The Flute and the ArrowThe Flute and the ArrowThe Flute and the Arrow is a 1957 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Sucksdorff. It was entered into the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Chendru - The Boy* Ginjo - The Hunter* Riga - The Hunter's Wife* Tengru-Shikari - The Boy's Grandfather...
(1957) - The Great AdventureThe Great Adventure (film)The Great Adventure is a 1953 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Sucksdorff.-Cast:* Gunnar Sjöberg - Narrator * Luis Van Rooten - Narrator The Great Adventure is a 1953 Swedish drama film directed by Arne Sucksdorff.-Cast:* Gunnar Sjöberg - Narrator (Anders as an adult) (voice)* Luis Van...
(1953) - Symphony of a CitySymphony of a CitySymphony of a City is a 1947 Swedish documentary short film directed by Arne Sucksdorff. It won an Academy Award in 1949 for Best Short Subject ....
(1948)