Ditte, Child of Man
Encyclopedia
Ditte, Child of Man, is a 1946 socio-realistic
Danish
drama directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen
based on the novel by Martin Andersen Nexø
. The film stars Tove Maës
in the tragic story of an impoverished young girl who becomes the victim of harsh social conditions. The film has been noted as the first example of the more realistic and serious Danish film in the post-World War II era. Ditte, Child of Man is one of the ten films listed in Denmark's cultural canon by the Danish Ministry of Culture.
), born illegitimately, is deserted as a young girl by her alcoholic mother Sørine (Karen Lykkehus
). She moves in with her grandparents Maren (Karen Poulsen) and Søren Mand (Rasmus Ottesen). But after Søren dies, it is Ditte who becomes the old woman's only support. It is the small girl's deepest sorrow that she has no father, so she is pleased when she hears that Lars Peter (Edwin Tiemroth) will marry her mother and they will all live together. However, it is Ditte who becomes like a mother to Lars Peter's three small children. Their poverty is so oppressive, it drives Ditte's mother to kill Maren, and Sørine is sent away to prison. Ditte, despite her young age, must assume all of the household's responsibilities. As time passes, a warm relationship develops between Ditte and Lars Peter. One day, Lars Peter's brother Johannes (Ebbe Rode) appears. Johannes is a poor knife and scissors sharpener who informs them of his big business schemes, however, his schemes bring nothing but disappointment. Lars moves away and Ditte must find herself a job. Ditte takes a job as a servant on a rural farm. The farm owner's weak-willed son Karl (Preben Neergard), who is completely controlled by his mother (Maria Garland), falls in love with Ditte and they develop a happy romance. However, when Ditte becomes pregnant, Karl does nothing while his mother forces Ditte to leave the farm. Deeply distraught, Ditte searches after Lars Peter, the only parental figure who ever showed her kindness and understanding. Ditte discovers her mother has been paroled from prison and Ditte begins a new life—forgiving and caring for her mother—at the same time that she becomes the mother of her own illegitimate child.
Social realism
Social Realism, also known as Socio-Realism, is an artistic movement, expressed in the visual and other realist arts, which depicts social and racial injustice, economic hardship, through unvarnished pictures of life's struggles; often depicting working class activities as heroic...
Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
drama directed by Bjarne Henning-Jensen
Bjarne Henning-Jensen
Bjarne Henning-Jensen was a Danish film director and screenwriter. He directed 21 films between 1941 and 1974.He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark...
based on the novel by Martin Andersen Nexø
Martin Andersen Nexø
Martin Andersen Nexø was a Danish writer. He was the first significant Danish author to depict the working class in his writings, and the first great Danish socialist, later communist, writer.-Biography:...
. The film stars Tove Maës
Tove Maës
Tove Maës was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.-Career:Maës was born in...
in the tragic story of an impoverished young girl who becomes the victim of harsh social conditions. The film has been noted as the first example of the more realistic and serious Danish film in the post-World War II era. Ditte, Child of Man is one of the ten films listed in Denmark's cultural canon by the Danish Ministry of Culture.
Story
Ditte (Tove MaësTove Maës
Tove Maës was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.-Career:Maës was born in...
), born illegitimately, is deserted as a young girl by her alcoholic mother Sørine (Karen Lykkehus
Karen Lykkehus
Karen Lykkehus was a Danish actress. She worked on the stage at the Det Ny Theater from 1928–1930 and Frederiksberg Theater...
). She moves in with her grandparents Maren (Karen Poulsen) and Søren Mand (Rasmus Ottesen). But after Søren dies, it is Ditte who becomes the old woman's only support. It is the small girl's deepest sorrow that she has no father, so she is pleased when she hears that Lars Peter (Edwin Tiemroth) will marry her mother and they will all live together. However, it is Ditte who becomes like a mother to Lars Peter's three small children. Their poverty is so oppressive, it drives Ditte's mother to kill Maren, and Sørine is sent away to prison. Ditte, despite her young age, must assume all of the household's responsibilities. As time passes, a warm relationship develops between Ditte and Lars Peter. One day, Lars Peter's brother Johannes (Ebbe Rode) appears. Johannes is a poor knife and scissors sharpener who informs them of his big business schemes, however, his schemes bring nothing but disappointment. Lars moves away and Ditte must find herself a job. Ditte takes a job as a servant on a rural farm. The farm owner's weak-willed son Karl (Preben Neergard), who is completely controlled by his mother (Maria Garland), falls in love with Ditte and they develop a happy romance. However, when Ditte becomes pregnant, Karl does nothing while his mother forces Ditte to leave the farm. Deeply distraught, Ditte searches after Lars Peter, the only parental figure who ever showed her kindness and understanding. Ditte discovers her mother has been paroled from prison and Ditte begins a new life—forgiving and caring for her mother—at the same time that she becomes the mother of her own illegitimate child.
Cast
- Tove MaësTove MaësTove Maës was a Danish actress of stage, television and film best known for her starring roles in the series of "Morten Korch" films, in particular The Red Horses. Maës was a three-time recipient of the Bodil Award for Best Actress, winning in 1954, 1971, and 1983.-Career:Maës was born in...
as Ditte
- Karen PoulsenKaren PoulsenKaren Poulsen was a Danish stage and film actress.-Selected filmography:* Hotel Paradis - 1931* Kirke og orgel - 1932* Nyhavn 17 - 1933* Nøddebo Præstegård - 1934* Det begyndte ombord - 1937...
as the Grandmother
- Rasmus Ottesen as the Grandfather
- Karen LykkehusKaren LykkehusKaren Lykkehus was a Danish actress. She worked on the stage at the Det Ny Theater from 1928–1930 and Frederiksberg Theater...
as Ditte's Mother
- Jette Kehlet as Ditte when she was a girl
- Edvin TiemrothEdvin TiemrothEdvin Tiemroth was a Danish actor and film director. He appeared in 15 films between 1939 and 1976. He also directed 13 films between 1954 and 1974.He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark....
as Lars Peter
- Kai HolmKai HolmKai Holm was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 41 films between 1927 and 1979.He was born in Lemvig, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*Præsten i Vejlby - 1931*Kirke og orgel - 1932...
as Innkeeper
- Maria GarlandMaria GarlandMaria Garland was a Danish stage and film actress.- Filmography :*Nyhavn 17 - 1933*Lynet - 1934*Flugten fra millionerne - 1934*Nøddebo Præstegård - 1934*Barken Margrethe af Danmark - 1934...
as Karl's Mother
- Preben NeergaardPreben NeergaardPreben Neergaard was a Danish stage and film actor.-Filmography:*Ungdommens rus - 1943*Vredens dag - 1943*Teatertosset - 1944*Elly Petersen - 1944*De røde enge - 1945*Diskret ophold - 1946...
as Karl
- Henny Lindorff BuckhøjHenny Lindorff BuckhøjHenny Lindorff Buckhøj was a Danish film actress. She appeared in 19 films between 1944 and 1970.She was born and died in Denmark.-Filmography:* Det bødes der for * Elly Petersen...
as Sine the maid
- Ebbe LangbergEbbe LangbergEbbe Langberg was a Danish actor and film director. He appeared in 45 films between 1946 and 1988.He was born and died in Copenhagen, Denmark...
as Christian Ditte's brother
- Lars Henning-Jensen as Paul Ditte's brother
- Hanne Juhl as Ditte's sister
- Per BuckhøjPer BuckhøjPer Buckhøj was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 36 films between 1942 and 1958.-Filmography:* The Vikings * Stof til eftertanke * Ellehammer-filmen * Gengæld...
as Head Clerk
- Valsø HolmValsø HolmValsø Holm was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 80 films between 1937 and 1982.He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*En søndag på Amager - 1941...
as Johansen the dayworker
Reaction
Danish film historian Ib Monty wrote that Ditte, Child of Man, in its harsh portrayal of social conditions was the first example of the realistic serious Danish film. It followed the growing trend in contemporary European cinema during the post-war period after World War II. Monty wrote that the film "was a tremendous success in Denmark and it also won a certain international recognition." However, film reviewers in the United States (where the movie was seen in an edited version which removed any nudity) dismissed the movie as being too broad and melodramatic. Maes in a later interview replied that people there hadn't yet been confronted with poverty in such a realistic portrayal.External links
- IMDb
- Ditte Menneskebarn, at Den Danske Film Database (In Danish)
- Ditte Menneskebarn Det Danske Filminstitut (In Danish)