Ingeborg Holm
Encyclopedia
Ingeborg Holm is a 1913
Swedish
social drama film
directed by Victor Sjöström
, based on a 1906
play by Nils Krok. It has been called "the first realistic feature film". It caused great debate in Sweden about social security
, which led to changes in the poorhouse
laws. It is said to be based on a true story.
. They open the shop, but Sven contracts tuberculosis
and dies. Ingeborg initially tries to run the shop by herself, but when she fails, she turns to the poorhouse for help. The poorhouse denies her assistance but offers her a cleaning job. She has to sell the shop, her house, and put the children in an orphanage.
After some time, Ingeborg reads in a letter that one of the children is sick. The poorhouse can't finance a visit, but the determined Ingeborg escapes at night and, after being chased by police, gets to see the child. When she returns to the poorhouse, the manager is furious that they must pay a fine for the trouble she caused.
Later on, Ingeborg is offered a chance to see her youngest daughter, this time with the poorhouse's approval. When the child doesn't recognize her, she is devastated. She tries to make a doll from her scarf and play with it, but the daughter cries and turns to the foster mother.
This hits Ingeborg so hard that she loses her sanity. She spends several years in a mental hospital, holding the doll as if it were her daughter. Twelve years later, her oldest son, Erik, now a sailor, visits her. He becomes desperate when the mother doesn't recognize him—but when he gives her a photograph of herself as young, with the text "To Erik from mother," her sanity returns. She has her son back, who can support her.
1913 in film
The year 1913 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* The Squaw Man, the first Hollywood feature film, is made.* December 29, Charlie Chaplin signs a contract with Mack Sennett to begin making films at Keystone Studios.* D. W...
Swedish
Cinema of Sweden
Swedish cinema is known as producing many critically acclaimed movies, and during the 20th century was the most prominent of Scandinavia. This is largely due to the popularity and prominence of the directors Ingmar Bergman, Victor Sjöström, and more recently Lasse Hallström and Lukas...
social drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Victor Sjöström
Victor Sjöström
Victor Sjöström was a Swedish actor, screenwriter, and film director.- Biography:Born in Silbodal, in the Värmland region of Sweden, he was only a year old when his father, Olof Adolf Sjöström, moved the family to Brooklyn, New York. His mother died when he was seven years old in 1886...
, based on a 1906
1906 in literature
The year 1906 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* December 24 - Reginald Fessenden transmits the first radio program, a poetry reading, a violin solo, and a speech, broadcasts....
play by Nils Krok. It has been called "the first realistic feature film". It caused great debate in Sweden about social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
, which led to changes in the poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
laws. It is said to be based on a true story.
Synopsis
Sven Holm and his wife Ingeborg are happily married with three children, and are about to open a shop in StockholmStockholm
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...
. They open the shop, but Sven contracts tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and dies. Ingeborg initially tries to run the shop by herself, but when she fails, she turns to the poorhouse for help. The poorhouse denies her assistance but offers her a cleaning job. She has to sell the shop, her house, and put the children in an orphanage.
After some time, Ingeborg reads in a letter that one of the children is sick. The poorhouse can't finance a visit, but the determined Ingeborg escapes at night and, after being chased by police, gets to see the child. When she returns to the poorhouse, the manager is furious that they must pay a fine for the trouble she caused.
Later on, Ingeborg is offered a chance to see her youngest daughter, this time with the poorhouse's approval. When the child doesn't recognize her, she is devastated. She tries to make a doll from her scarf and play with it, but the daughter cries and turns to the foster mother.
This hits Ingeborg so hard that she loses her sanity. She spends several years in a mental hospital, holding the doll as if it were her daughter. Twelve years later, her oldest son, Erik, now a sailor, visits her. He becomes desperate when the mother doesn't recognize him—but when he gives her a photograph of herself as young, with the text "To Erik from mother," her sanity returns. She has her son back, who can support her.
Cast
- Hilda BorgströmHilda BorgströmHilda Teresia Borgström was a Swedish stage and film actress.Born in Stockholm, Borgström is considered one of Sweden's most legendary silent film actresses. She made her film debut in 1912...
as Ingeborg Holm - Aron Lindgren as Sven Holm / Erik Holm as an adult
- Erik Lindholm as Employee in Shop
- Georg Grönroos as Poorhouse Superintendent
- William LarssonWilliam LarssonWilliam Larsson was a Swedish silent film actor. He appeared in 39 films between 1912 and 1925.-Selected filmography:* Ingeborg Holm * Half Breed * The Clergyman * Judge Not...
as Police Officer - Richard LundRichard LundRichard Lund was a Swedish film and theatre actor. He made his stage debut at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg in 1904 and later appeared in 73 films between 1912 and 1952, making his most important roles during the silent film era. Among his best known roles is that of Sir Archie in Mauritz Stiller's...
as Doctor - Carl Barcklind as House Doctor
- Bertil Malmstedt as Erik Holm as a child
External links
- Ingmar BergmanIngmar BergmanErnst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
on Ingeborg Holm and other films by Sjöström