Raven's End
Encyclopedia
Raven's End is a 1963 Swedish drama film
directed by Bo Widerberg, about an aspiring working-class writer in Malmö
. The story bears some similarities to Widerberg's own background, although he claimed it to be entirely fictional.
, Anders is dreaming about becoming a writer. His friend Sixten is dreaming about becoming a football player so he can go to Paris
and meet prostitutes in fur. Anders' ambitions are supported by his girlfriend Elsie and his parents. His mother supports the family by doing laundry, while his father is unemployed and has a problem with alcohol and gambling.
Anders sends a script for a book he has written about the block they live in to a publisher in Stockholm
. He is asked to come to Stockholm and discuss the book, which makes his father excited. But the publisher doesn't want to publish the book, and when Anders returns they all become very disappointed.
Elsie becomes pregnant with Anders' child. Anders seeks advice from his father, but the father is drunk and they end up fighting. The father blames his wife for all the misery they are suffering from, meaning it's all because he was humiliated by affair she once had. The mother blames the father, meaning it was his violent behaviour that caused her infidelity.
Anders decides to leave his family, his pregnant girlfriend and all misery behind. He joins Sixten and they both travel to Stockholm.
for Best Actor. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
. It was also entered into the official selection at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival
, competing for the Palme d'Or
.
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 Bo Widerberg, about an aspiring working-class writer in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
. The story bears some similarities to Widerberg's own background, although he claimed it to be entirely fictional.
Plot
In the mid 30s1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
, Anders is dreaming about becoming a writer. His friend Sixten is dreaming about becoming a football player so he can go to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and meet prostitutes in fur. Anders' ambitions are supported by his girlfriend Elsie and his parents. His mother supports the family by doing laundry, while his father is unemployed and has a problem with alcohol and gambling.
Anders sends a script for a book he has written about the block they live in to a publisher in 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...
. He is asked to come to Stockholm and discuss the book, which makes his father excited. But the publisher doesn't want to publish the book, and when Anders returns they all become very disappointed.
Elsie becomes pregnant with Anders' child. Anders seeks advice from his father, but the father is drunk and they end up fighting. The father blames his wife for all the misery they are suffering from, meaning it's all because he was humiliated by affair she once had. The mother blames the father, meaning it was his violent behaviour that caused her infidelity.
Anders decides to leave his family, his pregnant girlfriend and all misery behind. He joins Sixten and they both travel to Stockholm.
Cast
- Thommy BerggrenThommy BerggrenThommy Berggren is a Swedish actor. He is known for having starred in several films directed by Bo Widerberg and was often considered as one of the foremost Swedish film and theatre actors from the early 60s to the mid 2000s when he retired. He starred in the Oscar nominated Raven's End , directed...
as Anders - Keve HjelmKeve HjelmKarl Evert "Keve" Hjelm was a Swedish actor and film director. He appeared in 70 films between 1943 and 2004.-Selected filmography:* Girl with Hyacinths * Raven's End * Love 65...
as His Father - Emy Storm as His Mother
- Christina Frambäck as Elsie
- Ingvar HirdwallIngvar HirdwallLars Ingvar Hirdwall , is a Swedish actor. He was educated at Gothenburg City Theatre stage school 1957-1960. Since the early 1960s he has been active as an actor in many films, TV series and on theatrical stages, mainly Stockholms stadsteater...
as Sixten - Agneta PrytzAgneta PrytzAgneta Prytz was a Swedish movie and stage actress who appeared in thirty-six films over the course of her career. Prytz was the wife of Swedish director, Gösta Folke, who died in April 2008....
as Neighbour - Fritiof Nilsson PiratenFritiof Nilsson PiratenFritiof Nilsson Piraten , born Nils Fritiof Adam Nilsson was a Swedish author, from the south-most province Skåne, which plays an important role in many of his books....
as Himself - Nina Widerberg as Nina
Production
The film was shot on location in a run-down Malmö block that was soon to be demolished. Locals were used as extras to strengthen the feeling of authencity.Awards and nominations
Keve Hjelm was awarded the GuldbaggeGuldbagge Award
The Guldbagge Award is an official Swedish film award awarded annually since 1964 by the Swedish Film Institute.-Etymology:Guldbagge is the Swedish name for Cetonia aurata, a beetle also known as rose chafer. The name of the award could also be interpreted as a play on the Swedish word skalbagge,...
for Best Actor. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. It was also entered into the official selection at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival
1964 Cannes Film Festival
The 17th Cannes Film Festival was held from 29 April to 14 May 1964. The Palme d’Or is renamed 'Grand Prix International du Festival', the name that will be used until 1975.-Jury:*Fritz Lang *Charles Boyer...
, competing for the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
.