Course Syllabus

Scandinavian Moods in Cinema

Light in the Dusk (Aki Kaurismäki, Finland, 2006)

Autumn Sonata (Ingmar Bergman, Sweden, 1978)

Semester & Location:	Spring 2019 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Film Studies, Media Studies, Communication
Faculty Member:	Morten Egholm
Program Coordinator:	Sanne Rasmussen - sra@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Mondays & Thursdays 11.40-13.00 Location: The DIS Movie Theater in V23

Instructor: Morten Egholm

Ph. D., Film Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2009. Cand. mag., Scandinavian Studies, Film and Media Theory, University of Copenhagen, 1997. Associate professor in Danish Language, Literature and Culture, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, 2002-2006. Has written several articles in Danish, English and Dutch on film history, Danish literature, Danish theatre, and Danish and American TV series. Editor of the film journal Kosmorama 2010-2015. With DIS since 2008, since January 2012 as full time faculty.

Tel. 60 81 40 71

mge@dis.dk 

Office hours: Thursdays, 1.15-3.00 pm in Room V10-B15.

Course Content

A study of contemporary films from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland). The focus will be on most important themes (and how these are reflected in modern Nordic societies), visual style, and narration strategies.

Learning Objectives

Students taking this class will:

• Develop an appreciation and understanding of major themes, narration strategies and sense of visual style in older and contemporary films from the Nordic countries
• Be able to relate the course material to social issues and political discussions in the modern Nordic societies
• Produce an academic research paper demonstrating the ability to interpret and discuss contemporary Nordic film

Course Description

Considering the low amount of people living in the Nordic countries (approx. 25 mill.), it is quite impressive what an important role the countries have played in international film history. Swedish director Ingmar Bergman has had an enormous influence on the works of David Lynch, Alejandro G. Inárritu, and Woody Allen, while Danish director Carl Th. Dreyer has inspired important names such as Sergio Leone, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Schrader. The aesthetic and visual style of Danish director Lars von Trier and the Dogma 95 Movement can be found in several modern film classics, e.g. the Award winning Traffic (2000) and Saving Private Ryan (1999). Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki has been praised for his work at several important film festivals in Europe and the US, and has worked as an inspiration for American directors like Jim Jarmusch and Wes Anderson. 

In the course we will – through analysis – identify the Nordic way of telling a story in film. Further, we will focus on typical themes and the special mood and atmosphere that characterize these films. Finally, we will analyse how the films reflect everyday mentality and the most relevant and discussed social issues in the modern Nordic societies.

We will analyse and compare Nordic films by directors such as Ingmar Bergman, Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Joachim Trier, Aki Kaurismäki, Ruben Östlund, Bille August, Amanda Kernell, and others.

The emphasis will be on films with a specific notion of style, alternative thematic and aesthetic approaches, and films with cult potential. Each of the five Nordic countries will get a section where we will look at the film's historical development, the stylistic characteristics, the use of different film genres, the typical thematic elements, and the film’s socio-cultural context.

 

Melancholia (Lars von Trier, Denmark, 2011) 

Method

The course will include lectures, discussions of films, required readings, and film viewings.

Each class will concentrate on one of the themes and will almost always include a related film viewing. The films are in the Nordic languages with English subtitles.

Classroom Etiquette

The use of distracting devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) is strictly prohibited during class. Failure to comply will adversely affect participation grades. Use of laptops for the purpose of note-taking requires prior consultation with the professor. Students should refrain from all other computer activities, as they prove distracting to themselves and fellow students. Mobile phones and other electronic devices should of course be turned off and stored away.

Reading List

Bacon, Henry (ed.): Finnish Cinema: A Transnational Enterprise. Palgrave McMilan, UK: 2016

Conolly, Jez & Caroline Whelan: World Film Locations: Reykjavik, Intellect: 2012

Cowie, Peter: Finnish Cinema, Tantivy Press: 1976

Cowie, Peter: Scandinavian Cinema, Tantivy Press: 1992

Egholm, Morten, Lars-Martin Sørensen & Lisbeth Richter Nielsen: Kosmorama, on line film journal with some articles in English, can be found on: http://www.kosmorama.org/

Egholm, Morten (ed.): Scandinavian Moods in Cinema, DIS Course Binder, Copenhagen: 2018

Forsyth, Hardy: Scandinavian Film, Falcon Press, 1952

Hjort, Mette & Ib Bondebjerg: Danish Directors, Intellect: 2001

Hjort, Mette: The Cinema of Small Nations, Indiana University Press: 2007

Hjort, Mette: Lone Scherfig’s Italian For Beginners, University of Washington Press: 2010

Hjort, Mette & Ib Bondebjerg: Danish Directors 3, Intellect: 2013

Hjort, Mette: A Companion to Nordic Film, Blackwell, 2016

Iversen, Gunnar, A. Söderbergh Widding & Tytti Soila: Nordic National Cinemas, Routledge: 1998

Jørholt,  Eva, Mette Hjort & Eva Novrup Redvall: The Danish Directors 2. Dialogues on the New Danish

Fiction Cinema: Intellect, Bristol/Chicago: 2011

Koskenen, Maaret: Ingmar Bergman’s The Silence, University of Washington Press: 2010

Kääpä, Pietari: Finland – directory in world Cinema. Intellect: 2012

Kääpä, Pietrari: World Film Locations: Helsinki, Intellect: 2013

Kääpä, Pietari: From Nation-Building to Ecocosmopolitanism, Bloomsburry, 2014

Kääpä, Pietari & Tommy Gustafsson (ed.): Nordic Genre Film: Small Nation Film Cultures in the Global Market Place,

Edinburgh University Pres: 2015

Larsson, Mariah & Anders Marklund: Swedish Cinema – An Introduction and a Reader: 2010

Lindqvist, Ursula: Roy Andersson’s Songs From The Second Floor, University of Washington Press, 2016

Nestingen, Andrew (ed.): In Search of Aki Kaurismäki. Aesthetics and Contexts, Special Issue of The Journal

of Finnish Studies, Volume 8, number 2, December 2004

Nestingen, Andrew & Trevor G. Elkington (red.): Transnational Cinema in a Global North, Wayne

State University Press: 2005

Nordfjord, Björn: Dagur Kari’s Noi Albinoi, University of Washington Press: 2010

Nørrested, Carl: Greenland on Film. Amongst Eskimos, Adventurers, Colonisers, and Etnographers, North: 2011

Rombes, Nicholas: New Punk Cinema, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2005

Shargel, Raphael: Ingmar Bergman Interviews, University Press of Mississippi: 2007

Shriverrice, Meryl: Inclusion in New Danish Cinema: Sexuality and Transnational Belonging, Intellect: 2015

Soila Tytti (ed.): The Cinema of Scandinavia, Wallflower: 2005                     

Sundholm, John, Isak Thorsen, Lars Gustaf Andersson and others: Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian

Cinema, The Scarecrow Press: 2012

Thomphson, Clair C. (ed.): Northern Contellations: New Readings in Nordic Cinema, Intellect: 2006

Thomphson, Clair C.: Thomas VInterberg’s The Celebration, Unviersity of Washington Press: 2014

Tucker, John (ed.): Scandinavian-Canadian Studies, Volume 19, University of Victoria: 2010

 

 Journal of Scandinavian Cinema (2010-). All issues can be found at the DIS Library.

Evaluation

Assignment	Percent
Midterm	25%
Research Paper	25%
Final Exam	25%
Class Participation (including Film Screening info tests)	25%

Midterm & Final

The tests consist of questions of relatively simple facts (such as: Who made this or that film?), questions of more complex character (such as: Mention the characteristics of this or that director), and questions to be answered with a short essay (such as: Comment on the typical trends in modern Icelandic film). The answers will be weighted differently. Midterm takes place in class on March, 21st.

Film Screening Info Tests

It is very important that you view each required film before class (see under "Film Viewings" below). A very short, written test relating to the film’s content will sometimes be given before the screening.

Research Paper Synopsis or Small Presentation in Class

The synopsis or short presentation in class should give the topic of your paper. Must be handed in/discussed on April 8th.

Research Paper

The topics for the research paper are decided by the student and the instructor together. Normally, it would be on (or relate to) subjects and films dealt with in the course. It is of course also possible to write about other topics/films by agreement with the instructor.

Suggested structure of your paper:

1. Table of contents.
2. Introduction:
   • Presentation of the subject to be investigated.
   • An overview of the contents.
   • A comment on the methodology.

3. Analysis: Short description(s), comments, discussions, comparisons.
4. Summary and conclusion.
5. Notes & Bibliography.

The paper should be based on the required reading, the additional reading found in the DIS library and/or the Danish Film Museum Library, the films seen in class and/or films by your own choice.

In the Introduction, the factual material is presented. The main emphasis, though, should be on the analysis - that is: your personal discussion of the material. It is necessary to present the substance of the topic through paraphrasing and quotations (remember, always to footnote/endnote sources of direct quotations), but it is not sufficient only to paraphrase. The analysis of the material - your personal understanding and interpretation - is the important part of the paper. The paper should normally include a relatively detailed analysis of one of the films you have seen within the subject.

Length: Appr. 8-10 type written pages, or approx. 2800-3000 words.

The Research Paper is due May 6 at 11:59 pm (hand in at my office or e-mail it to me).

The Danish Film Institute Library is located in the Film House, “Filmhuset,” Gothersgade 55 (close to Nørreport Station). The Library has a large collection of books, periodicals, stills and other film-related material. The Film House also has a book store, a video library, a cafe, plus three cinemas that show films every day.

The Library is open:    

Monday:	Closed
Tues-Fri:	9 am - 9 pm
Saturday:	10:45 am – 9 pm
Sunday:	10:45am – 7 pm

Field Studies

Wednesday, February, 13, 9-12.30:

Focus on Danish Cinema in the 1980's. Watching Pelle The Conqueror (Bille August, 1987, 150 min.).

Monday, February, 25, 7.00-10.30 pm

Film night: Watching the Finnish film The Other Side of Hope on the big screen in Husets Biograf/The House’s Movie Theatre (snack and a beer/other drink included).

Wednesday, April, 3 1-4.30 pm

Watch the film Darling (2017), and visit from the director of the film, Birgitte Stærmose.

Film Viewings

Please note that it is mandatory to watch each film before the relevant class. Below you will find a schedule of film viewings that allows you the opportunity to view the films together as a class – on a (relatively) big screen. If, for some reason, you are unable to attend a viewing or would like to see a particular film again, it will be available on reserve in a specific semester shelf at the Library (ask one of the librarians). Keep in mind that these films act as the texts of this course and it is therefore just as necessary to watch each film attentively (i.e. take notes) before the class sessions in which it will be discussed.

Each film will be screened once, at 4.15-6.00 pm on the given date in The DIS Movie Theatre in Vestergade 23, Ground Floor, except when noted otherwise.

The following ten films are either uploaded on or linked through Canvas: The Celebration (uploaded, 2 files), Summer of '92 (uploaded), Thelma (link), Concrete Nights (uploaded), The Seventh Seal (uploaded), Autumn Sonata (link), Force Majeure (uploaded), Rams (uploaded), Sami Blood (link), and Drive (uploaded). Note that some of these files need to be downloaded before watching.

Viewing Dates:	Film:
	DENMARK
Monday, January 21, 4.30-6.00	The Celebration
Thursday, January 24	Summer of '92 (uploaded on Canvas)
Monday, January 28	Adam's Apples
Monday, February 11	Melancholia
Field Study, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 9-12.30	Pelle The Conqueror
	NORWAY
Thursday, February 14	Reprise
Monday, February 18	Thelma
	FINLAND
EVENING FIELD STUDY: Monday, February 25 (7-10.30 pm in Husets Biograf)	The Other Side of Hope
Thursday, February 28	Concrete Night
	SWEDEN
Monday, March 11	The Seventh Seal
Thursday, March 14	Autumn Sonata
Thursday, March 21	Let The Right One In
Monday, April, 1	Force Majeure
Field Study, Wednesday, April 3, 1-4.30 pm	Darling
Monday, April 8	The Giant
	ICELAND, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND DIRECTORS GO AMERICA
Thursday, April 11	Rams
Thursday, April 25	Sami Blood
Monday, April 29	Drive

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Attendance
• Coursework, Exams, and Final Grade Reports

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org