Rasmus Breistein

Rasmus Breistein (November 16, 1890 – October 16, 1976) was a Norwegian film director.^[1]^[2]

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The Norwegian Film institute's copy of The Bridal Party in Hardanger - - proved to be an unedited version without titles. The Swedish title lists turned out to be in the possession - - of The Swedish Film Classification Board in 1998. Since 1999, several new title lists have surfaced. This has rendered it possible to reconstruct an omitted sequence - - which expands on the narrative in the film. The outdoor takes were shot in Aga and Lofthus in Ullensvang, - - and on Tokheim Farm outside Odda. Indoor takes: The art room in Thunes Mek. Verksted, Skayen. The film premiered on December 26, 1926 - - at Cirkus Verdensteater and Frogner Cinema Theatre, Oslo. The Norwegian Film institute's Film Archives present THE BRIDAL PARTY IN HARDANGER Based on Kristofer Jensen's book "Marit Skjolte" Director/ScripMriteriProducer: Rasmus Breistein Photographer/Editor: Gunnar Nilsen-Vig Decorations: Ola Cornelius Copyright: Kommunernes Filmcentral A/S Marit as a young girl: Aase Bye Anders as a young boy: Henry Gleditsch Tore: Vilhelm Lund His mother: Henny Skjranberg The county judge's wife: Emma Juul The county judge: Rasmus Rasmussen Two guests at the county judge farm: Edel Johansen, Ernst Sem-Johansen The bride: Dagmar Myhrvold Lund The parson: Gustav Berg-Jager The cotter: Ole Leikvang Marit as an elderly woman: Gunhild Schytte Jacobsen Eli, her daughter: Annik Saxegaard Vigleik, her son: Alfred Maurstad Anders as an elderly man: Oscar Larsen Bérd, his son: Martin Fiksen It all happened in the days when the America fever raged in Norway. It was hard for an old farmer to gaze back at the homestead he had sold. But it was even worse to be torn away from the ones they loved the most. Like for Marit and Anders Bjéland, at the hour of parting. "Run and get her, Tore. We might miss the boat." "You have to come now, Marit. They're waiting for you." "Leave me alone! Go away!" "What will happen to her?" "We have to go anyway." "Please bring her to the village before the ocean liner leaves." An inner force pulled Marit up the mountain. She wanted to see the boat that took her parents away. Everything was quiet. Everyone went back home. Just the ship's smoke remained, like a black veil over the fjord. She was no longer watching the ship... She was gazing across the fjord at Bjéland, where Anders lived... But Tore was also in love with Marit. "Won't you come home with me for a while, Marit?" At Skjralte, the biggest farm in the village, Tore's mother was waiting. "Marit didn't want to leave!" "She may stay in one of the rooms upstairs." "I don't understand this girl. I can't get a single word out of her." "Poor child. What will become of her?" "I'm fond of her. Maybe it's God's will that we will be a couple." "No, I don't want to leave, but I don't know what to do." "Stay here as long as you like. You may even stay forever." "I will apply for a post with the county judge." "if you change your mind, please know that I am waiting for you, Marit." After a while, Marit was employed by the county judge. "You'd better go out and help with the haying, Marit." "And I thought you had gone off to America." "I never left." "Well then, it seems we will be a couple after all." "I'm not quite sure." "I'm going away, Marit. But I will be back in two years." "Yes... And then, maybe..." "This is my mother's silver brooch. You shall wear it in your wedding." "Thank you, Anders! I will wear it with honour." "In two years..." She had seen him, and talked to him! Oh, how happy she felt. Four years had gone by. Marit had not received a single letter from Anders. But she waited patiently, for she knew that he would come back. Today there was a wedding at Bjarve farm. On his travels, Anders had met the wealthy Kari Bjrarve. Now they were going to be married. The bridegroom... Anders Bjéland The county judge was housing summer guests. "We'll be back after service. Then everything must be in order." The wedding was a big event. Everyone was expected to celebrate. By tradition, the strongest men rowed the bridal boat. Marit had such a burning desire to attend this church wedding. "Do you, Anders Bjursen Bjéland, take Kari Andersen Bjrarve - - to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Her only thought was: How could God let such a thing pass'? "The groom was a fine fellow." "He should have married you, Marit." "I do not feel well today." "You move out on the 24th." That evening, Marit rowed over to the wedding party. "There's a girl out there who would like to see the bridegroom." "it is only me, Anders Bjéland..." "We were never meant to be. I suppose it was destiny." "Maybe you think I'll cry my eyes out over you." "Oh no. I estimate you less than the dust under my feet." "What do you want, then?" "I just want to tell you that you are a louse with no honour." "Why are you talking to this beggar woman?" "Beggar woman'? My family is just as good as yours, Kari Bjéland." "You'll never see Marit begging from Kari Bjéland!" "Leave now, Marit, or else..." "I had not expected you to sell yourself for gold to Kari Bjarve." "Don't listen to her. She's crazy." "Goodbye, Anders Bjéland! Dance merrily in your wedding!" Marit came home very late that night. She could not think of anything else. The county judge's family got upset when Marit disappeared. Before long, the whole village knew that Marit had gone away. She had taken a post with an old cotter up in the mountains. "Hello. Marit. I bring greetings from the county judge's family." "Do you like it up here in the mountains?" "There's enough soil here to lower my coffin in." "The offer I gave you, still stands." "Goodbye, Marit. If you want to talk, you know where to find me." "What is it?" "I will go with you to Skjalte." "I thank you for those words, Marit. When should I come and get you?" <i>"I'll</i> go with you right away." "Have you gone crazy, girl?" "I'm your master. I can chase you out on the highway, where you came from." "No need. I'm leaving tonight." "Chop your own wood and carry your own water, you whiner." Marit rode to Skjralte, to become the wealthiest lady in the village. Many, many years have gone by. Generations have passed away... And new generations have arrived. Much had changed on Skjalte. Death had often visited the farm. But Marit was still as resolute and strong-willed as in her youth. Marit had a daughter. Her name was Eli. Her brother Vigleik who conveyed her, was a quick-tempered young man. Anders fell ill, and had to leave the farm. He moved in with his only son, who was now running Bjéland farm. "Where are you going?" "Just over to Skjolte." "Listen, Vigleik. I have a lot to tell you." On that day, Vigleik learnt everything about his mother. A son may carry out what a father didn't... And bygone days are not always forgotten. "Who were you talking to?" "To Bérd. Anders Bjéland's son." "What did he want?" "He... We are engaged." "This will never be. Never!" "if you ever talk to Anders Bjéland's son, I will chase you from Skjalte." "I have nothing against Eli. But what you promise her, you shall keep." One day in the fall, Vigleik came rushing in. "Eli is marrying Bérd Bjéland today, and we are not invited!" "Why would you go to that wedding?" "I could prevent Bérd from going to the altar." "They trample on us!" "You know what they say about you and Anders Bjéland?" "That he betrayed me. And now they steal my only daughter." "What happened between Anders and me... Don't you ever forget!" "May I take the horse?" "Then they will have a message from Skjalte at the wedding party." Eli and Bérd's wedding was a simple one. "Greetings from my mother, and thank you for the invitation." "Where have you been? The horse is drenched with sweat." "At a wedding!" The years went by. Marit lived on her farm, her daughter Eli on hers. They never met. Eli and her husband were poor, and Marit was aware of it. Marit had softened a bit. But Anders was always on her mind. "Would you like yarn or stockings? Please help a poor old lady." "We have enough yarn here on this farm." "Yes, of course. But please buy some. I am in a bad way, you see." "You're not as proud now, Kari, as when you stood before the altar." "With Anders Bjéland." "Oh, God almighty... You can't be Marit Skjolte?" "Yes, it's me. You called me a beggar woman then." "Now you seem to resemble a beggar yourself." However, Kari had reached the end of her beggar's journey. After this happened to Kari, Marit Skjolte grew restive. The memories of Anders would not leave her alone. This is a gift to Anders Bjéland, who is sick in bed, from an old friend. "Bring these things to the priest. This letter as well." "Don't mention neither your name nor mine. The priest knows about it." This unexpected gift caused a great sensation at Bjéland. This is a gift to Anders Bjéland, who is sick in bed, from an old friend. "I was just told to bring the letter." And then, one Saturday night... As usual, Vigleik was drunk. Late in the evening, Vigleik went up to the Bjéland farm. "It's Vigleik. I need something to drink." "Good evening, sister. Give me something to drink." "Where is Bérd?" "Up at the mountain pasture." "Who is in the bedroom?" "Anders, my father-in-law. He is ill!" "I'd like to get at that geezer. He made mother so unhappy!" "Get out, old fellow. I'll sleep here." "Who are you?" "The son of Marit Skjalte." "And now I'm going to throw you out. Like you once did to my mother." "Make yourself comfortable." Never before had Vigleik come home that late. "Are you bringing Vigleik home?" "No. It's Anders. Anders Bjéland." "Who has done this?" "This is the bed your father died in, Eli." "Let me know if there's anything you want to bring home." "What is this? I don't remember a thing." "You hit old Anders, threw him out, and almost killed him." "Where is he now?" "I took him to Skjalte." "I'd better leave for America." "You will turn out a decent man in the end. You'll see." "Is that you, Eli?" "No, it's not." "But who are you?" "Marit, the one who...'?" "Whom you once promised the world. Yes, that is me." "Yes, I have worn this brooch ever since that day..." "I was never happy, Marit." "But you married a wealthy woman." "God works in mysterious ways for the both of us..." Memories came to them, from when they played bride and groom as children. Today Vigleik sailed out the fjord, bound for America... And thus, Marit lost her only son. From now on, the aged couple lived all alone at Skjolte. The end. ABOUT THE RESTORATION This film only existed in one, severely damaged 35 mm copy with extremely unstable pictures, as the copy had shrunk, with extensive damages and scratches in the emulsion. The film was scanned in 2048x1556 pixels, and a total of 113.000 frames was individually stored and repaired. The data files were stabilized, illuminated and repaired with the most advanced equipment within international special effects. From these files, a new, restored 35 mm negative was produced. Music arranged, composed and adapted by Halldor Krogh Hardanger fiddle soloist: Einar Mjralsnes Sound Engineer: Hékon Aarraen Music producer: Halldor Krogh

Life

Breistein was born in Åsane in the city of Bergen in Hordaland county, Norway.^[3] He was a farmer's son and learned to play fiddle in his youth, playing for dances at weddings in Western Norway.^[4] Later in life, in addition to directing films, he also performed on the Hardanger fiddle.^[5]

When the Norwegian Theater opened in 1913, he started acting at the theater. He became engaged with the new medium of film after seeing Peter Lykke-Seest's productions, and he decided to produce films in a completely different way. His first film was Fante-Anne (Gypsy Anne, 1920).^[1]^[4] In an interview he stated that "the film was the beginning of something, a Norwegian production with a more national character."^[6] This marked the beginning of the Norwegian heyday of the silent film age.

Breistein is considered the most important Norwegian filmmaker of the silent film era. During the period known as the "national breakthrough" in Norwegian film (1920–1930), he directed five feature films: Fante-Anne (Gypsy Anne, 1920),^[7] Felix (1921),^[8] Jomfru Trofast (Miss Faithful, 1921),^[9] Brudeferden i Hardanger (The Bridal Procession in Hardanger, 1926),^[10] and Kristine Valdresdatter (1930).^[11] With these films, he challenged Swedish films' former position of power and pleased both critics and audiences.

After audio films were invented, Breistein solidified his reputation as a director of the popular films Ungen (The Child, 1938)^[12] and Trysil-Knut (Knut from Trysil, 1942).^[13] The documentary films Jorden rundt på to timer (Around the World in Two Hours, 1949)^[14] and Tirich Mir til topps (To the Top of Tirich Mir, 1952)^[15] are classics in the history of Norwegian documentary film.