Ni Liv
Encyclopedia
Nine Lives is a 1957 Norwegian film about Jan Baalsrud
, who was a member of the Norwegian resistance
during World War II
. In 1943, he participated in an operation to destroy a German
air control tower
. This mission was compromised when he and his fellow soldiers, seeking a trusted resistance contact, accidentally made contact with a civilian who betrayed them to the Nazis
.
The film was directed by
Arne Skouen and is based on the book We Die Alone by David Howarth.
In 1958 the film was nominated for an Oscar
for Best Foreign Language Film and was entered into the Cannes Film Fesitival
. In 1991
Norwegian television audiences voted it the greatest Norwegian film ever made.
They swam ashore in ice cold Arctic waters, and Baalsrud was the only one to escape the Nazi onslaught and, soaking wet and missing one shoe, he escaped up a ravine
and shot and killed a Gestapo
officer. He evaded capture for roughly two months, suffering from frostbite
and snow blindness
. He failed in his bid to reach the border of neutral Sweden
and threw himself on the mercy of some Norwegian citizens who happened to have access to the Norwegian underground. While hiding in their barn
, he amputated
a significant number of his own frostbitten toes with an ordinary knife.
These citizens managed to move Baalsrud close to the Swedish border, but were forced to leave him in a snow cave
for roughly two weeks before they returned and delivered him to a reindeer
herder who finally took him over the frontier to safety.
He recuperated in a Swedish hospital for seven months, returned to England through South Africa
, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and America before rejoining the fight.
Jan Baalsrud
Jan Sigurd Baalsrud, MBE was a commando in the Norwegian resistance trained by the British during World War II.- Early life :...
, who was a member of the Norwegian resistance
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1943, he participated in an operation to destroy a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
air control tower
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
. This mission was compromised when he and his fellow soldiers, seeking a trusted resistance contact, accidentally made contact with a civilian who betrayed them to the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
.
The film was directed by
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Arne Skouen and is based on the book We Die Alone by David Howarth.
In 1958 the film was nominated for an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Foreign Language Film and was entered into the Cannes Film Fesitival
1958 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Marcel Achard * Tomiko Asabuki *Bernard Buffet *Jean De Baroncelli *Helmut Käutner *Dudley Leslie *Madeleine Robinson *Ladislao Vajda *Charles Vidor...
. In 1991
1991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
Norwegian television audiences voted it the greatest Norwegian film ever made.
Plot
The morning after their blunder, their boat containing 8 tons of explosives intended to destroy the air control tower was attacked by a German vessel. The Norwegians destroyed their boat by exploding their payload, and Baalsrud and some other surviving soldiers fled.They swam ashore in ice cold Arctic waters, and Baalsrud was the only one to escape the Nazi onslaught and, soaking wet and missing one shoe, he escaped up a ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
and shot and killed a Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
officer. He evaded capture for roughly two months, suffering from frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas...
and snow blindness
Snow blindness
Photokeratitis or ultraviolet keratitis is a painful eye condition caused by exposure of insufficiently protected eyes to the ultraviolet rays from either natural or artificial sources. Photokeratitis is akin to a sunburn of the cornea and conjunctiva, and is not usually noticed until several...
. He failed in his bid to reach the border of neutral Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and threw himself on the mercy of some Norwegian citizens who happened to have access to the Norwegian underground. While hiding in their barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, he amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
a significant number of his own frostbitten toes with an ordinary knife.
These citizens managed to move Baalsrud close to the Swedish border, but were forced to leave him in a snow cave
Snow cave
A snow cave is a shelter constructed in snow by certain animals in the wild, human mountain climbers, winter recreational enthusiasts, and winter survivalists. It has thermal properties similar to an Igloo and is particularly effective at providing protection from wind as well as low temperatures...
for roughly two weeks before they returned and delivered him to a reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
herder who finally took him over the frontier to safety.
He recuperated in a Swedish hospital for seven months, returned to England through South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and America before rejoining the fight.
Cast
- Jack FjeldstadJack FjeldstadJack Fjeldstad was a Norwegian actor and stage producer. He was active on stage and in films for more than fifty years. He made his film debut in Det drønner gjennom dalen in 1937, and participated in more than thirty films, including the role "Jan Baalsrud" in Nine lives from 1957...
- Jan Baalsrud - Henny MoanHenny MoanHenny Moan is a Norwegian actress from Finnmark. She has had a long career in theatre, but is best known for her roles in certain classics of Norwegian cinema, such as the Oscar-nominated Ni liv and De dødes tjern...
- Agnes - Alf MallandAlf MallandAlf Malland was a Norwegian actor. He appeared in 42 films and television shows between 1949 and 1987. He starred in the film Struggle for Eagle Peak, which was entered into the 10th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* Nine Lives * Struggle for Eagle Peak * Cold Tracks * One...
- Martin - Joachim Holst-JensenJoachim Holst-JensenJoachim Holst-Jensen was a Norwegian film actor. He appeared in 45 films between 1927 and 1960.-Selected filmography:* Emergency Landing * Circus Fandango * Nine Lives -External links:...
- Bestefar - Lydia Opøien - Jordmoren
- Edvard DrabløsEdvard DrabløsEdvard Drabløs was a Norwegian actor and theatre director.He was born in Sykkylven. He worked most of his life at Det Norske Teatret, from 1912. He was the director of this theatre from 1915 to 1916 and 1950 to 1951. He also appeared briefly in films.He was proclaimed Knight, First Class of the...
- Skolelæreren - Sverre Hansen - Skomakeren
- Rolf SøderRolf SøderRolf Søder was a Norwegian film actor. He appeared in 40 films between 1955 and 1991.-Selected filmography:* Nine Lives * The Chasers * The Passionate Demons...
- Sigurd Eskeland - Ottar WicklundOttar WicklundOttar Wicklund was a Norwegian actor. He made his debut in the film Sangen om Rondane. He was in over 20 Norwegian fils and had his last role in the film Min Marion in...
- Henrik - Olav NordråOlav NordråOlav Nordrå was a Norwegian writer. He won the Riksmål Society Literature Prize in 1969.-References:...
- Konrad - Alf Ramsøy - Ivar, kjelketrekker
- Jens BollingJens BollingJens Bolling was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. He was among the founders of Studioteatret, and a well-known interpreter of Norwegian fairy-tales.-Early and personal life:...
- Alfred, kjelketrekker - Per BronkenPer BronkenPer Bronken was a Norwegian poet, novelist, actor and stage producer. He made his literaty debut in 1955 with the poetry collection Kom drikk også mitt blod. He made his stage debut at Riksteatret in 1957. He worked as stage producer for Fjernsynsteatret for several periods from 1962, and played...
- Ole, kjelketrekker - Grete NordråGrete NordråGrete Nordrå is a Norwegian actress who has appeared on screen since the 1950s.She made her screen debut in 1955 when she appeared in Trost i taklampa...
- Stenografen - Lillebil Nordrum - Sykepleiersken
See also
- List of submissions to the 30th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Norwegian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film