FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Sweden, 1982, 145 minutes, Colour.
Max von Sydow.
Directed by Jan Troell.

Flight of the Eagle is a spectacular Swedish film from writer, photographer, director Jan Troell. Troell has made several fine films in Sweden, including The Emigrants and The New Land, which were popular throughout the world. For Hollywood he made Zandy's Bride with Liv Ullman and Gene Hackman and Hurricane with Mia Farrow.

This film was made in Arctic regions, under difficult conditions. Troell's beautiful photography gives an atmosphere of authenticity to this re-creation of an expedition of 1897 in which Salomon Andree led an ill-fated balloon expedition to the North Pole. Max von Sydow, star of The Emigrants and The New Land, is Andree. The film has an atmosphere of the late 19th century with enthusiasm about expeditions, Swedish loyalty, European technology as well as a character study of three men under stress lost in Arctic wastes.

1. An interesting and entertaining film? Re-creation of history? Spectacular photography and scenery?

2. The re-creation of period, Sweden in the late 19th century, the cities, the court, factories? The French episodes with the making of the hot air balloon? Recreation in Paris with the Moulin Rouge etc.? Costumes? Decor? The location photography with the balloon, its launching, the Arctic scenery and animals? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the balloon? The symbolism of the eagle? Hopes, expectations? The tragedy of the failure?

4. Exploration in the late 19th century? The wide range of exploration and expeditions? The heroism of the explorers, given conditions and technology? Their ambitions? The focus on the Arctic and the North Pole? Nansen and his expeditions? Rivalries? The re-creation of history? The use of 19th century photographs and the sepia and white photographic style?

5. The portrait of Salomon Andree? His experience, ambitions, aims? His relationship with his wife, family? His recruiting his assistants? The technology of the balloon? His knowledge of the Arctic? The preparations for the expedition? Relationship with Strindberg and Fraenkel? The port and the decisions about launching the balloon? The immediate difficulties? Coping? Weights, winds, moisture? Weather? The decision to land on the ice? The move towards the North Pole? The floating ice? Food, polar bears and walrus? The depth of the sea? Camps? The tensions within the group? His friendships and dependence? His being in command? His own memories and their insertion into the expedition? The deaths of the two men and his response? His being left alone with his vision and his tragedy on the snow?

6. Fraenkel and Strongberg? Their backgrounds, characters, medical tests, fitness for the expedition, knowledge? The visit to France and their enjoyment? Their relationships, family background? The expedition for Sweden? Their participation in the launching, the early difficulties, tensions between the men? Stringberg and his amiable nature? His memories of his fiancee? Fraenkel and his health, illness, tensions? Feeling that Andree was over-commanding? His being taken by the polar bear? His dreams and the intensity of the French cancan dream? The pathos of his death?

7. The background of the Swedish government, learned institutes in Sweden backing the expedition? The visit to France and the details of the hot air balloon and its making? Public acclaim? Fame? The media coverage?

8. The impact of the balloon itself, the launching, its not being an entire success, the landing? The preparation for the expedition ? adequate or not? Life on the snow and the ice? The tension with the animals? The pathos of the ending?

9. A satisfying adventure film? A glimpse of Sweden's history? Impact for Swedish audiences? For wider audiences?