NORTHERN LIGHTS
US, 1978, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Behling, Susan Lynch, Joe Spano.
Directed by John Hanson and Rob Nilsson.
Northern Lights is a docudrama. It won the Golden Camera award in Cannes in 1978, the award for a first film.
The film is a kind of docudrama, focusing on the second decade of the 20th century and the Norwegian farmers who settled in North Dakota, Minnesota and the areas which border on Canada. It shows the harsh landscapes, the hard life of the farmers, their adaptation to the conditions, their prospering even with such disadvantages of weather and land.
The film is an interesting history of American development, a contrast with the pioneers who went to the west.
1. The impact of this film? For American audiences, non-Americans? There are many interesting themes in this film but whether it dramatises them all effectively, sometimes yes, sometimes no? A glimpse of American history, social history, the history of American labour? A presentation of a representative group of the American people?
2. The significance of the title, the lyrics of the song? The importance of the black and white photography, the landscapes, the presentation of the varieties of the seasons, the blizzards and the winter landscapes? The farms, the towns? The use of the close-up technique and the focus very much on people's personality through their faces, expressions, gestures?
3. The structure of the film, the introduction to Henry Martinson, his age, background? Personality? His introduction of the diary and the transition to 1915-1916? The memoir, Ray's vocalised commentaries and memories? The social and personal frame for the memoir? The film as a documentary feature? The captions and the historical information given, the social and political judgments?
4. The history presented? The way of life of the Scandinavian migrants, their settlement in North Dakota, the difficulties of work, communal living, neighbours and collaboration, the farm work, the crops and the threats of weather? The picturing of the varieties of weather? The bleakness? The presentation of banks, mortgages and foreclosure? Government and the administration from the cities? The rise of the league as combating the cities? The importance of places and dates given for historical background? The commentary at the end that this history of the non-partisan league had been forgotten?
5. Harry and his personality, his impact, the reprisal of his memoir at the end, his age and his figure, exercises, his final words of optimism? American optimism?
6. The impact of the diary, the selection of events. the narrative by Ray, the personal investment of his feelings, experiences? Happiness. pain, love, frustration, work, political success? The repercussions for his choices in life? criticism of John, inability to give himself totally to Inga?
7. Ray as a person, his background on the farm, family, his mother, working with John, Bart and his death? Inga and the plans for the marriage, the foreclosure of her farm and the pressures breaking up the possibility of marriage? His frustration and his drink?
8. The stopping of the wedding with the foreclosure, the presentation of work on the farms with neighbours helping, celebrations? The impact of the seasons and the weather, John not selling his grain and then the Grain Elevator authorities refusing to buy? Inga and the family working in the city, her not marrying, her discussions with her friend? The story of Inga's father and his decline?
9. Ray and his work for the league, the pressure put on him, his getting out of it, his decision to invest his energies there, driving around the countryside, the long rides, the hours put in, the visits with the farmers, discussions, helping them with their work? The language barriers and the bonds of old language and new?
10. The portrait of Inga, an attractive person, her love for Ray, her presented at the funeral? The foreclosure and her absence? The effect of absence on her and trying to love Ray? The happiness of their rare days together and what they shared? Her bonds and discussions with her friend? The build-up to the dinner and her being a wife to Ray, his not coming early to the meal, her weeping, frustration, the long story of the right living family and not expressing feelings, the story of her father on the road?
11. The portrait of the farmers and their various personalities, John and his preoccupation with money and the clashes with Ray? His joining the League? The personalities of the various farmers?
12. Forsythe and his double talk, the foreclosing, the police?
13. The presentation of the political situation in North Dakota, the campaigning by the league, the voting and the blizzards, the early results and then the final victory? The repercussions for the farmers?
14. The cinematic achievement of this film? Its recapturing of history of America? Its social comment? Its relevance for universal audiences?
