Rasmus Breistein

Biography

Rasmus Breistein made his mark in the annals of Norwegian cinema history in more ways than one. Most importantly he played a huge part in the period 1920-1930, that later was known as "the national breakthrough for Norwegian films." Until 1920, ironically the only dramatization of Norwegian literature was made by Swedish and Danish filmmakers, a trend that shifted when Breistein made his debut as a feature filmmaker and screenwriter with 1920's "Fante-Anne", based on a story by Norwegian writer Kristofer Janson. Historians would later claim that "Fante-Anne" marked the true beginning for the serious and dedicated Norwegian film-industry. It was in the 1920s that the Norwegian film industry started to get a self-awareness that would also lead to a wave of respected stage actors finally taking a leap into the art of moving pictures, and thereby helping to improve the productions. It was considered quite a historical feat when Breistein got his "Fante-Anne" cast with professional stage actors from Det Norske Teatret (until then Norwegian theaters had actually forbidden it's actors to work in the film industry!). The days when theatres looked down upon the new media was over, and Breistein helped play a part by directing som of the best Norwegian movies of the decade (a total of five feature films until 1930), and even challenging and finally weakening the powerful Swedish film industry's grip on the Norwegian public. After the invention of sound Breistein would seal his reputation as a popular director with classical box-office hits such as "Ungen" (1938) and "Trysil-Knut" (1942). His documentary features "Jorden rundt på to timer" (1949) and "Tirich Mir til topps" (1952) are considered classics in the history of Norwegian documentary filmmaking. "Jorden rundt på to timer" was also the first Norwegian feature in color. The latter, "Tirich Mir til topps" (also in color) was shot on location in Pakistan, and would prove to be the last production from Breistein, who subsequently retired from the industry all-together. He lived on for another 24 years, earning much admiration and respect from his colleagues, before passing away in 1976 at the age of 86.