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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Barken Margrethe remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you have a soft spot for old black-and-white dramas where everyone is either intensely patriotic or hopelessly in love, you'll probably get a kick out of Barken Margrethe. If you need snappy dialogue or modern pacing, maybe skip it. It’s an old-fashioned sort of movie that moves exactly as fast as a sailing ship in a calm breeze.
The whole thing feels like it’s trying to be a bit of everything. You’ve got the grand national spirit, some really earnest romance, and this weirdly petty villainy from Birner that feels like it belongs in a different, grumpier movie.
It’s actually pretty impressive how much they lugged the camera around. Seeing location shots in Morocco for a film from this era is a nice treat. It breaks up the monotony of the ship scenes, which can start to feel a bit claustrophobic after the tenth time someone stares longingly at the horizon.
Lau Lauritzen Jr. as Poul is exactly the kind of guy you want at the helm. He’s got that jawline that screams, "I will save this ship, even if it kills me." And honestly? I believed him. Karin Nellemose plays Margrethe with a lot of poise, though she’s mostly there to be the sun around which these two guys orbit.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got this steady, rhythmic quality to it. Like an old folk song. Sometimes it’s nice to just watch a movie that knows exactly what it is and doesn't try to lecture you or be too clever. It just sails straight into that predictable, happy harbor. Sometimes that's enough. ⛵️
