Den starkaste (1929) review: Seals, Ice, and Swedish Machismo

If you have about an hour and a half to stare at some really cold-looking Swedes on a boat, Den starkaste is actually pretty cool. Literally. It is very cold.

It is definitely worth watching today if you are into those old "man against nature" vibes. If you can't stand seeing old-timey seal hunting, you should probably skip this one immediately. 🚢❄️

The story is simple enough. Skipper Larsen and his buddy Ole are getting the ship *Viking* ready for a trip to Spetzbergen.

They are going after seals and polar bears. It's the 1920s, so everyone is wearing a lot of wool and looking very rugged.

Ole has a thing for Ingeborg, the daughter of the house. But of course, there’s another guy, Gustaf, who also wants her attention.

The romance feels a bit like A Woman of the Sea in that it’s mostly just people staring longingly at each other near water. But here, the water is filled with giant slabs of ice.

I was really struck by how small the ship looks against the horizon. It makes you realize how crazy these people were to head out there with just wood and some sails.

There is a scene where the crew is trying to push the boat through the ice packs. You can almost feel the wood groaning under the pressure. It’s stressful.

The movie is directed by Alf Sjöberg and Axel Lindblom. Apparently, this was Sjöberg’s first movie, and he really went for it by filming on actual locations.

You can tell they didn't use a studio for the outdoor stuff. The wind looks real because it is real.

The way the light hits the snow is beautiful, even in black and white. It has a high-contrast look that reminds me of Manden med Arret, though the subject matter is totally different.

One thing that felt a bit off was the pacing in the middle. They spend a lot of time just... sailing. And then more sailing.

I know they wanted to show the scale of the trip, but after the tenth shot of the horizon, I was ready for a polar bear to show up. And eventually, one does!

The hunting scenes are pretty graphic. They don't cut away. It's a bit like watching a National Geographic special from 100 years ago, but with more drama.

Ole is a decent lead, but he’s kind of a boring hero. Gustaf is much more interesting because he seems like he might actually snap at any moment.

The fight between them on the ice is brutal. They are sliding around and falling into the freezing water. It’s not a choreographed Hollywood fight; it’s just two guys trying not to drown.

I kept thinking about John Petticoats for some reason while watching the domestic scenes. Maybe it's just the way the interiors are lit with that soft, grainy glow.

Ingeborg doesn't get a whole lot to do besides wait for the men to come back. That’s typical for 1929, I guess.

But when she is on screen, the actress Gun Holmqvist has these really wide, expressive eyes. She does more with a look than some of the guys do with their whole bodies.

There's a dog on the boat too. A little husky or something. I spent half the movie worried the dog was going to fall overboard.

Spoilers: The dog is fine. (I think).

The title Den starkaste means "The Strongest." It refers to who can survive the north, but also who is the better man for Ingeborg.

It’s a bit heavy-handed with the metaphor. Like, we get it, the ice is a test of character.

The ending is kind of abrupt. It just sort of... finishes once the conflict is resolved. No big emotional wrap-up, just a "well, that happened" vibe.

If you liked Le Cirque de la Mort for the spectacle, you might find this interesting, even if it's much slower. It's more of a mood piece than a thriller.

I noticed some dirt on the lens in one of the shots of the mast. It made the movie feel more human, like the camera crew was just as cold as the actors.

It’s not a masterpiece like some other Swedish silents, but it has a grit to it that I really respected. It doesn't try to be pretty.

Actually, it’s kind of ugly in a good way. It’s dirty, wet, and dangerous.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes A Night of Mystery or similar period dramas but wants something with more physical stakes. Just bring a sweater while you watch it.

The way they handle the rivalry between the two men is much better than in something like Fighting Youth. It feels earned here.

Anyway, it’s a solid flick. Not life-changing, but the ice scenes will stick with me for a while. 🧊

I wonder if the actors actually liked the seal meat they were probably eating. Probably not.

Final thought: The ship *Viking* is the real MVP of the whole thing. That boat took a beating.