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      Kristin Lavransdatter

      Released Aug 21, 1995 3h 0m Drama List
      Reviews 48% Audience Score 500+ Ratings A young woman (Elisabeth Matheson) in medieval Norway defies her father and marries a knight (Bjørn Skagestad), whose former mistress wants her dead. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (4) Critics Reviews
      Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 17, 2005 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com I can't imagine this film being enjoyed by even the most die-hard IKEA-phile. Rated: 1.5/5 Apr 9, 2004 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Liv Ullmann's devotion to this classic comes across in her intense direction of this tale of one woman's yearning. Mar 2, 2002 Full Review Elspeth Haughton Apollo Guide Rated: 60/100 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member adaptation du roman à (C)ponyme, une jole reconstitution des us et coutumes de la norvège de l'à (C)poque. 2h55 de norvegien sous titrà (C) anglais, cela demande un peu de motivation. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member I did not read Undset's great book trilogy about 14th century Norway. This is Liv Ullmann's second directorial attempt. She was best known for her acting roles in Ingmar Bergman's films. It is a film about medieval spirituality both paganism & Christianity. The production of the film is lavish film with epic type dimensions & cinematography. It is a long move 3 hours. Kristin is the daughter of a prominent landowner in medieval Norway. She grows up in total harmony with the ideals of the time: strong family ties, social pride & devout Christianity. She accepts the fact that her father has arranged for her to marry the son of another landowner. Kristin's beauty & purity create violent emotions around her. There are envy & attempted rape, murder & revenge. She seeks refuge from the world in a convent, waiting the time for her marriage. Here the passion of her life strikes, the knight Erlend Nikulaussonn. He, an accomplished seducer, also falls hopelessly in love. They have to cross not only convent walls to meet, but social boundaries as well. Their love cannot be kept secret, & suddenly the innocent Kristin is the centre of a scandal. Her fiancé withdraws from their engagement, her father rages, & Erlend's former mistress tries to poison her. The affair grows into a political issue, & finally some of the country's most dignified leaders persuade Lavrans to give in. The lovers win each other, but it is in front of a charred altar in a burnt down church, & their happiness has a double edge. The film is a cinematic masterpiece. Ullmann has learned well from her teacher Ingmar Bergman & this is a really magical beautiful 14th century tale. Every scene is a pleasure to behold thanks to SVEN NYKVIST's cinematography. This dvd contained the full 3 hours & contained the 20 minutes omitted from the original film release. Some will say that Ullmann ultimately doesn't succeed in bringing Kristin's passion to life onscreen in a convincing fashion. I disagree I loved this film Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I did not read Undset's great book trilogy about 14th century Norway. This is Liv Ullmann’s second directorial attempt. She was best known for her acting roles in Ingmar Bergman's films. It is a film about medieval spirituality both paganism & Christianity. The production of the film is lavish film with epic type dimensions & cinematography. It is a long move 3 hours. Kristin is the daughter of a prominent landowner in medieval Norway. She grows up in total harmony with the ideals of the time: strong family ties, social pride & devout Christianity. She accepts the fact that her father has arranged for her to marry the son of another landowner. Kristin's beauty & purity create violent emotions around her. There are envy & attempted rape, murder & revenge. She seeks refuge from the world in a convent, waiting the time for her marriage. Here the passion of her life strikes, the knight Erlend Nikulaussonn. He, an accomplished seducer, also falls hopelessly in love. They have to cross not only convent walls to meet, but social boundaries as well. Their love cannot be kept secret, & suddenly the innocent Kristin is the centre of a scandal. Her fiancé withdraws from their engagement, her father rages, & Erlend's former mistress tries to poison her. The affair grows into a political issue, & finally some of the country's most dignified leaders persuade Lavrans to give in. The lovers win each other, but it is in front of a charred altar in a burnt down church, & their happiness has a double edge. The film is a cinematic masterpiece. Ullmann has learned well from her teacher Ingmar Bergman & this is a really magical beautiful 14th century tale. Every scene is a pleasure to behold thanks to SVEN NYKVIST's cinematography. This dvd contained the full 3 hours & contained the 20 minutes omitted from the original film release. Some will say that Ullmann ultimately doesn't succeed in bringing Kristin's passion to life onscreen in a convincing fashion. I disagree I loved this film Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member I got this movie because I had read the book (and the two that followed it) and liked them very much. I was curious to see how this would be adapted for the screen. I find it difficult to assess the film on its own merits because, as almost always, the book was SOOOO much better. Although this movie was made in 1995, the style made it seem as if it were made in the 1950s or 1960s. The style of very big on the melodrama and small on the dialogue and character development. Perhaps that's how the book is, but the book gives you a much more complete understanding of the all the circumstances. I don't think I would have enjoyed the film if I didn't understand and like the story from the book. The movie is long and moves slowly, but the scenery is very pretty. If you're not already a fan of this book then I'd probably skip the movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Tedious and occasionally violent Norwegian 14th C. soap opera. Cinematography is great, the repetitive and destructive behavior of the characters will drive you to distraction. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I really want to see it again!! :D Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Photos

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      Kristin Lavransdatter

      Kristin Lavransdatter (1995) Kristin Lavransdatter (1995) Kristin Lavransdatter (1995) Kristin Lavransdatter (1995) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A young woman (Elisabeth Matheson) in medieval Norway defies her father and marries a knight (Bjørn Skagestad), whose former mistress wants her dead.
      Director
      Liv Ullmann
      Screenwriter
      Liv Ullmann, Sigrid Undset
      Distributor
      Home Vision Entertainment
      Production Co
      Norsk Film, Norsk Rikskringkasting
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      Norwegian
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 21, 1995, Original
      Runtime
      3h 0m
      Sound Mix
      Dolby SR