"Peer Gynt" in Giza (2006) - Bentein Baardson
Films I've watched in 2022 (165/210)
This giant production, with a stage spanning almost 100m x 30m and with the Sfinx and the pyramids as its backdrop was a collaboration between Egypt and Norway during the "Ibsen Year", the 100 year anniversary of Ibsen's death, in 2006.
This is a great feat of a production which really allows the vital character of The Bøyg/The Sfinx (and, yes, it is actually the Sfinx in Ibsen's original play) to appear in all its rightful majesty.
The scene where Peer meets the Bøyg/the Sfinx is one of the pivotal scenes in the play, a real turning point for Peer, and here you get the full effect of what it would've actually been like.
The Cairo Symphony Orchestra - conducted by Christian Eggen - and Cairo Opera Accapella Chorus, as well as soloists from the Norwegian Opera gave life to Edvard Grieg's music, while the cast was an ensemble of Norwegian actors and dancers, and the Egyptian actor Mohamed Wafik Aly Helmy giving voice to the Bøyg/the Sfinx.
The lead actors are a solid group of Norwegian stage actors:
Bjarte Hjelmeland (Peer): Hjelmeland's career has spanned both drama, comedy and musicals as well as including a stint as director of The National Scene in Bergen.
Lise Fjeldstad (Åse): Fjeldstad has had a long and varied career which includes many Ibsen roles, such as Nora ("A Doll's House"), Asta Allmers ("Little Eyolf"), Maja Rubek ("When We Dead Awaken") as well as having toured the world as Åse in "Peer Gynt" with The Norwegian Opera.
Erik Hivju (The Mountain King): Hivju's enjoyed a long career both on stage, in films, and for a period as a member of the regular company of the Norwegian television theatre. He previously played the Mountain King in Baardson's television production of "Peer Gynt" (1993).
Per Frisch (Begriffenfeldt): Frisch has been attatched to The National Theatre in Oslo for decades as well as having played in several big Norwegian films, and was, for a few years, a member of the regular company of the Norwegian television theatre.
Paul-Ottar Haga (The Button Moulder): Haga played the lead role of Peer in Baardson's 1993 television production of "Peer Gynt" for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. He's had a long and varied career in both drama, comedy, musicals, films and television.
Speaking of Paul-Ottar Haga as the Button Moulder, this production has him as an ever present figure on the stage, standing in the background, observing Peer as he goes through life. He almost feels like a shadow of Peer, and having an actor who really understands the character - having played Peer himself - in that role, lends the performance extra weight.
I first saw this production when it was televised during the "Ibsen Year" and really loved it. I was incredibly fortunate to come across a second hand DVD of it yesterday and was thrilled to finally see it again. It was every bit as good and interesting as I'd remebered it being.
