During the final climactic moments of "Sir Arne's Treasure", Sir Archie is asked why he committed his atrocious crimes; in addition to the requisite alcohol, he blames his actions on cold and hunger. This scene isn't so much an admission of pertinent character motivation as it is of the elements as the driving force of the film. Nature in Scandinavia can be unforgiving. That fact is captivatingly related in five of the earliest Swedish films widely available today: Victor Sjöström's "Terje Vigen" (1917) and "The Outlaw and His Wife" (Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru)(1918), two of Mauritz Stiller's adaptations of Selma Lagerlöf novels, "The Saga of Gosta Berling" (Gösta Berlings saga)(1924) and this film, "Sir Arne's Treasure", as well as an Arte Edition of Stiller's "Johan" (1921). "Sir Arne's Treasure" is probably the best developed of this small sampling of a characteristic type of national cinema. Of course, Stiller and Sjöström made other kinds of films, as well, although too few are widely accessible on DVD. Films, such as the behind-the-scenes comedy "Thomas Graal's Best Film" (1917) and its follow-up "Thomas Graal's Best Child" (1918), both directed by Stiller and starring Sjöström, or the early feature "The Gardener" (Trädgårdsmästaren)(1912) directed by Sjöström and penned by Stiller, to name a few examples, have long been praised and have appeared at screenings here and there, but remain largely inaccessible.
In "Sir Arne's Treasure", the elements entrap the characters. Literally, the frozen sea locks a ship. As fellow IMDb reviewer Tedg said, these memorable scenes are reminiscent of Shackleton's Antarctic adventure—which, by the way, was made into a documentary film, also in 1919, "South". The murderous thieves are prevented from leaving by the frozen sea, and in their earlier, immediate, escape are almost thwarted by sinking through breaking ice. Moreover, bad weather and circumstances are attributed to fate and God. The ship's crew believes they're stuck because of the wrongs of the three men. Characters have premonitions and dreams, alerting them, although not preventing them from, future disasters. Guilt anticipates visions and flashbacks. Bad weather and fate directly and indirectly affect the tragic love between the lead characters.
These forces of nature are well supported by some beautiful photography and technical expertise by Stiller and his crew. There's some advanced use of a mobile camera for 1919, mostly to follow characters. When the film begins rather comically, with the three prisoners being jocular, a tracking shot of a prison guard walking through the corridor and its shadows nicely foreshadows the serious and gloomy turn the rest of the drama will take. There's also an eerie, steady tracking shot of Sir Archie travelling across the frozen sea while being haunted by the superimposed image of one of his victims. This scene is followed by more arresting images, as Elsalill is led in a foreboding dream by her dead sister. The film features impressive photography and lighting of the natural landscape, the ice and rugged terrain, as well as scenes of falling snow. The mourning procession, allowing the frozen sea to breakup behind them, is quite touching. Additionally, the editing overall is rather well done, including point-of-views and eyeline matches, cutting on action and scene dissection, dissolves, iris fades, etc. The only parts noticeably primitive were some of the staging/blocking of the actors, with poor medium-shot camera placements when character groupings were the main point of interest in a shot, but, at other times, the filmmakers overcame this obstacle, and when they didn't, it's not terribly distracting. Also, among the acting, Mary Johnson stands out as Elsalill. She is more natural and restrained than the other performers and is especially more affecting; her torment is clear just by her standing.
The Swedish Film Institute did a fine job with the restoration of this film. The recreated tints significantly aid Julius Jaenzon's cinematography: amber tinting to the flicker and glow of scenes near fireplaces, red tinting for the fire sequence, blues for the snowy outdoor scenery and night scenes. There are a few odd red artifacts, which I'm not sure may have been a product of restoration or the ageing of the print source; this includes some brief red scratches and during the supper scene, the curate's soup in his spoon becomes colored red. Additionally, the score can be a bit distracting early on, although I think it improves by the end, and I appreciate the sound effects. Overall, a fine restoration and quality print source. It'd be great if the Swedish Film Institute continues such fine work and, perhaps, could emulate the Danish Film Institute's practice of restoring more 1910s and early 20s titles for DVD. After all, this period of Swedish cinema is unique and impressive. The depressing nature of the drama of "Sir Arne's Treasure" only seems matched from this period by Russian filmmakers of the 1910s like Bauer and Protazanov, but their films and characters' guilt are more psychologically and societally driven; whereas, Sjöström and Stiller were among the first in film to make their characters' misfortunes and misery products of a harsh fate and nature.
In "Sir Arne's Treasure", the elements entrap the characters. Literally, the frozen sea locks a ship. As fellow IMDb reviewer Tedg said, these memorable scenes are reminiscent of Shackleton's Antarctic adventure—which, by the way, was made into a documentary film, also in 1919, "South". The murderous thieves are prevented from leaving by the frozen sea, and in their earlier, immediate, escape are almost thwarted by sinking through breaking ice. Moreover, bad weather and circumstances are attributed to fate and God. The ship's crew believes they're stuck because of the wrongs of the three men. Characters have premonitions and dreams, alerting them, although not preventing them from, future disasters. Guilt anticipates visions and flashbacks. Bad weather and fate directly and indirectly affect the tragic love between the lead characters.
These forces of nature are well supported by some beautiful photography and technical expertise by Stiller and his crew. There's some advanced use of a mobile camera for 1919, mostly to follow characters. When the film begins rather comically, with the three prisoners being jocular, a tracking shot of a prison guard walking through the corridor and its shadows nicely foreshadows the serious and gloomy turn the rest of the drama will take. There's also an eerie, steady tracking shot of Sir Archie travelling across the frozen sea while being haunted by the superimposed image of one of his victims. This scene is followed by more arresting images, as Elsalill is led in a foreboding dream by her dead sister. The film features impressive photography and lighting of the natural landscape, the ice and rugged terrain, as well as scenes of falling snow. The mourning procession, allowing the frozen sea to breakup behind them, is quite touching. Additionally, the editing overall is rather well done, including point-of-views and eyeline matches, cutting on action and scene dissection, dissolves, iris fades, etc. The only parts noticeably primitive were some of the staging/blocking of the actors, with poor medium-shot camera placements when character groupings were the main point of interest in a shot, but, at other times, the filmmakers overcame this obstacle, and when they didn't, it's not terribly distracting. Also, among the acting, Mary Johnson stands out as Elsalill. She is more natural and restrained than the other performers and is especially more affecting; her torment is clear just by her standing.
The Swedish Film Institute did a fine job with the restoration of this film. The recreated tints significantly aid Julius Jaenzon's cinematography: amber tinting to the flicker and glow of scenes near fireplaces, red tinting for the fire sequence, blues for the snowy outdoor scenery and night scenes. There are a few odd red artifacts, which I'm not sure may have been a product of restoration or the ageing of the print source; this includes some brief red scratches and during the supper scene, the curate's soup in his spoon becomes colored red. Additionally, the score can be a bit distracting early on, although I think it improves by the end, and I appreciate the sound effects. Overall, a fine restoration and quality print source. It'd be great if the Swedish Film Institute continues such fine work and, perhaps, could emulate the Danish Film Institute's practice of restoring more 1910s and early 20s titles for DVD. After all, this period of Swedish cinema is unique and impressive. The depressing nature of the drama of "Sir Arne's Treasure" only seems matched from this period by Russian filmmakers of the 1910s like Bauer and Protazanov, but their films and characters' guilt are more psychologically and societally driven; whereas, Sjöström and Stiller were among the first in film to make their characters' misfortunes and misery products of a harsh fate and nature.