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(aka "Pelle erövraren" or "Pelle the Conqueror" )

directed by Bille August
Sweden 1987

Early-20th-century Denmark. A boat arrives in the morning mist. Among the hopeful immigrants from Sweden looking for work are Lasse Karlsson (Max von Sydow) and his son, Pelle. Lasse is a sad man: beaten down by life; struggling with the loss of his wife; wanting to stand up for his son but afraid of authority; and finding relief in the bottle. Max von Sydow received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his fine performance as Lasse, but PELLE THE CONQUEROR is not his film--instead it belongs to the remarkable 12-year-old, Pelle Hvenegaard, who plays Pelle himself. PELLE THE CONQUEROR is based on the first of the four volumes of Martin Andersen Nexo’s epic novel. Talented Danish director Bille August focuses on Pelle when he and Lasse find work at Stone Farm. After being humiliated by the farm’s young trainee manager, Pelle is disappointed when Lasse does not stand up for him. Pelle admires Eric, an older immigrant who is not cowed by the farm manager and who dreams of going to America. He watches as an affair develops between Anna, an immigrant worker, and Nils, son of a local dignitary, and sees the affair’s tragic outcome. Pelle’s friend Rud fails his school exams, then runs away. Through Pelle, Mrs. Olsen, whose sailor husband is lost at sea, becomes interested in Lasse. Pelle observes the drinking of Mrs. Kongstrup, wife of the farm’s owner, and the philandering of her husband. He sees Mrs. Kongstrup’s niece, the lovely Sine, arrive and witnesses the disastrous consequences of her visit. At the center of these events is the striking young Pelle Hvenegaard. It is his face that August focuses on, his mind that is forming right onscreen, as Pelle observes and reacts and learns and, then, moves on alone.

Poster

Theatrical Release: December 25th, 1987 - Sweden

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DVD Comparison:

Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

(Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Anchor Bay Region 1 - NTSC	20th Century Fox Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	2:29:45	2:29:45
Video	1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.68 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.94 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Anchor Bay
Bitrate: 20th Century Fox
Audio	DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Danish/Swedish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)	DUB: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby), DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby), Danish/Swedish (Mono)
Subtitles	English, and none	English (Close Captioned), and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: April 24, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 29	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Aspect Ratio: Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: June 1st, 2004 Keep Case Chapters: 20

Comments:

Two different prints as indicated by the last large capture and the damage (or cue blip marker?) on the bottom right of the new 20th Century Fox DVD. Both are anamorphic, although the Anchor Bay has a obviously side-cropped 1.66 ratio to Fox (similarly but minutely cropped along the bottom) 1.78 ratio. Colors are all over the place and I can't be 100% positive who is correct, but the Anchor Bay skin tones are decidedly red and for that I will suggest that the Fox's are more accurate. Saying that I believe the Fox to have some contrast boosting (By the way, contrast on the Anchor Bay is quite good - deep rich black levels!). Sharpness is about equal with maybe a slight edge to the Anchor Bay.). In audio - the new Fox offers two English DUBS (5.1 and 2.0) but the original Danish/Swedish is in mono only ?!?! Audio vote goes to the Anchor Bay as we are not 'into' DUBs here at DVDBeaver. Now the subtitles: Very different (both removable English though) and I have no way of knowing which is superior translation-wise although the Fox seem more elaborate and are in a more tasteful white than the distracting yellow of the Anchor Bay. Both offer only a trailer as an extra and the Anchor Bay supply 29 chapter stops to Fox's 20. Anamorphic menus for the Fox, 4:3 for the Anchor Bay. One big difference that many will be aware of is the price. The Anchor Bay was reaching the $40.00 plateau where the Fox is almost being given away at close to $10.00. For this and the above reasons, we go with the new Fox edition.

NOTE: I just got a copy of the 20th Century Fox edition of "Pelle the Conqueror". An ok DVD but with one cosmic flaw. It has a Swedish language track, but the subtitles are actually closed-captions, with all the [sound description] stuff like [bucket drains water] in them. they are either on or off, there's no proper subtitle track.
Why do they have to ruin an otherwise good DVD with this kind of stupid indifference? (Thanks Vic!)

- Gary W. Tooze

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(Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)

Subtitle Sample