Figure 1.--This German film is based on a Swedish children's book. We notice some charming books by "Astrid Lindgren". One book is entitled Nils Karlsson Pyssling (1956).

This German film is based on a Swedish children's book. We notice some charming books by Astrid Lindgren. One book is entitled Nils Karlsson Pyssling (1956). I'm not sure how that translates. Nils Karlsson I believe is the main charactr's name. The book is about a little boy named Nils and is adventures with an imp. Nils wears short pants and long stockings. The movie costuming seems to follow that shown in the charming illustratins from the book.

Filmology

Our information on this film is somewhat cinflictung. One source saus that it is a German film. According to the Internet Movie Database, this film is in Swedish, not German, although it is apparently available on a videotape from a German distributor (probably with German subtitles). It was released in 1990, directed by Staffan Goetestam, and starred Jonatan Lindoff as the boy Nils. Hope this helps a bit. I may try to get a few better images from the film if I can find it.

Swedish Children's Book

This German film is based on a Swedish children's book. We notice some charming books by Astrid Lindgren. One book is entitled Nils Karlsson Pyssling (1956). I'm not sure how that translates.

Cast

The boy playing Nils in the film is charming and a gives a very effective performance.

Plot

The movie follows the plot of the book. It is about young Nils, a boy around 6 year-old. Everyday his parents go to work outside and let the boy alone with a minder. One day, when being on his bed without having anything to do, he hears a strange noise coming from under the bed. An imp is climbing on a ladder and suddenly, Nils (Bertrand in French) find this little moving thing clothed as a poor boy. Bertrand is then invited to go to the imp's appartment which is located on thge other side of the wall through a mouse pit. After having said a magical formula, bertrand is becoming as small as the imp. Some nice adventures begin where we can see them carrying furniture from a doll house , bathing in a coffee cup or being afraid of a big rat seeking to introduce in the "appartment". When parents are coming back at dawn, they ask Nils (who found his normal size) what he did during the day. " i took my bath in this cup" he answers. parents think he is full of imagination and smile with Bertrand who is stroking the imp undr his sweater.

Clothing

Nils wears short pants and long stockings. The movie costuming seems to follow that shown in the charming illustratins from the book. Like Peppi Langstrumpf (Longstockings), Bertrand is wearing long stockings even if the action is taking place in the 70s when no boy or girl were any longer clothed like that in Sweden. A French Canadian reader writes, "Nils' clothing are exactly like those i wore in the 1940s. His short pants are just over the knee and his stockings are ribbed like those boys worn in Scandinavia or Germany until the 1950s. Something strange: the stockings are held up by nothing. The result is that stockings are always pulling down under the knees. No boy or girl wore their stockings without a suspender or at least rubber bands. His wool sweater is really beautiful. I don't like the illustrations in the book even if the clothing are realistic.

Peppi Longstockings

A reader sees some similarities with an even more famous Swesish cjildren's character, "It is more evident with Peppi Langstrumpf's series of films for television. The little girl with braids is wearing a short dress with an apron and long stockings of different colors held up by very used garters. More, she lives alone in a large old house with a lot of money in a suitcase. There is no explanation for that kind of dress but maybe it is possible to give one. I think Astrid Lindgren associated fantasy with vintage clothing. If dressed like this, a today boy or girl would be teased but those children have some magical power like being able to be smaller in the case of Bertrand or being extremely strong in the case of Peppi. In both cases, they are DIFFERENT from other children but they have the power to assert themselves without having to conform to parents dicktats. They are INDEPENDANT and IMAGINATIVE. It is so evident in the case of Peppi. Her best friends are clothed like any kids around who are seeking to please to parents. In the 70's, the educational philosophy was: "Let the child being himself" . Those stories of Bertrand and Peppi were not so far from hippy,s life like shown in the film "Easy Rider" "

Created: July 24, 2003
Last updated: February 7, 2004