During the Nazi occupation of Norway in WWII, the Germans were able to censor all types of Norwegian media, mainly film. Due to this censorship, the post-war period was a huge time for Norwegian film and filmmakers. One such filmmaker that got their "big break" following the end of WWII was Edith Carlmar.
Edith Carlmar was Norway's first female filmmaker. Carlmar made 10 feature films between 1949 and 1959, and all of them were huge blockbuster successes. It has been said that, "Her critically acclaimed works often sparked public debate, and had unusual drawing power at the box office. Today they are considered classics." (A Brief History of Norwegian Film) In the last film that Carlmar ever made, she chose Liv Ullmann to take the lead role in the film. Liv Ullmann, like Carlmar, is another very powerful female figure in the history of Norwegian Film. Ullmann remains one of the most well-recognized and popular actresses in Norway today. She has won a Golden Globe and been nominated for an Academy Award twice. Most recently, Ullmann is directing the "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. In 2009, when the production debuted, it was virtually impossible to get tickets. From Norway to the United States, you never know what Ullmann is going to do next! These two astounding female figures in Norwegian history are just a few of the many powerful women that have left a lasting effect on the country's film.
Bibliography:
7, December. "Liv Ullmann on Directing ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ - ArtsBeat Blog -
NYTimes.com." Culture and the Arts – ArtsBeat Blog – NYTimes.com - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com. Web. 15 Apr. 2010.
"A Brief History of Norwegian Film." Norway - the Official Site in the United States. Web. 15 Apr. 2010.
