Film Snail

5.5

I Am Dina

NR·2002·125m

Drama

Summary

In Northern Norway during the 1860s, a little girl named Dina accidentally causes her mother's death. Overcome with grief, her father refuses to raise her, leaving her in the care of the household servants. Dina grows up wild and unmanageable, with her only friend being the stable boy, Tomas. She summons her mother's ghost and develops a strange fascination with death as well as a passion for living.

Cast

Maria Bonnevie

Dina

Gérard Depardieu

Jacob

Christopher Eccleston

Leo Zhukovsky

Bjørn Floberg

Edvard, Dina's Father

Pernilla August

Hjertrud, Dina's Mother

Amanda Jean Kvakland

Little Dina

Hans Matheson

Tomas

Jørgen Langhelle

Anders

Mads Mikkelsen

Niels

Wenche Foss

Mistress Karen

Søren Sætter-Lassen

Lorch

Kate Hardie

Stine

Bodil Udsen

Olivia

Mateen Sandvik Ram

Little Thomas

Eli Anne Linnestad

Housekeeper

Anette Hoff

Dagny

Viveka Seldahl

The Widow

Kristin Kajander

Tela

Ines Prange

Kristin

Oscar Frostad Udbye

Benjamin

Line Verndal

Greta

Per Christian Ellefsen

Notary

Kristoffer Berre Alberts

Assistant Notary

Jan Hårstad

Doctor

Lars Funderud Johannessen

Hans

Bjørn Sundquist

Prosecutor

Sven Nordin

Prison Gov.

Ingar Helge Gimle

Prison Guard

Stein Grønli

Fisherman

Sigmund Sæverud

Driver

Mona Hofland

Lady

Henning Jensen

Gentleman

Jørgen Reenberg

Merchant #1

Espen Skjønberg

Merchant #2

Jan Malmsjö

Merchant #3

Gard B. Eidsvold

Man sentenced to death

Frank Iversen

Executioner

James Towler

Widow's Son

Per Egil Aske

Male Guest #1

Sverre Bentzen

Male Guest #2

Miriam Sogn

Manor Maid #1

Mina Martine Lystad

Manor Maid #2

Suzanne Paalgard

Maid #1

Ine Jansen

Maid #2

Bjørn Jenseg

Stable Lad #1

Åsmund Brede Eike

Stable Lad #2

Marius Kleppe

Stable Lad #3

Lars Magnus Utne

Stable Lad #4

Knut Haugmark

Stable Lad #5

Trond Espen Seim

The First Lieutenant

Ove Christian Owe

The Second Lieutenant

Joachim Rafaelsen

1st. Anarchist

Christian Skolmen

2nd. Anarchist

Finn Schau

Guest #1

Minken Fosheim

Guest #2

Emil Stang Lund

Guest #3

Anitra Eriksen

Guest #4

Even Lynne Amundsen

Prosecutor Assistant

Bjarne Thomsen

Police Officer

Svein Erik Brodal

Parson #1

Hans Erik Raustøl

Parson #2

Henriette Steenstrup

Wedding Guest

Bjarne Hjelde

Wedding Guest

Hallvard Lydvo

Wedding Guest

Crew

Director, Screenplay

Ole Bornedal

Novel

Herbjørg Wassmo

Screenplay

Jonas Cornell

Reviews

r96sk

October 2, 2023

Quite the absorbing flick.

I wouldn’t necessarily say ‘I Am Dina’ is a special film or anything, but I just really enjoyed the whole vibe of it from beginning to end - almost 2hrs well spent, in my opinion. Maria Bonnevie puts in an excellent lead performance, she is truly this 2002 release’s heartbeat. That’s not to say she’s alone in the good acting stakes, as others add positive showings as well.

Bjørn Floberg and Gérard Depardieu impressed me too, as do Mads Mikkelsen and Christopher Eccleston - I was surprised to see the latter appear onscreen, though he is more than solid throughout... iffy Russian accent aside, that is. Overall, in fairness, it's a strong cast.

It is very dramatic but I only mean that in the most positive sense. A lot happens but all of it feels like it fits what precedes and what follows. All in all, I would happily revisit this - well worth a watch.