Pelle the Conqueror (1987): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Pelle the Conqueror is a 1987 drama directed by Bille August, starring Pelle Hvenegaard as Pelle Karlsson, Max von Sydow and Axel Strøbye. It runs 2 hours 37 minutes and earned $2.1 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 37m (157 min)
- Director
- Bille August
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Danish - Studio
- SF Studios
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Pelle the Conqueror About?
The premise of Pelle the Conqueror without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In the late 19th century, Swedish emigrants Lasse Karlsson and his son Pelle arrive on the Danish island of Bornholm, confident the world is theirs. They look for farm work, hoping to earn enough to finance their journey to the United States and begin a new life there.
Pelle the Conqueror Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- boy frontal nudity
- boy
- farm
- coming of age
- corporal punishment
- spanking
- farm worker
- father son relationship
- based on novel
- immigrant
- 19th century
- nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- humiliation
- emigration
- alcoholism
- swedish immigrant
- adultery
- social realism
- single father
- widower
- period drama
- pregnancy out of wedlock
- schoolteacher
- tragic romance
- uncle niece incest
- implied incest
- shipwreck
- foreman
- implied virginal sex
- yearning for freedom
- young boy
- nude young male
- 1870s
- coming of age drama
- bare chested boy
- pants pulled down
- boy rear nudity
- whipping a boy
- nude boy
- frontal nudity
- boy bath scene
- bath
- giving someone a bath
- boy takes a bath
- winter
- snow
- bullying
- bare bottom spanking
- denmark
- genital mutilation
Pelle the Conqueror Cast & Characters
Pelle Hvenegaard leads the cast as Pelle Karlsson, with Max von Sydow as Lasse Karlsson - Farmhand and Axel Strøbye as Kongstrup - Kungsgården Landlord. Directed by Bille August; 50 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Bille August
- Pelle Hvenegaard as Pelle Karlsson
-
Max von Sydow as Lasse Karlsson - Farmhand - Axel Strøbye as Kongstrup - Kungsgården Landlord
- Troels Asmussen as Rud - A Boy
Also Starring in Pelle the Conqueror
· 46 more- Björn Granath Erik - Swedish Farm Worker
- Sofie Gråbøl Miss Sine - Mrs. Kongstrup's Niece
- Astrid Villaume Mrs. Kongstrup
- Karen Wegener Madam Olsen
- Thure Lindhardt Nilen - Student
- Lena-Pia Bernhardsson 'Suggan' (Soen) - Rud's Mother
- Buster Larsen Ole Køller - Nils' Father
- Troels II Munk Physician
- Nis Bank-Mikkelsen Priest
- Lars Simonsen Nils Køller - Father of Anna's Children
- Erik Paaske Stengården Foreman
- Kristina Törnqvist Anna - Stengården Maid
- John Wittig Schoolteacher Friis
- Jürgen Hansen Farmhand
- Anna Lise Hirsch Bjerrum Karna - Stengården Maid
- Nina Christoffersen Maid
Show all 50 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Henrik Hansen Gustav - Stengården Farmhand
- Morten Jørgensen Countryman
- Thomas Bryde Hansen Student
- Erik Frisberg Public Official
- Wilhelm Weber Stensgården Judge
- Thyge Andersen Stengården Tailor
- Tine Stochholm Maid
- Jytte Strandberg Maid
- Troels Munk Physician
- Benjamin Holck Henriksen Henrik Bødker - Student
- Daniel Roosen Priest's Son
- Mogens Dester Farmhand
- Finn Knygberg Farmhand
- Finn Olsen Farmhand
- Merete Holst Hansen Maid
- Inge Marie From Maid
- Lone Svendsen Maid
- Birte Jensen Maid
- Henning Franck Hansen Student
- Lars Petersen Student
- Espen Hegnet Knudsen Student
- Jeppe Nicolaisen Student
- Oliver Grumme Student
- David Heilmann Student
- Karen Bjørkøe Student
- Sascha Lystrup Andersen Student
- Rikke Hacke Student
- Henriette Nielsen Student
- Henriette Nolsøe Student
- Ingeborg Holten Student
More from Bille August
More films directed by Bille August, best-rated first: The Best Intentions, The Pact, A Song for Martin and Les Misérables.
Pelle the Conqueror Plot Summary
What happens in Pelle the Conqueror from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the late 1850s, the elderly emigrant [Max von Sydow] as Lasse Karlsson and his son [Pelle Hvenegaard] as Pelle Karlsson arrive on the Danish island of Bornholm, traveling from Skåne County in southern Sweden after the death of Pelle’s mother. The two men face immediate hardship as they struggle to secure work: Lasse’s age makes employment scarce, and Pelle’s youth marks him as another outsider to be endured in a harsh rural setting. They end up toiling on a large farm where mistreatment from the managers is common, and the atmosphere is governed by aggression and control.
Full summary
The whole story of Pelle the Conqueror, scene by scene
Pelle the Conqueror Box Office
Pelle the Conqueror grossed $2.1 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2.1M
- US & Canada
- $2.1M
How Well Do You Know Pelle the Conqueror?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Lasse Karlsson, Pelle's father?
Pelle the Conqueror Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Pelle der Eroberer” and “Pelle alla conquista del mondo”.
- Also known as
-
- Pelle der Eroberer
- Pelle alla conquista del mondo
- 征服者佩尔
- Pelle le Conquérant
- Pelle el Conquistador
- Pelle Erövraren
- Pelle o Conquistador
- פלה הכובש
- 정복자 펠레
- Hódító Pelle
- Пеле Завоевателят
- Pelle zwycięzca
+6 more Show fewer
- Пелле-завоеватель
- Пелле-завойовник
- ペレ
- Fatih Pelle
- Πελέ ο Κατακτητής
- Pelle Dobyvatel
Seen Pelle the Conqueror?
Movies Like Pelle the Conqueror
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sunday’s Children, The Emigrants and Ditte, Child of Man.
Pelle the Conqueror FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Pelle the Conqueror, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Pelle the Conqueror?
Pelle the Conqueror runs 2 hours 37 minutes (157 minutes).
When was Pelle the Conqueror released?
Pelle the Conqueror was released on December 13, 1987.
Who directed Pelle the Conqueror?
Pelle the Conqueror was directed by Bille August.
More films by Bille August Who is in the cast of Pelle the Conqueror?
Pelle the Conqueror stars Pelle Hvenegaard as Pelle Karlsson, Max von Sydow as Lasse Karlsson - Farmhand and Axel Strøbye as Kongstrup - Kungsgården Landlord, among 50 credited actors.
How much did Pelle the Conqueror make at the box office?
Pelle the Conqueror grossed $2.1 million worldwide.
Does Pelle the Conqueror have a post-credit scene?
No. Pelle the Conqueror has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Pelle the Conqueror in?
The original language of Pelle the Conqueror is Danish.
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