A Girl of Solbakken

Set in 19th century Norway, the film follows Thorbjorn Granliden, a son raised under strict rules by a proud farming family. His upbringing reveals a magnetic pull toward the farmhand Aslak, a man viewed with unease by the household. A quarrel with Thorbjorn's father leads to Aslak leaving the farm, and the incident marks a turning point in Thorbjorn's life. As he grows, he encounters the beautiful Synnove Solbakken and finds his feelings shifting toward a love that challenges class and propriety. The drama centers on how love, reputation, and family expectations collide as two generations wrestle with desire and duty. Muted camera work and wintry landscapes heighten the mood, inviting viewers to weigh loyalty against desire in a village.

Directed by Gunnar Hellstrom, this screen adaptation draws on Bjornson's 19th century novel. Released in 1957, the film blends romance with social drama, showing Hellstrom's early eye for period detail and Nordic mood, plus a restrained pace throughout, with atmosphere.

Box office data for this title is not widely reported, so no reliable worldwide gross is available in standard databases. Some regional releases may have existed, but figures are scarce, and archival sources are needed for precise totals for collectors.

Its age and limited international reach give the film a modest cultural footprint beyond Scandinavian audiences. It stands as an example of mid century Nordic adaptation of a national classic and for the restrained, folk influenced performances that characterize the era, and for its quiet visual style and texture today.

Critics treated the film as a careful, restrained take on a familiar Nordic love story. It centers on the clash between duty and desire, social hierarchy, and the weight of family honor. The performances convey quiet intensity rather than sensational drama, inviting reflection on what love asks of a person.