THE MOVING PICTURE BOY ARCHIVE

1864

Title: 1864
Production type: TV miniseries
Year of Release: 2014
Director: Ole Bornedal
Country of Production: Denmark, though in fact a co-production with companies from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Czech Republic. At the date of transmission, the miniseries was the most expensive Danish television production that had ever been made.
Principal Boy Actors: The two principal boys are Sylvester Byder and Benjamin Holmstrøm Nielsen, who play 12 year old Laust and 11 year old Peter respectively. They appear in episode 1 and the first half of episode 2 (some very brief footage of Sylvester Byder also features at the end of episode 8).
Genre: Historical drama
Length: 8 episodes of just under an hour each
Language: Danish, some German and English
Availability: The miniseries was released on blu-ray, with optional English subtitles.

Synopsis
Two brothers growing up in a Danish village have an idyllic childhood. As young adults they join the army and find themselves thrown into the madness of the Second Schleswig War of 1864. The miniseries is based on the two volume history of the War by Tom Buk-Swienty, who was also an historical consultant to the series.

A central female character is Inge. Her characterisation as a tomboy allows her to evince very 21st century attitudes towards her role in society. As a girl, she gives the modern, politically correct response to the baron's son when the latter propositions her ("I'm just a child"); as a young woman, she can apparently criticise the baron's son with complete impunity, despite the fact that her parents are employed on the baron's estate. Modern sensibilities, of course, demand a Strong Assertive Woman, however jarring in terms of historical verisimilitude. Also in accord with modern sensibilities is the two boys' falling in love with her, despite their tender years, whilst having little or nothing to do with the other boys in their village.

Screenshots

Episode 1
   

Episode 2
   

Episode 8