PRODUCTION
NOTES:
Filmed in Skagen, Jutland, Denmark.
In Danish with English subtitles.
Director Kjell Grede believed Stellan to be an obvious choice to play
Krøyer though he had no physical resemblance to the artist. He admitted
he only wanted to make this film with him. Krøyer was very
psychologically complex and Grede knew that Stellan had this fantastic
expression for melancholy and solitude. Plus he knew the actor was
remarkably good natured and easy to work with. Because the film was shot
in chronological order, Stellan had a challenge to immediately create
this very lilting, merry atmosphere that characterized the story's
beginning. Krøyer's personality stretched from jubilation to madness so
it was a complex role. At first he felt the
pressure of carrying this disturbing film on his shoulders but then, as
usual, it became a fun experience for him.
Read
the
Vecko Revyn
8/19/86 article on the making of this film.
IMAGES
POSTERS
REVIEWS
NY Daily News:
"Skarsgård is a Scandinavian heartthrob."
Newsday:
"Skarsgård may be the hottest Swedish import since Garbo!"
All Movie Guide:
This plodding, depressing drama concerns the 19th-century painters
who were collectively known as the Skaw (or
Skagen) Colony. The group rejected the Impressionist style of painting,
opting for the realism of natural light and using the lives of the poor
fishing villagers as their inspiration.
World Films:
Stellan Skarsgard (Breaking the Waves) plays the artist
Soren Krøyer,
leader of the Skagen group of painters in 19th century Denmark. His
brilliant talent cannot prevent mental illness from taking its toll on
his life and work. This well-acted feature from the director of
Good Evening,
Mr. Wallenberg won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice
Film Festival.
Apollo Guide:
"For
many American audiences, non-English language films are a challenge. And
when the language barrier is added to by European artiness, it can be
too much for too many otherwise keen movie lovers. Often these films
speak in abstracts, have overly drawn out silences and little to no
discernable plot. The 1987 Swedish film Hip Hip Hurra! – starring
Stellan Skarsgård, who has since made an impression in American films –
proves to be no exception."
"Hip Hip Hurra! is a period piece set in a Scandinavian artists’ colony
in the 1890s. The movie spans quite a number of years in the lives of
the artists. Here the people seem to eat, breathe and sleep art and
worship those who create it. The artists, however, appear to be
overwhelmed by what they do and the pressure that they have to perform."
"The story revolves around artist Soren Krøyer (Skarsgård) and his quest
for an eternal state of happiness. When Krøyer “fails” in his painting
of Lille, an organist in town, he flees and marries Marie, a beautiful
Danish girl. It is implied that Krøyer
is in love with Lille and in denial of his love, and this is why he
could not bring himself to draw her. Lille meanwhile is devastated that
Krøyer will not admit to having
feelings for her. Krøyer’s journey toward self- fulfillment only makes
him feel more tormented and ultimately alienates him from the ones he
cares about."
"This is a film where reading between the lines is essential to
understanding the plot, but for me – and I suspect many other viewers –
the lines keep getting blurry and the film becomes directionless. It is
extremely difficult to get a sense of narrative flow, as you can’t tell
where the movie is going to go or what it is trying to say. Too often,
it seems that the answers are left buried in the words that are not
said. This can be an effective device when the film has a strong
narrative flow, as we know what’s going on, but are simply left wanting
more. This, unfortunately, is not the case with Hip Hip Hurra!,
which is just frustratingly dense."
Video Business:
"This 1987 Danish production is a terrific
showcase for Skarsgård,
a talented actor once tagged the hottest Swedish import since Garbo. He
plays Krøyer as a singularly talented, benevolent artist sublimely
appreciative of nature's beauty and a tragically frustrated husband
whose latent insanity plunges him into a bottomless pit of despair.
Writer/director Grede celebrates the artists' colony at Skagen, making
it an idyllic retreat where painters of varying talent are uniformly
inspired to produce their best work. Scandinavian somberness rules the
day, however, from Grede's harrowing depiction of Krøyer's mental
deterioration to his use of dark, shadowy lighting. The film will be
sufficiently deep for regular arthouse patrons, but others will find it
slow going."
Hedmark Reviews:
"A visually appealing portrait of the Skagen Painters, a late
19th-century commune of artists inspired by the Impressionists who
gathered in the Danish village of Skagen. Focus lies on Søren Krøyer (Stellan
Skarsgård) who’s struggling with mental illness – our impressions of the
landscape and people surrounding him go through his feverish eyes, and
the filmmakers deliver a feast close to the original works by these
artists."