Polar Knitting

I've had "The Last Place on Earth" in the DVD player this week, in the hopes that watching something really cold will make me forget how very hot it is outside. The added benefit of this series -- aside from the general polar-geekiness and the Norwegian accents, I mean -- is of course the knits!  I don't know that I've ever seen this much in one series.  Every knitter, I suppose, has moments of knitwear-spotting.  I thought it would be fun to post some of mine, and so here is the inaugural post on "Knitting in the Movies" --

Obviously any movie about Norwegians in cold weather is bound to include knitwear, and "The Last Place on Earth" is no exception.  There is a charming little farewell scene in which Betty, Amundsen's housekeeper and former nanny (played by Astrid Folstad) comes with a goodbye present for the expedition members, a generous basket of knitted socks.  I loved the little touch that the socks she has knitted for the men are thick, sturdy, sensible grey things, but at the bottom of the basket are these fabulous black-and-white ones for Amundsen himself.  It is times like these that you wish the character would stop and say, "Oh, Betty, how thoughtful!  Look, Leon, etc. etc. etc." and examine the socks for a minute or two.  This glimpse is tantalizing.

The scenes on the Fram itself offer the most opportunity for knitwear-spotting, as once the ship gets to the polar ice-pack it is cold enough for heavy wool but not so cold for the men to be in their full sealskin gear.  Here, in the scene where Amundsen (Sverre Anker Ousdal) informs the men of their "detour" to the South Pole instead of the planned trip to the North as they had intended, we get a sight of three sweaters at once.

Bjaaland (Ståle Bjørnhaug) has a wonderful red-and-black gansey, obviously handmade and well-worn.  It has a basic boat-neck opening, fairly roughly finished or mended, probably with crochet, and a plain ribbed waistband and sleeve cuffs in red.  The construction of this and the other garments in the series seem to be the standard Norwegian type, with the body knitted in the round and steeked for the sleeves.  The all-over pattern of Bjaaland's is fairly simple but has a nice little lines-and-zigs effect from a distance.

Stubberud (Hans Ola Sørlie) has on a typical Setesdal lusekofte that appears to be in fact an off-the-rack Dale.  It is rather unusual in not having the slit-neck and colorful embroidery of most Setesdal pullovers.

The "expedition sweater" for the series was obviously the one seen in this scene on both Johansen, in the background behind Bjaaland, and on Prestrud, beginning to appear as the camera pans to the right.

It has a two-colored version of the slants-and-sticks pattern so often found in Faroese sweaters, and a rounded neck with a slit at the front.  The one worn by Prestrud (Bjørn Skagestad) has a neck apparently bound with a narrow cream facing, but Johansen's looks slightly different.

Helmer Hanssen (Jan Hårstad) wears his in the ice-pack scenes and later in the near-disaster of the first attempt at the Pole.  You can see here that the waistband appears to be a simple rolled stockinette

Here it is again on Johansen (played with wonderful harsh dignity by Toralv Maurstad):

The same sweater pops up, interestingly, with a different neck treatment here on Beck (Erik Bye):

The expedition cook Lindström (Jon Eikemo) has a plain wide-ribbed grey pullover with a loose turtleneck, possibly machine-made, which I was -- considering the rivalry between the Norwegians and the British -- quite amused to see was exactly the same as one worn by a number of the British, here for instance by Oates (Richard Morant):

Who knows at this remove what was going on in the minds of the costume folks ("bloody hell, we forgot something for Lindström! here, we've got masses of these!").  Only a knitter would notice, I suppose.

Hassel (Erik Hivju, second from right) has the only textured sweater in the series, a heathered brown or olive-brown boatneck sweater that is, frustratingly, never seen quite clearly.  The one on Amundsen is my personal favorite, and not just because Sverre Anker Ousdal is wearing it.  (Yes, he really is a good half-head taller than the others.  So was Amundsen.)  I love the combination of smoky-grey and black, the simple all-over cross pattern with interesting shoulder detail. 

Am tempted now to pick up my own Norwegian gloves -- oh, if only there was a cool breeze!

Comments

[Wendy]

Hi

I'm kinda a lurker on your site but do love to read it. I am also an absolute pushover for Scandinavian anything especially sweaters and movies, and will purchase this movie today. I too live in a hot climate and can only wear my precious Dale knits two months during the winter! Thanks for showing me this! Have you seen Elling? No sweaters, lovely humor...I have some other faves as well and would be happy to share but need to check your movie posts also.

Wendy in SC

[mary lou]

My husband is a big fan of Amundsen and Nansen, I've spent time examining the photos in his books quite closely to look at the sweaters and made him stop while watching the last place on earth to check them out. Thanks for the stills!

[susann papienski]

Hi I have watched this series a million time and neglected to check out the sweaters. My grandfather lived in his Norwegian sweater all winter and all our sweaters were lovingly handwashed by my grandmother. Now living in Florida they are all packed away and waiting for the next generation. I found out my great-grandmother had a postcard signed by Nansen and wish now that when she was alive i could have found out when and where it was signed. Most likely Oslo in 1903. Anyway loved all the sweater comments. susann

[Maureen Areglado]

Hi!
I religiously read your blog for several years and even left a comment from time to time. While I understand how busy life can become with young children, I'm just writing to let you know how much I miss your frequent blog entries. You not only fed my soul with your beautiful knitting,
but you also shared my other loves...quotes, books, music, and art. You're an outstanding writer...head and shoulders above so many others...and bless you for not sharing the "whole picture" with us! :) And how could I ever forget the charming dollhouse that was such a labor of love for you?

Thank you so much for sharing your time and many talents! Reading your blog always seems like a wonderful visit with a good friend...just chatting while enjoying a cup of tea together. I'm very grateful...and miss you whole bunches!

[Guro]

Wow, so much insight into knitting traditions and geographically placec knitting traditions. You have so much knowledge.
I actually have never heard of this movie. I'll have to see if they have it at my local library. I do have a soft spot for Bjørn Skagestad. I have had since I used to watch "Vestavind" (Norwegian broadcast tv-series, very nice) when I was a kid. So, he's old, but oh so hot.
And thank you for the comment you left on my blog.

[Grace]

I love this post. I love polar history, and therefore I'm also fond of polar knits! I hope you won't mind if I link to this post from a polar exploration community!
http://community.livejournal.com/sir_shackleton/48151.html
-Grace