Flying in an Arctic storm, elderly Roald Amundsen’s plane crashes, stranding him and his companions. Waiting for news while the world assumes he has died, his brother Leon recounts the explorer’s life story to Roald’s Alaskan lover Bess Magids.
As boys, Roald and Leon are enchanted by the unknown poles on a globe. As young men, they pioneer a route through the Northwest Passage. Despite his accomplishments, other explorers still look down upon Roald for showing respect to Inuit people. Robert Falcon Scott briefly congratulates him, but would rather talk with politicians.
The Amundsens decide to join the race to the North Pole, securing funding by promising to prioritise science over speed. News arrives that Frederick Cook has reached the Pole, an unproven claim that nonetheless dismays Roald. He decides to head for the South Pole instead, but keeps the new plan secret. As he sets sail, he reveals the truth to his crew who all support the change, and a letter is delivered to the King declaring he will eventually make good on his promised scientific expedition to the North.
In Antarctica, Amundsen dismisses some of his crew who think his relentless push is reckless. The remainder succeed in reaching the Pole, where they plant a Norwegian flag and leave a courteous note for Scott. Back in Europe, the English lionise the deceased Scott’s heroism while Amundsen is considered an ungentlemanly trickster. He is better received in Norway, but his peaceful new life with lover Kiss Bennett is disrupted when he learns he must keep his promise to sail to the North Pole by drifting on ice.
Three years into the planned five year mission, Amundsen abandons his crewmates and travels to Alaska. His new passion is to fly to the Pole, a quixotic and expensive undertaking that enrages his brother. Eventually his plane crashes, apparently bringing the narrative full circle.
Amundsen is a Norwegian film, released on 15 February 2019, that details the life of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. It was directed by Espen Sandberg and was distributed in Norway by SF Studios and distributed in the United States by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Amundsen (2021)
Directed by: Espen Sandberg
Starring: Pål Sverre Hagen, Katherine Waterston, Christian Rubeck, Trond Espen Seim, Ida Ursin-Holm, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Fridtjov Såheim, Kenneth Åkerland Berg, Jonas Strand Gravli
Screenplay by: Espen Sandberg
Production Design by: Karl Júlíusson
Cinematography by: Pål Ulvik Rokseth
Film Editing by: Perry Eriksen, Martin Stoltz
Costume Design by: Michaela Horejsí
Art Direction by: Eggert Ketilsson, Martin Kurel, Michal Soun
Music by: Johan Söderqvist
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: SF Studios (Norway), Samuel Goldwyn Films (United States)
Release Date: February 15, 2019 (Norway=, April 2, 2021 (United States)
