Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...
children's television series
Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during the early eveni ...
and movie from 1984. Based on a play by
Bjarne Reuter
Bjarne Reuter (born 29 April 1950) is a Danish writer and screenwriter best known for children's and young adult fiction.Bille August
Bille August (born 9 November 1948) is a Danish director, screenwriter, and cinematographer of film and television. In a career spanning over four decades, he has been the recipient of numerous accolades, making him one of the most acclaimed co ...
, and the soundtrack also provided a hit for the young singer
Nanna Lüders Jensen
Nanna Lüders Jensen (born 23 July 1963) is a Danish songwriter and singer known by the stage name Nanna. She has released several albums as a solo artist since her debut in 1982.
In addition to her work as a solo artist, Nanna has featured on a ...
.
Background
The television series was based on a play by Danish author
Bjarne Reuter
Bjarne Reuter (born 29 April 1950) is a Danish writer and screenwriter best known for children's and young adult fiction.Neon Tube, Boys?") – in addition to ''Busters Verden''. Director
Bille August
Bille August (born 9 November 1948) is a Danish director, screenwriter, and cinematographer of film and television. In a career spanning over four decades, he has been the recipient of numerous accolades, making him one of the most acclaimed co ...
had already worked with Reuter, on the 1983 movie Zappa where August's script was based on a book by Reuter. August was still a relatively unknown director outside Denmark at the time, but the success he had with ''Buster'' helped pave the way for his international break-through with the
Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People
* Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms.
* Oscar (Irish mythology), ...
-winning ''
Pelle the Conqueror
''Pelle the Conqueror'' ( da, Pelle Erobreren, sv, Pelle Erövraren) is a 1987 epic film co-written and directed by Bille August, based upon the 1910 novel of the same name by Danish writer Martin Andersen Nexø. The film tells the story of t ...
'' in 1989.
Television series
The protagonist of the series is Buster Oregon Mortensen, played by Mads Bugge Andersen. Buster's father (Peter Schrøder) is an unemployed
magician
Magician or The Magician may refer to:
Performers
* A practitioner of magic (supernatural)
* A practitioner of magic (illusion)
* Magician (fantasy), a character in a fictional fantasy context
Entertainment
Books
* ''The Magician'', an 18th-ce ...
, from whom Buster learns to perform magic tricks. Buster also has a younger sister called Ingeborg (Katarina Stenbeck), who has a disability referred to as a "stiff leg". Both Buster and his sister are frequently bullied by other kids in school, but he maintains a positive outlook on life, and is confirmed in his optimism when he meets and falls in love with the piano
child prodigy
A child prodigy is defined in psychology research literature as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to young people who are extraor ...
Joanna (Signe Dahl Madsen).
The series consisted of six episodes of twenty minutes each, that aired between 7 January and 11 February 1984:
*Episode 1: The school Buster attends is celebrating the 25-year anniversary for the principal. Buster is meant to do a magic trick for entertainment, but ends up spoiling the party.
*Episode 2: Ingeborg is being bullied by Store-Lars (Big Lars), and Buster interferes for his sister.
*Episode 3: While distributing milk on his bike, Buster meets the young piano prodigy Joanna, and falls in love.
*Episode 4: Ingeborg, as a girl scout, is organising a party in the vicar's garden, and Buster helps.
*Episode 5: Buster is not doing well in school and the teachers believe that magic takes up too much of his time.
*Episode 6: Johanna invites Buster to perform at her party, but the snobbish guests were expecting Johanna's piano playing, not Buster's magic tricks.
Film
The movie was an edited version of the television series, and premiered on 4 October 1984. The content had to be cut down, from the original 120 minutes to one and a half hours. The critics were still happy with the result, however, as many felt the movie format gave the viewer a better opportunity to acquaint themselves with the characters. At the 1984
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...
, the film won both the C.I.F.E.J. Award (''Centre International du Film pour l'Enfance et la Jeuneusse'') and the
UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid t ...
Award.
Music
The twenty-year-old, and still relatively unknown singer
Nanna Lüders Jensen
Nanna Lüders Jensen (born 23 July 1963) is a Danish songwriter and singer known by the stage name Nanna. She has released several albums as a solo artist since her debut in 1982.
In addition to her work as a solo artist, Nanna has featured on a ...
was asked by August to provide a song for the television series. Nanna's song, titled simply "''Buster''" became an instant hit in Denmark, and launched her to national fame. Extensive studies have been made, famously naming the song "Buster" as the most hated song in Denmark. The song can also be found on her album, "''Små Blå Breve''".
Controversy
Actor Mads Bugge Andersen is not happy with this movie and all the attention it gave. He believes in general that there is too little focus on the negative side of being a child star.