children's television series
Children's television series (or children's television shows) are Television show, television programs designed specifically for Child, children. They are typically characterised by easy-going content devoid of sensitive or adult themes and are ...
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.
August's 1987 film ''Pelle the Conqueror'' won the , Academy Awards, Academy Award and Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe Awar ...
, and the soundtrack also provided a hit for the young singer
Nanna Lüders Jensen
Nanna Lüders Jensen (born 23 July 1963) is a Danish singer and songwriter, also known as just Nanna. She has released several albums as a solo artist since her debut in 1982. In 1984, she was made famous by her hit single "Buster", the theme so ...
.
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.
August's 1987 film ''Pelle the Conqueror'' won the , Academy Awards, Academy Award and Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe Awar ...
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 and fictional and mythical characters
* Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar
* Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...
-winning ''
Pelle the Conqueror
''Pelle the Conqueror'' (, ) 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 two Swedish immigrants to Denmark, a father ...
'' 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, 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, technically, a child under the age of 10 who produces meaningful work in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to describe young people who are extraordinarily talented in some f ...
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 intervenes 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 (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
, 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 the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
Award.
Music
The twenty-year-old, and still relatively unknown singer
Nanna Lüders Jensen
Nanna Lüders Jensen (born 23 July 1963) is a Danish singer and songwriter, also known as just Nanna. She has released several albums as a solo artist since her debut in 1982. In 1984, she was made famous by her hit single "Buster", the theme so ...
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.