Watching: The Ballad of the Viking King, Holger the Dane

Overview

This puppet film is a visually rich interpretation of the national hero Holger Danske. The story begins with Holger's birth and baptism in pagan Denmark around the year 800. The little boy is kidnapped by the Franks, who, led by Charlemagne, are trying to unite the many peoples of Europe into one empire, under one faith. The film follows the open and charming Holger's encounter with war and love, foreign cultures and beliefs, thereby touching on some universal and eternally valid themes.