Olav Dalgard
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Olav Dalgard, given name Olaf Hanssen (born June 19, 1898 in Folldal, died December 25, 1980 in Bærum) was a Norwegian filmmaker, advocate of Nynorsk, and a literature and art historian.
Dalgards mother was Kari Dompen from Lesja, and his father was Hans Sesshaugen from Oppdal. He was raised in Oppdal, from the age of three. He earned an M.A. degree in literature and art history at the University of Oslo in 1929. During his studies, he was the chairman of the student Nynorsk association and was active in the Mot Dag movement.
Dalgard worked as a literature critic for Dagbladet and Arbeiderbladet. From 1931 on he was the dramatic advisor and instructor at Det Norske Teateret. He studied film in the Soviet Union and in the 1930s produced several films with a socialist message. Dalgard was also active in the Norwegian Labour Party's cultural operations.
During World War II Dalgard was arrested in 1942 as a political prisoner by the German occupants and sent to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen.
After the war, Dalgard wrote, among other things, a history of Norwegian theater entitled Teateret frå Aiskylog til Ibsen (Theater from Aiskylos to Ibsen) (1948), and theoretical works about film. He was involved in the establishment of Norsk Filminstitutt.
Dalgard was a member of the state film board, chairman of the Norwegian literature critics' association from 1953-55, and president of the Human Ethic Association from 1965-77.
In 1961 Dalgard received a government grant. In 1978 he accepted the Norwegian culture council's special award for his work. An award, Dalgards kritikerpris, is named for him and is given annually to a reviewer in literature, film, or theater.
[edit] References
- Dalgard, Olav [1973]. Politikk, kunstliv og kulturkamp i mellomkrigstida (in Norwegian). ISBN 82-10-00776-9.
- Dalgard, Olav [1978]. Krig og etterkrigsproblem (in Norwegian). ISBN 82-10-01473-0.
