The Dreamer - Becoming Karen Blixen (Drømmeren) - First Season

Inspired by Karen Blixen's life and letters with excerpts from The Dreamers.

- You already speak some English. - Yes, I've had classes for two years.

Tell me about your trip to Switzerland.

- Well, the nature is beautiful. - It must be.

She's very good at English, Karen. You want some coffee?

Yes, please. Thank you.

We were in Switzerland for a year when I was your age.

You were?

There was a fire here. The stable burned down, and Mother took us to Lucerne.

- Ingeborg rescued all the animals. - That's true.

Your grandmother. We watched as she ran in and out of the flames.

The women are strong in the Westenholz family.

Do you know that your Aunt Bess -

- was the first woman to speak from the rostrum in Parliament?

I heard about it.

Women didn't have the vote and certainly not access to the halls of power.

But Aunt Bess marched straight into Parliament -

- and walked straight up to the seat of the Speaker -

- and took his bell and rang it like this.

And she looked at all the men ...

... and then she said:

"You should know -

- that the women of Denmark despise you! Cowards!

Stateless hirelings!"

I thought they would arrest me.

The next day ...

500 women showed up at Folehave.

- They came to thank Aunt Bess. - And she was in the papers.

And Elle and I ... We were in awe of her.

THE DREAMER

BECOMING KAREN BLIXEN

Girls, mind the chickens.

What do you think Grandmother will say if she sees you chasing her chickens?

- Welcome, Jonna. - Thank you.

It's very nice of you to invite us to stay.

But of course.

I know the girls can be disruptive, so please say so if it's too much.

Karen? There's a letter for you.

- Is it from Dorothy Canfield? - Perhaps. Are you interested?

A heartfelt welcome to Jonna and Tommy.

I hope you will have some wonderful months with us here at Rungstedlund -

- while your new house is being renovated.

- I'm sure we will, Mother-in-law. - Undoubtedly.

Please.

It's just like in the old days, Ingeborg.

The house filled with life and laughter.

How is everything with you, Bess?

Thanks to you and Elle it was a merciful year.

And thank you for Canfield's Bonfire.

I just reread it. It's an extraordinary novel.

Tommy is reading Her Son's Wife to me.

Oh yes, it's wonderful. So rich on human insight.

Yes. I must admit, it's my favorite novel.

It's been a while since you heard from Dorothy Canfield.

She's a busy woman, involved in so many things.

I just received a letter from Dorothy.

She ... read my stories, and she's very enthusiastic.

- Dorothy did? - How did that come about?

We sent her my stories, and she read them.

Did you know that, Bess?

No.

She showed my stories to a publisher in New York.

- New York, really? - Yes.

Which publisher?

It's Robert Haas. He's supposedly among the best in New York.

And he's considering publishing my tales.

I have the letter right here.

She writes: "The unusually fine quality of the writing -

- and of the reflections contained in these really extraordinary tales ..."

I don't understand you, Karen.

Did you really write Dorothy behind Aunt Bess's back?

We should have mentioned it.

We thought she might be able to help.

Dorothy is Aunt Bess's friend.

- Bess ... - Bess ... Listen, Bess ...

There's something about you, Karen, that I have never understood.

And that's your dishonesty and deceit!

Shame on you!

- To think you got Tommy to do that. - It was my choice.

But you know how important Canfield is to Aunt Bess.

Well, today is a celebration for Tommy and Jonna.

Exactly, Knud.

- Let's hope the publisher works out. - Yes, let's hope so.

If Robert Haas takes on the book, she'll be published in New York.

What if Robert Haas doesn't understand my book?

Nonsense. Your way of writing is so original -

and the stories are -

- like labyrinths of layers and references.

You can get lost in them.

And one is left to the mercy of the author -

hoping she'll bring you back on track.

And what do you know, she does.

And superbly so.

It was past midnight on the Indian Ocean.

But Lincoln Forsner's story kept his listeners awake.

The tale had taken a new turn.

Lincoln's search for Olalla had brought him to a hotel in the Swiss Alps -

- where he met an old acquaintance, Friederich von Hohenemser -

also known as Skipper.

Have you heard of Madame Lola?

- No. - She's a famous hatmaker.

My mother and sisters told me specifically:

"Bring back hats from Madame Lola's boutique."

So of course when I arrived in Lucerne three weeks ago -

- the first thing I did was to go to Madame Lola's shop.

But when I approached the store, I could hardly make my way through.

The street was crowded with rebels.

And inside, Madame Lola was standing on a table -

urging everyone to fight.

She looked at me as if she knew me.

And she put her arms around me and shouted:

"Finally, your heart has driven you the right way!"

Then she dragged me into the street with her.

And the rebels followed.

What's going on?

New York rejected me.

Robert Haas ...

His review is impressive though.

"Your stories have impressed themselves upon my mind and have moved me deeply."

It's still a rejection.

He practically promises to publish you if you write a novel.

But I cannot write a novel. He must publish my stories as they are.

Yes, well. What can you do?

He's clear about the fact that it's due to the Depression.

Perhaps he can be persuaded.

- Now you're going to America. - No.

But you could write Dorothy Canfield again.

Absolutely not.

- Because of Aunt Bess. - Yes.

And because I won't beg Dorothy Canfield -

- to beg her publisher to publish a book he doesn't believe will sell.

Perhaps you could ask Aunt Bess to write Dorothy Canfield -

- so that Dorothy can persuade Robert Haas to publish my book!

No, Karen!

Yes?

- Dinner is served. - We'll be right there.

Do you miss the war?

No.

I've been thinking about you.

About what it's like to be on a battlefield.

Having to fight with every fiber of your body -

so as not to succumb.

I'm glad it's over.

But I'm still at war.

Skipper was the sort of man who had absolutely no imagination of his own.

In this way, he truly resembled the pet he was named after.

Just like a dog, he needed a master -

to give him direction and purpose.

Take it! Go out there, shoot!

Vive la révolution!

Your niece is here. Shall I show her in?

Oh, one moment ...

Alright, alright. Sit.

You may show her in.

Please.

I've hurt you, Aunt Bess. And I'm sorry.

You must consider -

- that your judgment has always meant the world to me.

Your words and opinions have always carried such weight -

because I value them so terribly much.

But I cannot let you read my tales before they are published.

Simply because your opinion has too great of an impact on my own judgment.

I hope you can forgive me, Aunt Bess.

I appreciate your honesty, Karen.

It's merely sad that it comes at this late date.

I would have taken great joy in writing Dorothy on your behalf.

Perhaps you can do that now.

I should have asked you from the start.

I know how greatly Dorothy values your opinion.

And now I'm in a situation where only you can help.

What exactly is it you want me to do?

I'd like to show you what Robert Haas has to say about my tales.

And I'd like to show you what Dorothy wrote about you -

in her letter to Tommy.

"Any connection of my dear Mary Bess Westenholz -

- would never be forgotten by me, you can be sure of that.

And I will do anything in my power to help her niece."

May I see?