"This boy from the province of Skåne faces many a danger, the animals on the ground and the birds in the sky could just barely protect him." "I, who sent away the poor lad rejoice every time he finds a little friend giving him shelter, closing him to his heart." "Subtitles made from the soundtrack by Aliquis" "Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson" "Freely adapted for the movie by Tage and Kathrine Aurell from the novel by Selma Lagerlöf" "To His Majesty the King we present our humble gratitude for his benevolent participation in the movie." "Starring Max von Sydow - father;" "Annika Tretow - mother Jarl Kulle" " Mårten Gander (voice);" "Naima Wifstrand - mother Akka (voice)" "As Nils Holgersson Sven Lundberg" "Cinematographer" " Max Wilén Assistant director and travelling matte" " Ulf Lindroth Photographer" " Hans Malmberg" "Music" " Torbjörn Lundquist Cutting" " Carl-Olov Skeppstedt" "Art director" " Bibi Lindström Costume designer" " Marik Vos Production designer" " Per Gunwall" "Assistant cinematographer" " Sven Brodin Stage manager" " Olle Bohlin" "Audio engineering" " Bo Abrahamsson, Börje Lindqvist First assistant director" " Gunnar Lundin" "Make-up artist" " Erik Whiten Script girl" " Ingrid Wallin" "Travelling matte" " Vic Margutti Model maker" " Dietel  Co, Gelsenkirchen" "Studio shooting at" "The helicopter provided by pilots" "Technical advisor" " Albert Lamorisse "Helivision" - the flying camera" " Paris" "World wide copyright" "Director and Production manager KENNE FANT" "Hurry will you!" "Nils!" "Nils." "Nils!" "Come and get ready!" "It's time to go to church." "Nils!" "Hurry will you!" "We will be late otherwise." "I cannot." "I've hurt my foot." "Well Nils, if you won't go to church, you must read the sermon yourself at home." "Nils, be seated in father's chair" "You'd better read carefully, 'cause I'll examine you when we return." "You'd better start at once, to make it in time." "Pay heed to what father said." "Bye, for now." "He's dull and lazy, and school bores him." "He can barely tend to the geese." "Even worse;" "he's wicked." "Neither is he kind to humans nor to beasts." " No." " His sins will find him out!" "Bye then, Nils." ""Please, help me get up, Nils Holgersson."" "Who are you?" "You're so tiny, you could be taken for a gnome." ""Would you help me, please?"" "Yes I promise I will, if you give me a big coin." "Here you have." ""Now, keep your promise and get me out of here."" "Well no ..." "This silver coin isn't enough." "I want some more." ""You didn't keep your promise, Nils Holgersson."" "Help!" "Help me!" "Gnome, where are you?" "I was just joking!" "Gnome!" "Where are you, gnome?" "Won't anyone help me?" " Look at him." " Who?" "Nils Holgersson!" " Is it Nils goose herder?" " How tiny he is." "Serves him right!" " He pulled me by the tail." " He throw a stone at me." " He kicked me." " But ...?" "How strange?" "I understand your speech!" "If you know where the gnome is, please tell me." "Please!" "Can you please help me?" "You!" "You then?" "Won't anyone help me?" "You Tabby, we've always been on friendly terms." ""To the mountains!" "To the mountains!"" ""We are heading for the mountains!"" ""We are heading for the mountains!"" "Joins us!" "Join us!" "We're content as it is!" "But just imagine ..." "to fly to the mountains!" """ " Join us!"" " Wait for me!" " I'm coming!" " You doggone are not!" "Mother's finest St. Martin's Day goose!" "I'm coming!" ""Join us." "Join us!"" "Keep still!" "I will fall off!" "I told you to keep still!" "Stop, Mårten." "Stop!" "Akka!" "Akka!" "The white one is falling behind." "It's easier to fly fast than slowly, even for a domestic goose." "The white one can do no more." "He's wiggling." "He's tumbling down!" "One who cannot keep up pace must turn back." "Mårten, let's turn back." "You haven't ever flown before." "No I haven't." "So what?" "All the way to Lapland." "You'll never make it!" "From this day on," "I'll never be able to play with other boys." "The wild geese people are very cocky, and for some reason they despise us domestic birds." "Hence it would be most honourable if I could make it all the way to Lapland." "So!" "You think you can fly with us, the wild geese?" "That's mother Akka." "She's from Mount Kebenekajse and she's very old." "Answer her dauntlessly," "But never tell her you're human." "Even a domestic goose has wings!" "But flying is not your best event." "Maybe you're instead a champion runner?" "Who's ever seen a domestic goose run?" "I have never!" "You answer me courageously, and a goose with courage can be a good companion." "Keep up with us a day or two and let's see what you're really made of." "Thanks ..." "I really thank you." "O, thank you, good mother Akka!" "Did you hear that, Mårten?" "We're can stay all the way to Lapland." "I think spring is really here." "Who is that frog riding on your back?" "Frog ...?" "He's my companion." "He keeps watch over us geese." "That might be needful for a domestic goose." "What's his name?" " His name?" " Yes!" "He ... he... he has many names." " Many?" " Yes." "What are the names of the others in the flight?" "The six elders are Yksi of Vassijaure," "Kaksi of Nuolja," "Kolme of Sarektjåkkå," "Nelje of Svappavaara," "Viisi of Fjeld Oviken, and Kuusi of Sjangeli." "The other six are goslings, everyone of the finest mountain breed." "But now you listen." "We won't accept someone who refuses to tell his name!" "Wait, I will tell you!" "I am Nils Holgersson from West Vemmenhög." "And even until this morning I was a human, then I was transformed." "A human, a human, a human!" "Mårten, do try to have a gulp of water." "Just a little closer." "Please Mårten, one more step." "Mårten." "Here now ..." "I've been thinking." "I will never make it on my own on this long a journey." "But if you would stay ..." "Well ..." "I had better return home to mother and father." "Listen, in autumn I'll return and put you down right on your threshold." "He must be off!" "Wild geese cannot stand humans." "Are you wild geese really that frightened of someone ... that puny?" "I'm not." "He's your responsibility." "Tomorrow you must make him leave." "Tonight we will sleep far out on the ice, due to Smirre Fox!" "We'd also better sleep in the safety out there." "Staying out all night on the ice!" "We'll freeze to death!" "Spread the grass for me to stand on, in order not to get stuck." "If you help me I'll help you." "There ..." "I reckon you'll have a nice and warm sleep." "Good night, sleep tight." "I cannot figure out where he's gone." "Watch out!" "Watch out!" "Smirre Fox!" "Smirre Fox!" "By this you saved the wild geese." "They will never forget this." "You will here from me again, Nils Holgersson!" " Nils." " Yes, mother Akka." "Someone as small as you must always be aware of all the dangers on the ground." "There are foxes, martens otters and weasels, not to mention adders and hawks!" "If they're all like Smirre Fox, then I'm in big trouble." "Down there you can see Sir Ermenrich." "He's all the way from Pomerania." "What's that?" "A ... a foreign country." "Look how he's struggling to keep his balance in the wind?" "Will mother Akka send me back?" "Don't you want that?" "Well yes ... but I cannot come forward to mother and father like this." "It's odd that I feel so happy." "I, who have faced the most dreadful thing imaginable for a human!" " Nils!" " Yes, mother Akka." "You might think that I should have mentioned that you saved us all from Smirre Fox this night." "But you see" "I value deed before words." "Well yes." "Hence I've sent a courier to the gnome that transformed you, telling him what good manners you've displayed." "Yes." "He made a promise." "If you return now, he will turn you into a human once again." "What's the matter?" "What's the matter, Nils?" "This gnome is very peevish." "Don't turn up now, and he might be hard to persuade a second time." "I don't yearn for becoming a human." "I want to go with you to Lapland." "But what if you regret this decision one day?" "I won't." " As you wish." " Thank you, good mother Akka!" "Look, the cranes!" "They're heading for the great crane dance this evening." "Lucky you to see that!" "Frankly, no humans are allowed to be present at animal gatherings." "Humans are not trusted, you see." "But I am no longer a human ... or am I?" "Oh, what a multitude of birds!" "Even Smirre Fox may be present at the great crane dance." " Mårten, Look!" " Hush!" "Watch out!" "Watch out!" "Smirre Fox." "Smirre Fox has killed one of the goslings!" "Smirre Fox has broken the peace vows of the Dance Day!" "An outcast, banned from hunting grounds, resting places and hidings, he will be henceforth!" "Mårten, my grandfather was a sailor here." "And he has told me about the shipyard." "Hey!" "Hey!" "What are you doing here..." "Longlip?" "What are you really?" ""A man is chasing me!"" ""No less then Charles XI in person,"" ""the king who founded this city."" ""And who are you?"" ""Rosenbom."" ""Former midshipman on the liner Dristigheten."" ""Now a mere wood carving,"" ""serving as a poor-box in this cemetery."" ""Have you seen an impudent little runt,"" ""running about scoffing persons?"" "Then Your Majesty has gone astray, if I may say so." "He ran towards the wharf." "Thank you, Rosenbom." "You're a decent man, giving straight answers." "Your Majesty, I raise my hat for the one who founded this city, and modernized the marine." "Hurray, Longlip!" "The sun has risen, Your Majesty!" ""Up and away." "Up and away!"" "The lighthouse over there." "Is that Tall Jan?" "I got it!" "Mårten!" "Have you seen Mårten Gander?" "He's not used to this life." "He might have got lost in the fog." "I'll go and search for him." "Be wary!" "Mårten, where are you?" " Is your name Mårten?" " Yes." "And Downfine is a proper name for you." "I'd surely have starved to death, had it not been for you." "And now, Downfine you will fly with me and Nils goose herder to Lapland." ""and Nils goose herder" ... too!" "Hurry!" "Men with rifles in the boats!" "Fly high!" "Fly away!" "Humans should be ashamed." "To shoot at mother Akka!" "and at you, Gander!" " Is that you, Smirre Fox?" " In person," ""and I will chase you all over the country,"" ""until none of you is alive."" ""I've a proposition to make."" ""Toss Nils goose herder to me,"" ""and I will chase you no more."" ""So!" "We should buy our freedom"" ""by sacrificing one of us?"" ""He's none of you."" ""He looks different." "I admit that"" ""but he's a friend of ours."" ""Friend!"" ""You cannot call one of his sort 'friend'."" "Perhaps not if you are Smirre Fox," ""but we can and we are his friends."" ""We will guard him with our lives ..." "everyone of us!"" ""Since that's the value you put on him,"" ""he will be my first prey."" "Within a city wall like this, tales tell us that this was the very site of the once prosperous city of Vineta." "But the inhabitants became presumptuous, and as a punishment the whole city was sunk into the sea." "The inhabitants became immortal, though." "And one night, every hundred years, the city raises from the sea but for one hour in all its glory and splendour." "But if no merchant in Vineta may sell anything to any living being during this single hour, the city once again is sunk into the sea." "So the old tales are told in any case." "But don't pity yourself for not being able to see that sunken old city, because the one you see below is exactly as ancient." "Ugh, the water is so cold!" "Where are you heading?" ""Where there is no smog, no noise!"" "Come." "Have a look!" " Wild geese, aren't they?" " Where are you going?" ""Where there are no matches, no candles!"" "Here you find more birds then in any other lake in all Sweden." "Swans, coots, mallards." "I just do wonder where they will all go, when man has drained the lake of all its water?" "They cannot, can they?" "Mark my words." "Soon enough this lake will be as dry as a cottage floor." ""Anything happened here"" ""while I've been abroad?"" ""No, nothing ever happens here."" ""But a boy in Skåne"" ""has been transformed by a gnome."" ""He's said to be on his way to Lapland ..."" ""on a domestic goose."" ""He really is tiny, you see."" "Exceptional!" "Truly exceptional." " And he can never again be a human?" " Hush!" ""That is confidential."" ""But I know!"" ""The gnome said,"" ""that if the boy diligently watches over the gander"" ""and brings him back unharmed, ..."" ""Hush!"" ""What else, Tawny Owl, what else?"" "A human boy once again." "Only I watch over the gander." "I'll show you!" "Mårten!" "Mårten!" "Hurry, we mustn't be left behind." "It's getting warmer, Mårten." "Watch out for Smirre Fox!" "Hurry, he's closing in!" "Help!" "Help!" ""Help!"" "Who are you really?" "Nils goose herder, travelling with the wild geese." "You must help me." "So, you're pursued by Smirre Fox." "I'll drive him away all right." "Go away, or I will get you!" "I know how far your chain will let you run." "I warned you!" "You asked for it!" "What's that noise?" "That's better!" "Mårten!" "Good bye, Smirre Fox!" "Let's hope you will become a proper watchdog now." " Mårten." " Yes my Downfine." "I know this place." "Under us is the city that is floating on water." ""The city floating on water"?" "Hello." "Hold still, Nils." " Help me, Mårten!" " Hold on!" " So, did you shot him?" " Of course not!" "He's alive!" "He's in the basket." "Well, if he's a real pixie you'll get more for him than for the sea-fowl you use to sell here." "Yes, that was the whole idea." ""You could show him to me"" ""before showing him to the superintendent."" ""Where is the Bear Mountain, sir?"" """ " In that direction." "" " Thank you sir."" "Look, miss." "What's that?" ""Gorgo."" ""Gorgo!"" ""Leave me alone."" ""I'm dreaming."" ""I'm dreaming ..." "about freedom"" ""and about gliding in the high skies."" ""I don't like to be awake."" "It's me, Nils goose herder." "I've heard about you." "Is mother Akka here too?" "No, she and the flight are half their way to Lapland." "Only I was left behind here." "An odd place to have chosen." "I can help you escape if you wish." "You ...?" "I'm not lying, Gorgo." "I really can set you free." "I never thought someone of your size could ever get me out of my cage." "That is a good deed ... what will be spoken of among animals." "I'm grateful you helped me leave that place." "But Nils, I would never have abandoned you there." "As a service in return you can fly with me ... wherever you like." "What did she say, Downfine?" ""The city floating on water."" "This is a life for me, Gorgo." "No school, no work." "Just fun and adventure!" "Kings once ruled in this city, and archbishops, mightier than the king himself." "This is the very stronghold of knowledge." "If I were not an eagle but a plain human ... as you are ... as you were I mean," "I would have settled down here and study everything written in books." "Imagine to become a physician, a judge, or a clergyman." "Well yes ... father and mother would surely be happy, if I could reach that far one day." "Down there ... is Bataki, the raven." "Where?" "I can't see him." "You see the windows." "Beneath the one to the far right," "I know ..." "that he has important words for you." ""You crave to become a human, right?"" ""Yes, the gnome has promised me,"" ""that if I bring Mårten Gander back home ..."" " ... then ..." " Good enough." "But you'd prefer to be a human right away, eh?" "If you meet someone saying that he'd happily be in your shoes." "just whisper this in his ear ..." ""Utter these powerful words,"" ""and you'll be a human anew."" "Who would swap his life for mine?" "Do you mean ... in there?" "What are you?" ""My name is Nils Holgersson from West Vemmenhög."" ""An enchantment made me this small."" ""Now I'm off to Lapland with the wild geese."" "I'd happily be in your shoes!" "Would you really?" "With me?" "Oh yes ...!" "I'd swap with anyone." "Had you but known what has happened today!" "At first I failed my exam, secondly I let a friend down." "In what way did you let him down?" "Now you realize why I gladly would change with anyone." ""Gorgo." "Gorgo!"" ""How could you miss the opportunity to be a human?"" "Listen, Gorgo, they're shooting at us!" "Don't worry." "Today, people are just frolicking." ""Joyful I am like a bird in the light dawn" "greeting the spring in the meadow so green."" ""Thrashes are singing, the jump of a fawn" "fields with the wagtails, the air cool and clean."" ""Joyful I am like a bird in the light dawn" "greeting the spring in the meadow so green."" ""Thrashes are singing, the jump of a fawn" "fields with the wagtails, the air cool and clean."" ""All of the silvery creeks in the wood" "would jump if they could, jump if they could"" ""splashing of water and think they are floods" "see all the bushes covered with buds."" ""Life is a dance, life is a dance" "Sun so lovely, the spring make me prance."" "Do you hear that, Gorgo?" "The bells sounds exactly as in our church at home." "I do wonder how many Sundays have passed since I left home." "My wings can carry you wherever you fancy." "My eyes can catch sight of whatever you want to find." "If so, I want them to find Mårten and mother Akka." "Over there you see the main plant in this timber area." "How dark it turned!" "Look at my face!" "Gorgo, if I become a human again" "I'll find this kind lady and thank her for this lovely bread." "Here, have some." "You must be hungry too." "Now we pass the border to Lapland." "Look Gorgo!" "Far down." "Oh Gorgo." "As if we are flying into the winter!" "Snow never melts here." "Being an eagle, I must live a life fit for an eagle." "That makes everyone afraid of me." "No one would befriend a dangerous raider and bird eater like me." "Am I awake or am I dreaming?" "You're not dreaming." "The sun is keeping you awake." "Is it morning already?" "It is close to midnight, but this far north sun never sets in the summer." "Our journey has come to its end." "We've arrived to the valley of the wild geese." "Where Mårten and mother Akka are." "Right." "But I didn't want to wake you up until now." "Mårten!" ""Welcome, Nils!"" "Mother Akka!" ""Please tell me."" ""How is Mårten, and Downfine?"" ""Just fine."" "Well Nils, Mårten and Downfine has got young now." "They might not have that much time for you." "Well no ..." "I realize that." "But I'll keep my promise and I'll give you a grand tour instead." "By the way, this is Kebenekajse, the highest summit in Sweden." ""The highest summit ... in Sweden."" "Do you see who that is?" "Yes, it's Gorgo." "Look!" "A stampeding wolverine!" "They are rare to be seen." "Over there is the largest city in the world." "Not the number of inhabitants, but regarding its area it's the largest in the world." "Mårten!" "Father ...!" "Mother!" "How long do we linger here?" "Are you homesick?" "A bit, yes." "You long to see mother and father." "Yes, that too." "Too ...?" "What do you mean?" "Well, all kinds of things." "To become a human again?" "Yes, mother Akka," "I long for that more than anything else." "I can imagine that." "Look, mother Akka!" "Well Nils, now the gosling's wings are ready for a first takeoff, and there's already a shortage of food for you as well as for us." "Thus, tomorrow we are turning southward again." "Mårten, tomorrow we will go home!" ""Excellent!"" ""I've told Downfine and our goslings"" ""what a nice home I had."" ""I've promised to show them everything."" "Southward!" "Southward, Mårten!" ""Akka of Kebenekajse,"" ""we are hungry."" ""Eat air!"" ""Poor goslings."" ""We are thirsty."" ""Drink the wind."" "Yes!" "Who's calling, mother Akka?" "Don't you hear?" "It's Bataki." "Do you recall the condition for becoming human?" "Yes, I must deliver Mårten Gander at home." "Have you considered what that will lead to?" "What do you mean?" "You always make me nervous, Bataki." "The word of the gnome was:" "you may anew become a human, if you deliver Mårten Gander, for your mother to put him on the slaughtering-block." " You're lying!" " Ask mother Akka." "So it is the truth." "On the grounds of that manor we always get well fed." "Just imagine." "Soon at home!" "Nils, consider this, there's always a third solution for every predicament." "How to become a human without harming Mårten?" "Well, I don't have the answer." "But you surely will find the key at the right moment." "only you keep doing good to everyone in your path." "Well, Mårten ... it might be a bit tedious for you at home." "In no way." "On the contrary!" "Shouldn't we follow the wild geese and see other countries?" "No ..." "I'd rather come home and display Downfine and our young to the hen and the cows and to your parents." "We'd truly get lots of excitement, but I'm much better off in the fields at home." "I'd prefer to stay with the wild geese, but ... without you it's impossible." "Well, if this is your innermost urge," "I'd never leave you on your own." "Decided!" "We follow the wild geese!" "I thought your sole desire was to be human." "Desire ... well yes ..." "Soon we will be abroad." "How will that be?" "Tell us!" "How will that be?" "Look down and see for yourselves." "'Abroad' looks exactly like this." "Like this?" "Yes, all the way from the coast even until the high peaked mountains." "We've never been any further." "Look!" "Look!" "You're homesick, aren't you?" "Tomorrow we'll cross the sea." "We are very close to West Vemmenhög, you know." "Wouldn't you go home for a visit?" "We won't be back for a long time." "I had better ... not." "If Mårten stays here, nothing bad will happen to him." "I'll gladly fly you home." "Would you, mother Akka?" "Do your father have a gun?" "Of course." "Than I dare not wait here for you." "Let's meet tomorrow at the southernmost cape." "Wait, mother Akka." "There's something I want to tell you." "It's sad that I cannot be a human ... but I'm just as happy ... to have made friends with you." "Is there no other way out?" "A limb horse ...?" "No." "It must be a bliss for it to be shot." "Nils will never forgive us if we do." "Hey ... there must be a way out." "I cannot see what ails you." "But ..." "What is this?" "Is this writing?" ""Remove the piece of iron ..." "from the foot."" ""Remove the piece of iron ..." "from the foot"?" "Who has written this?" "Indeed ...!" "There is something sharp." "This was my place." "And there's the trough, always filled with oats and water." "There's still enough for us all." "Mårten ... let's go outside." "No, come on." "It looks delicious, and here lurks no danger." "Father ...!" "Have a look at my nice catch!" "Mårten is back, with seven wild geese!" "Tomorrow is St. Martin's Day!" "Let's slaughter them this evening, for tomorrows market." "Yes ..." "We have to, I suppose." "A handsome sum of money!" "I guess it will be." "For sure, our luck has turned at last!" "And I even know what troubled the old jade." ""Nils!"" ""Help!" "Help me!"" ""Nils!" "Help!"" "Mother!" "You mustn't harm the gander!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "Won't you come in?" "Indeed, you've grown a bit." "I'm big." "I'm a human again!" "Mother Akka!" "Mother Akka!" "Mother Akka!" "Mother Akka!" "Don't you see me?" "I'm here!" "What are you saying?" "I don't understand." "I don't understand." "Mother Akka!"