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The Danish Poet

If you’ve heard of the butterfly effect, how about the falling cow impact? Whimsical, philosophical and absurdly hilarious, this NFB animated short by Oscar®-winning director Torill Kove follows Kasper, a poet whose creative well has run dry, as he attempts to answer some big questions. Can we trace the chain of events that lead to our own birth? Is our existence just coincidence? Do little things matter? It turns out that where Kasper is concerned, seemingly unrelated factors such as bad weather, an angry dog, a careless postman, hungry goats and the aforementioned deadly bovine might play important roles in …
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If you’ve heard of the butterfly effect, how about the falling cow impact? Whimsical, philosophical and absurdly hilarious, this NFB animated short by Oscar®-winning director Torill Kove follows Kasper, a poet whose creative well has run dry, as he attempts to answer some big questions. Can we trace the chain of events that lead to our own birth? Is our existence just coincidence? Do little things matter? It turns out that where Kasper is concerned, seemingly unrelated factors such as bad weather, an angry dog, a careless postman, hungry goats and the aforementioned deadly bovine might play important roles in the grand scheme of things after all.

Religion, Beliefs and Ethics Families All subjects
Auteur Make Me Laugh All channels
  • writer
    Torill Kove
  • director
    Torill Kove
  • narrator
    Liv Ullmann
  • music
    Kevin Dean
  • animation
    Torill Kove
    Astrid Aakra
    Bjarte Agdestein
  • additional animation
    Stephanie Duong
    Yin Ko Lee
    Siv Nordsveen
    Anja Ruud
    Magnhild Winsnes
  • animation assistance
    Helene Bisgaard
    Morten Nyutstumo
    Annely Poldsaar
    Linn Hoyer-Pedersen
  • colour design
    Anne Ashton
  • additional backgrounds
    Anne Ashton
  • infographics
    Randall Finnerty
  • additional digital colour
    Ketil Bruun Andersen
    Yin Ko Lee
    Neerajkumar Patel
    Jason Smalridge
  • scanning
    Jean-Marc Brosseau
  • digital imaging consultation
    Martin Ciastko
    Susan Gourley
  • editing
    Phyllis Lewis
  • sound
    Hakon Lammetun
  • musician
    Kevin Dean
    Sienna Dahlen
    Carlos Jimenez
  • music recording
    André White
  • mix
    Norsk Filmstudio AS
  • lab
    Nordisk Film Post Production AS
  • production coordination
    Julie Laperrière
    Richard Lesage
  • administration
    Lise Fearnley
    Gisèle Guilbault
    Elaine Largie
    Elsa Mouana-Bankouézi
  • executive producer
    Lise Fearnley
    Tove Klovvik
    David Verrall
  • producer
    Lise Fearnley
    Marcy Page

Education

Ages 9 to 14

Quick Start Guide

Study Guide

Guide 1

Notes

Film students can examine strategies like the narrator’s accent or use of music. Language arts students can practise narrative strategies that “go against the grain,” and share them on storytelling day. They may write their own “family myths,” examining the difference between fact and fiction. Discuss poets’ creative impulses. Students of European history can map the differences in values, history and identity among the Scandinavian countries, explaining the satirical tone of the film.

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The Danish Poet
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