John Bauer & The Mountain King © Börje Peratt 2010

Film project about the Swedish Fairy Tale Artist John Bauer &The Mountain King

Producer Börje Peratt © Draupner Film AB 2010 John Bauer & The Mountain King © Börje Peratt 2010 John Bauer & The Mountain King © Börje Peratt 2010

“Dreamer and World famous artist goes overboard with his fairytale princess” John Bauer &The Mountain King

John Bauer (1882-1918) the world renowned Swedish artist died at only 36 years old and his death was on newspaper front pages. John Bauer, portrayed myths and fairy worlds, and his images are a cultural treasure known throughout the world. Telling the story of this highly regarded artist is also to tell of an artistic creation affected by the struggle with and love for Esther, his wife and ”princess”. John Bauer himself could never experience the sweetness of victory when he was assigned to his work. He was only 36 years old when the Sea Lake took his life, the passenger boat Per Brahe sank on SYNOPSIS a stormy November night in 1918. The whole world mourned the far too early departed fairy artist. John Bauer, the Swedish fairy tale artist whose At age 25 John Bauer illustrated ”Among gnomes Mountain King with the music of Hugo Alfvén was images of the forest trolls and creatures of nature and trolls,” and will be forever a fabulous artist released 5 years after the death of John Bauer. His became the world’s fabulous treasure. Despite his who gave soul and life to the people of the Nordic name was not included in the program. timid nature, he knew early what he wanted and as sagas. His development in relation to his wife John Bauer’s two brothers took up the copyright a 16-year-old he knocked at the Royal Academy’s is reflected in the images he paints. From the battle with the Royal Opera House in court and gate. Too young, he was back two years later and early romantic princesses to the fertility goddess won. Original drawings for Mountain King have accepted. At College he meets Esther (Fairy Tale Freya, in which Bauer makes the woman into a never been found. Perhaps they are in the lake Princess) and they become trapped by each other sensual and feminine beauty in nature like peculiar after the accident. in a battle worthy of a relationship in a Strindberg interpretation of John Bauer. John’s dream was to Here on the bottom of the lake also lies the heart of drama. Esther, was constantly surrounded by men live out his characters in the theater, and creating the enchanted princess Tuvstarr. An image linking and cavaliers, and received a lot of attention. She an operatic stage, which took the audience straight John Bauer’s paintings with the most beautiful and loved it and needed this kind of confirmation. While into his bewitching dream world. fragile of human essence. John wanted the deep forest Esther’s life was in Why the Royal Opera chose to use his libretto, the lounges in the city. Although she tried to live in and do the ballet ”Mountain King” without giving the cabin in the woods where John wanted to stay Bauer his rightful copyright is one of the film’s alone with his ”princess”. exciting puzzles.

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PROJECT PLAN

Approaches and objectives Realization Plan 2010 A film about John Bauer must have the highest Participate in Marché du Film, Cannes 2010th. ambition in all respects. Recording is done on Producers Network Accreditation with the goal corresponding HD / Red. to find international partners, co-producer and The collaboration with experts at John Bauer distributor. museum in Jönköping and ethnologist Ebbe Schön Create cooperation with Nordic and European as guarantees facts and credibility of interpretations. well as North American TV stations / studios. The team’s extensive experience will ensure Autumn 2010. Develop an image and dialogue high professional quality. Estimated production script. time is 36 months. Recording starts in the spring of 2011 and allocated The aim is to produce a story that depicts both to different seasons. Opening Christmas 2013. the artist’s life, relationship to his wife Esther, his images and the creative process, his development Project Team Spring 2010 as an artist, his struggle to create a work for opera Börje Peratt, Hans Welin (photo), Kim Peratt and his untimely death in the spectacular sinking Jean-Paul Wall (music), Ebbe Schön (folklore). of Per Brahe. The goal is a film that can become a recurrent matter of course at Christmas. Even a Cast list documentary is planned. John Bauer, Esther Ellqvist, Artist Colleagues: Algot, Axel, Signe et al. Bauer Family: Dad, International influence Mom, 2 brothers. Hugo Alfvén, Michel Fokin. John Bauer’s background with a German father and Swedish mother and his studies in Italy and a Locations strong international reputation lead to believe that Sweden: Götaland. Around the lake ”Vättern”, financing can be strengthened by an International Jönköping, Stockholm. Possibly: Italy, Germany. co-production. This in turn opens the door for the EU Media and EU support. John Bauer also had Facebook interests influence on Walt Disney and the effect on the Draupner Film (735) Bauer (100). The interests on characters and backgrounds used in such as Snow these pages are part of marketing. White. All this supports the belief in the potential for international distribution. Here on the shore of the lake bottom also lies the heart Budgetary and economic conditions of the enchanted princess Based on a broad-based financing of international Tuvstarr. An image linking co-producers. Further on collaboration with John Bauer’s paintings with Television and the support of Film Institute would the most beautiful and strengthen the project. fragile of human beings.

Letter of Commitment Cooperation with Jönköping museum is to ensure access to archives and the ability to map the pictures and paintings from the originals.

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Mom bakes. Great-grandmother sitting on a Academy, natural form bores John and he would wooden sofa and performing spells. -”Is the kid like to opt out. Then there is his father. The stout drawing wicked witch again!” John responds and strict butcher who travelled to Stockholm, -”Humpe, nice troll.” he’s brought some hefty pieces of meat in order Mom turns to her little son. John peering forward. to ”build up his son” and set out for him, his -”Close your eyes, mother you may see as beautiful ineptitude in anything but painting. -”You will never as John.” Mom smiles. be a good meat trader, like me, so my business can go to your brothers. But I’ll give you all the Ten Years later. John Bauer as a young man, only support in your artistic career and I will not allow 18, going into the Royal Academy in Stockholm. you to stop what you started. Is that understood?” JOHN: -”Well I was probably a soul of dreams, I John nods submissively. -”See now to make your have on three occasions in my life really sincerely mother happy and proud!” asked God for something. When I was little I prayed to God that I would have a crooked nose It is a celebration among artist colleagues and when I grew up. I got it. The second time I asked if John can see how Esther disappears on the I could enter the academy. It got that too. The third terrace with Axel Kleimer. Friend Algot dismisses time I asked God to allow me Esther, whom I also John’s outrage as meaningless. -”Why be jealous received, and since then I have never dared to ask of Axel? Esther will one day be my wife, only she God for anything!” does not know it yet.” -”What do you mean?” John is wondering somewhat surprised. -”Yes, she is It is a lesson of the Arts. The task is to paint still life not yours anyway.” Algot provides John a friendly of an apple basket. John finds the subject boring tap on the chest. -”The troll and the princess, nah and weak and quickly turns to a fairy-tale world that misalliance will never be.” Algot laughs and of characters and a troll who creeps around in the raises a toast to John who laughs and bows back. apple basket. Esther, who stands with her easel behind John giggles and smiles at John as he Academy. Portrait Painting. Esther paints John in blushes. A teacher is approaching and suddenly an idealized masculine way and John is painting the troll is transformed into a rickety apple. Esther as an elf. They must then look at each other TREATMENT FEATURE FILM The teacher looks at the fresh apples and Johns and there is no doubt that the language of glances The royal opera 1923. People in dress on their JOHN: -”Vättern, the lake that I loved and who Sketch and understands nothing. they exchange. Axel sees them jealously and Algot way to the ”Mountain King”. The Bauer Brothers inspired my imagination. Here I saw nature spirits looks chipped at the whole situation but amused look in the program and note with surprise that dance in the morning mist. Here I saw the Sea Esther is admired and popular. Her breath of life is by Axel’s troubled countenance. John Bauer’s name is not mentioned. Spirit seduce and attract fairies mermaid. Now I am to be courted and get confirmation for her beauty. laying on the ground of this lake with my beloved The competition for her is great, yet she shows Night and storm over the lake 1918. wife Esther and our dear son Putte. When we would interest in the not-too-beautiful John. Dawn. Wreckage floating ashore. Featuring restart and everything should be fine again, so the Esther’s world is salons, frivolity, the merry antics, headlines from the ”Mountain King”, leaving a bag lake liked to have us.” dancing and cocktails. John can participate in this and dissolved in water. environment of leisure but preferably sitting at a “The Trolls and the It is 1890 in Bauer’s villa in the small town Jönköping table where you tell anecdotes to each other and Princesses, nah that aliance World News of the fabulous artist John Bauer’s just at the southern tip of lake Vättern. John as a drink a good punch. So even in the same room tragic death is on the front pages. child sitting under the kitchen table drawing. John and Esther, live in different places. will never be”

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“One day I´ll be Mountain King and you my queen”

Algot seated in an armchair in Esthers flat With easel on his back John goes out in the The spread of ”An old Mountain Troll,” ahead of mountains to seek contact with the Sami people. Esther on the desk. A patch is stitched on the Solo out on the plains, he sees a large mountain illustration ”One day I’ll be Mountain King and you mass. -”Mountain ... The King! ... Are you there?” “Damn he has not even done my queen / John“. Algot was next to be asked by He starts singing. Out here in solitude, he put Esther if he also would like to congratulate on himself on a rock and bawling hymns to the beauty military service! Will you John’s success. Algot pretended not to hear, and of nature, the mountains, to its tests. wait for him to grow up?” Esther smiling. Algot drew a simple drawing of JOHN: -”I’m crazy when I am alone in the mountains. Esther between the two men and writes: ”If John is I have a lovely voice when I scream out and no redness of dawn so I am glow of evening, I suppose. one hears me. Sometimes I am, John Bauer, now With fire in my heart and conscious of that the day I am wanderer and sometimes ancient man, now has light and shadow”. I’m magic. It is essentially a part of the theme of Wagner ’Nibelungen Ring’ now that I beat up in the Axel and Esther in the studio First Artist camp at Tjockö develops into a wildest disorder, and in all variations.” Axel is in agony over his rival John: - ”How can you Out there in the forest solitude he finds rest and menagerie of love. Signe Carlsson also one of So he meets a bear that is not intimidated by the choose John? You are two years older and he is pure feels at home. He goes with his rifle on his shoulder the female artists colleagues looks jealously at all song and John are forced to take cover. Here in this baby. Damn he has not even done military service! but is not able to shoot the rabbit that appears in the attention that Esther gets. And John looks to mountain world he’s experiencing himself, John Will you wait for him to grow up?” front of him. get Esther by herself by painting her as a model. moved to the beginning of time when the Norse When he comes back to the drawing room, he Something that naturally flatters Esther annoys gods and giants lived. John is in the military uniform of the regiment finishes ”Mountain troll” and sets it next to a portrait the other men and makes them full of envy. No He read a letter from Esther as he folds and puts it of Esther: ”I’m Mountain King you are my princess”. one can draw like John, Esther’s beautiful figure in his breast pocket closest to his heart. He writes letters to Esther. ”One day you’ll see what I and lovely soul. But Esther is not patient and John Artist friends met in the team happy and Esther can do. If you only knew all the beautiful things I see can not finish the painting this summer. “One day I´ll be Mountain canvassed as usual and the man closest to her in my head. The dancing elves in an opera. ” was always Axel. Esther reads the letter. ”Angel, You seem white, Lapland King and you my queen” John receives a letter from Esther, which is checked red and yellow. A light warm-click on the purple. But John has been commissioned to illustrate a for it’s content. She does not know what she wants not only that. You are so beautifully done and so you great work on Lapland and has now set off and now she is close to Axel. understand everything, to the North. Algot follows him to the train and Esther responds: ”Next summer we’re going to paint ”toast’s him off” to give him good luck on the John moves out into the woods on Tjockö camp. It would make me so happy if you journey. They joke about Axel’s yearning for Esther, John is leaving the military and further out to a wanted to honor us with your presence. We would but even if they do not see Axel as a major threat cottage in the woods. With him he has a mission to also like to congratulate your beautiful drawings.” in the battle for Esther is such competition that’s illustrate a Fröding poem ”Mountain troll”. ever in their thoughts.

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their paradise (the attractive Archipelago), where Tjockö but who spoke afterwards about the causes, she hopes that John will come: which as often as it was yours it was also my fault. I ”Where you would go with me to the magic stone am angry and calm, and I probably avenge the bad where the Lady of the woods dance, we could also names I suffered. The memory of our Tjockö stay dance, so that we lose consciousness, so that we forgot still alive in all of us with fair words as bright and about reality then you would go to my mountain. droll as was in his last letter to Adeline Lanner he Where you can look out over my kingdom, islets and talked with such intensity on the togetherness and reefs and the endless sea. On my mountain, you so will you talk nonsense.” were king.” John writes to Esther and she reads it to Axel: “A cabin in the middle of -”You could see the air over the water and air over the big woods... it’s the only the ridges and the lake itself, it may well be outside and in parallel with smooth seas. There is peace possible way for us to form a and quiet of the greatness of the inland landscape. home” Powerful and quiet are the ridges. The archipelago and the sea are nervous and bustle of .” -”John does not like our island”, Axel comments.

Second Artist camp at Tjockö John leaves his summer cottage to join Esther and her artist friends the camp of Tjockö in the John alone in the cottage at the lake archipelago where they were last year. In the winter, John finds a cottage in the woods John continues in a letter to Esther: ”I have gone John stands in the bow of the boat approaching outside the University. John has lots of material on snowy roads and chased the snow-covered forest. Tjockö. There she is on the bridge with Axel’s arm from Lapland, and he must now perform the job. During the race I came to a little grey cottage. It stood around her shoulder. A pang of jealousy rushed As he paints, he goes into the woods with his rifle vacant and open. In the middle of the barren forest. through John’s heart, but he does not show it. The on his shoulder. But he never shot an animal. He My haunting pleasure took over and I dreamed about grip of Esther is supposed to be friendly but John wrote to his friend Axel who reads the letter at the you and me. I measured the height of the room to see knows. Signe is burning with anger, hatred and home of Esther: if my bookcase went inside. I dreamed of furniture I jealousy. -”You have John, is it not enough that ”Carrying your gun eliminates fear and you do not already owned, were they would go. I dreamed about you need to get hold of all!” Algot ran to the bridge have to search your thoughts and not know which you and reindeer skin there and it all looked so warm to see the performance. He asks Axel to help take one you choose, and you do not have to ponder on and homely. Can you be content with anything so the boat and thereby forced Axel to remove his how crazy this is and how the hell it should be done. small brief and simple? Say you probably can. Can arm from Esther. Floods of happiness and elation coming over you you live in such a cabin in the middle of the big woods Esther paints the archipelago ”Calm” (1905). may disturb you, as you become a master of creation in solitude and silence, free from all men? No Esther, A response to John’s letter on the archipelago in a beautiful forest. It’s rather like paradise. You’re it falls apart as soap bubbles just because it is the as ”nervous and chase.” Now John completes standing face to face, at one with those great ideas, only possible way for us to form our home. ” the painting ”Fairytale Princess” he began the one of which is always hiding, when looking at them. To Esther a lake is nothing to yearn for; she would summer before. They beg you and ask to be painted, so it also tells the rather live in Stockholm and by the sea. Then John But this summer will not be tolerated Esther’s story carefully and thoroughly and makes it easily writes romantic letters on snow-covered forests, flirting and she even got into a fight with Signe understood, how to make it really, really beautiful. ” miles of marshes under high trees, Esther writes of on Axel. -”Good God how we fought you and I on

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Escape from Love Both Esther and John are torn by the love offence if I made you do it for me. But my love, I between them. Passion brings such a frightening cannot even do it myself for you.” vulnerability that they are fleeing each other and John travels back to his cottage in the woods. ”Among Gnomes and Trolls”. John Bauer in letters to Esther. ”I have set you so ”My dear Esther / ... / The snow lies deep in the forests high Esther. And up there I want you. I get sad when I and to walk a couple of miles is tiring. I find it hard look weak it’s the human trait of you. Esther, forgive to work. I go everywhere in the woods with my little me that I require so much.” dog. I chop my wood and clear the way to the barn The autumn of 1905 is difficult both for John and and shed. It is a little cramped here at the small table. Esther. John is depressed and writes: ”I am full There is a pile of compositions. Ancient humans, of contradictions, nothing to hold onto. I just glide. angels, devils, trolls, giants, dragons, princesses and Where I do not know. Your letter, I must tell you I sea spirits. read not with the same joy as before. I have you on John gets a contract to do the illustrations for my conscience. I have visions of you and me clutching ”Among Gnomes and Trolls” is a great job and firm, which is worse than nothing ... A life test you it should be inspiring. “But I never start with the cannot be filled with kisses and dreams and I tremble performance. I do not know where I should start. The for the reality and gravity and my own feeble insight. piles on the table grow”. Do you understand me? Because I sometimes don’t. ”Gnomes and Trolls”, will be John Bauer’s big I am 23 years old and a gifted artist who they say are breakthrough. The cabin is filled with pictures of loved by you, I know, and still try.” the magic and essence of fabulous and mythical nature. Self destruction Esther reads John’s letter drunk from a bottle of Gossip and slander wine with a revolver in her hand. Axel will not give up Esther and John gets letters Both Esther and John are in suicidal plans, if from artist friends and the gossip Pontus. not so serious, their longing and anguish are so Rumors spread also to Esther, who is told that painfully difficult that the two cannot stand. They John has met someone else. cannot be together and they cannot be apart. John Esther hits Signe: -”You little idiot, shut up what will also receive a letter from Algot who says he Pontus says. I never deign to call him and he found Esther weeping and broken with a revolver slanders everything and everyone. Well John Bauer in her hand. he who will not be so distrustful. He favors you so Later John writes. ”I have learned to despise John you cannot take the world in the belief out of him Bauer. I dare not trust him, not in the least, for he is and John does look good by your side then I think irresponsible in his weakness. Just this horrible fact. he John should smile at slander.” You tortured my poor Esther. I agree so much with “I am full of contradictions, nothing to hold onto. you. We need hope. Answer me honestly my love. Has it been your major decision to shoot yourself? Would I just glide. Where I do not know.” you really, on the same day, same hour, socializing with the same plan as me. I am sick my love, I cannot tell you the whole truth. It would be more than an

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The fight for each other much paper to describe the forces that seek such John writes to Esther: ”Battle against him, he is a thing. Small cosy taverns with good wine and my opposite. He was the strong, sober and good, food. We’ve had evenings so rich that they cannot benevolent and helpful. He was the most energetic. be forgotten.” That love is unfortunately his fate. I like him and he is my friend. All the best in the world I do not begrudge John and Esther newly in love him but you. No, you are mine, my love you.” They will return to Sweden and move from the The letter of reply from Esther is full of hugs, smells forest to the ”Villa Birch Cape” which is beautifully of perfume and has painted lips on the front in form situated on a peninsula at the lake but close to of kisses.John intimidated by Esther’s fiery letter. John’s beloved lake. There is a concession to ”It is your words in your letter, which is great for me. I Esther’s desire to live near water. The sea with its am afraid of them. I know that you expect more from endless horizon, is what satisfies her desire for me than what I can give. That ”big beauty” as you see freedom and openness. in my art and that you believe to be me, I might not. I have at least never found it in me. Do you know me? Esther’s flight back to the big city Esther, my dear. You know what I am? I want you to But a lake is not enough she is still feeling trapped be my little wife but you must not expect too much. and moved back to Stockholm. Here Esther resumes Ester if that you dare to be my little wife in spite of her painting. John drops into his illustration work it “It is your words in your letter, which is great for me. my changing moods and shifting.” will be marked by his state of mind. I am afraid of them” Before Christmas the same year Esther and John John and Esther’s separate worlds going again in married and Esther accompanies John to the the pictures. neighboring lake. John is happy but Esther cannot adapt. On the contrary, she was frightened of the night time and becoming increasingly nervous and worried. Despite the attention and John’s success, Esther falls into a depression.

Italy John’s parents visit the cottage and the father sees that John is not looking good. A completely broken pair. His mother finds Esther unworthy of her son John, but his father would instead help the couple and sends them on a dream trip to Italy, Capri and Florence, Siena and Volterra. It is a happy and exciting time for the young artist couple. -”Almost every evening we go out to one of the small villages outside of Florence. These trips in the evenings, while the cool air is wonderful. Italy’s small villages are in their best. It would take too ”There he stood, hopelessly looking out over the lake’s black water.”

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a studio in Stockholm where he can experiment with sketches of the theatrical scenes. John is also developing a libretto on the figures he had in his head since he was a child. He is now investing everything in this life dream. He eagerly hopes for a response from the Royal Opera House about how they look at his life’s work and the libretto ”The Mountain King”. But no answer comes. Mikhail Fokin was kicked out of the project and was replaced by his pupil, the Swedish choreographer Jean Börlin. The same year 1914 the First World War breaks out. Fokin moving back to Russia and the last link to Bauer is broken. In a newspaper article in 1916 it says that Bauer allegedly sold his idea to the Opera. Three days later they ask Bauer in this same newspaper, and he writes that he feels violated and robbed. John Bauer’s paintings Ballet - ”The Mountain King” are now given grim and sad characters. Artist 1913 Bauer writes to his parents that he had an Colleagues in Stockholm see how John Bauer Reunification exciting but secret mission. The contemporary breaks down the way the opera treat him and try Esther’s visit to Stockholm became increasingly goddess forward, radiating sensuality and vitality. world-famous Russian choreographer and ballet to give their support to Bauer. Hugo Alfvén, who protracted and what she longed for is not at all ”Freya”, friends teasingly called the painting ”bust dancer Mikhail Fokin discovered the Bauer pictures has been commissioned to compose Mountain back ”home” again. The couple lived apart for long of Mrs. Bauer” and only a blanket covering her in a used bookstore in Old Town. Fokin was taken King, proceeds on his own. John moves back to periods at times and the letters between them are legs. Perhaps not the right motive in a school and inspired. He envisioned an opera with Bauer’s the woods. talking about divorce. They agreed however to for Young women. But John in his naive world of figures. John’s artistry would characterize both the hold together. He is experiencing his marriage to artistic thinking doesn’t fully understand how the set design and costume. Esther as a prison, which finds a new path and board of the school think. They will not have it Fokin invited John Bauer to a meeting in Stockholm release when they have a child. on the wall. and here he presented the task of writing and 1916 sees the birth of their son, ”Putte” and the That doesn’t concern John too much. He is happy artistic design to stage the story of the Opera. It formation of a family seems to weld John and with the result and paints it in various ways. Esther, came at just the right moment when Bauer himself Esther together. But Esther would still live in John and Putte are finally family. John can sit for long wanted to do something for the theater. Stockholm. hours and watch the child. He even enjoys the John Bauer had thoughts quickly the ideas from a 1917 John Bauer may be asked to create a screams. draft of a libretto. Now, his magic and essence of painting for a girls’ school. He is planning a mural All talk about other fathers, he cares not. figures will dance on stage. Now, his inner visions and studied carefully the conditions in the room. -”You know I love this child and I love his mother become real. The preparatory work will result in a two-meter more than anything else. It is the only thing that Project ballet “Mountain King” going on and off for high oil painting depicting Freya, Nordic Aesir matters. Let’s make Esther happy and move to many years with constant twists and setbacks. goddess of love, beauty and fertility. Esther, now Stockholm.” Although cooperation is not flowing as he continues after a child with the more mature woman’s shape to portray the story of the mountains, the captured and charisma is expressed in full bloom. From the girl, boy herding and troll Humpe. He may borrow habit, innocent fairy girl grows a powerful mother

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”Battle for justice” John Bauer’s brothers pulled the idea theft to court Royal Opera House February 7, 1923. Happy and and won the battle. John Bauer was recognized as excited people are coming out from the premiere the source of the Mountain King. The composer of the show ”The Mountain King”. A journalist, who Hugo Alfvén found this experience extremely reviews the performance, studying the program, offensive, saying that ”I work as a composer and Wreck and downfall writes in his review of John Bauer’s name is gave my living soul for about a year of intensive “At a neighboring port Per Brahe is loaded with conspicuous by its absence. work together, seemingly having to wait 25-30 sewing machines that are not fastened properly. An Bauer brothers reacting angrily. - “John may be years before I can reach the same income” (which exited family with a nervous Esther is boarding the dead but we live and this sacrilege that John requires the Bauer brothers to claim injury and theft ship. Well-meaning sailors and other helping hands suffered cannot be left unpunished.” The other of Ideas). Brother Bauer: - “Yes, yes, our brother carry their bags. John carries his bag of sketches brother is responsible. - “But how do you think was working on the story for 30 years so what the to The Mountain King. The storm increases in we should be able to battle against the Royal work is concerning, you cannot compare with the strength. He had not stood so close to his wife in a Opera and Hugo Alfvén, Sweden’s most famous short time Mr. Alfvén used and he was also paid long time. Esther had not been so near to him for composer and conductor? We are likely to resolve for.” John Bauer was attributed the libretto for ”The years. He was concerned over the waves, but was in court! We will be ruined.” The first brother Mountain King”. But in 2010 still stands as Jean still not frightened. On the other side of this storm, replies: - “If this is the last thing I do I’ll restore Börlin author of the libretto of the Royal Opera waits of course a new life, he thought, where the linking chains. When the wires go, a sailors John’s name.” biography of the ”The Mountain King” ballet. dream house is waiting on Djursholm. And he shortcomings of nerves. One can no longer walk would finally leave the fairy tale illustrations and let on their legs on board. Per Brahe is now beaten the art take new paths. for forty degrees to starboard, almost entirely on The storm grew in strength. The Sea roared, the the side. Intense flashes of lightening. The storm wind picked up, it ripped through the water to form drives up the new angry, swirling breakers. a cloth of roaring, foamy froth. The waves lashed No, he and Esther have not been so desperate the hull and some looked like leopards leaping for each other for years. They shake together in a across the steamer. The rain stung like razor sharp storm the night a pattering leather whip. Everything poison darts in the skin. Suddenly a sailor cried blends together in front of their eyes. Steamer, the from the stern. The rudder is cracked. Per Brahe water, screaming, the sky and the rain become a is just disabled, drifting freely with the broad side stirred porridge. They lose each other in the turmoil. facing the waves. And the loads vibrating, begins John turned bloody against the walls of the cabin, to beat her. Sewing machines are loaded carelessly Esther and Putte with Utterly hopeless protection and inadequately lashed. Within minutes Per Brahe in the aft saloon. lies at a thirty degrees list. The engineer gives up. Lake flaming. Magnesium Light of lightning. Shouts of rage and madness in the wind. No, he Lake blackens. The day after low water and still. has not stood so close to his wife in a long time. Completely quiet and completely empty.” “... It’s been many years since. Tuvstarr sits there and looks wondering into the water Esther has not sunk her teeth into him for years. after her heart. Princess is gone, now it’s just a flower with Tuvstarr’s name, a little He knows now fear penetrates the marrow and white flower on the edge of the pond. Now and then the elk comes, stops and looks at bone, it pulls in the reptilian brain. He is charged by the small flower. He is the only one who knows who she is - he’s an old friend - but to instinct, and keeps his family, clinging on to those follow him back, then she is no more, as long as the spells binding. The spell is down leads and rods. Crewmen climbing and fighting, there. Far, far away down there is a mended heart.”

From Tuvstarr by Helge Kjellin

18 19 John Bauer & The Mountain King © Börje Peratt 2010

MANUS AV-PRODUKTION started by Börje Peratt in 1976 and was converted to AB (company) in February 1981. Börje Peratt worked as reporter and producer for Swedish Public Broadcast Radio and moved on as director at SVT Swedish Public Broadcast Television where he also wrote and produced shorts for TV shows such as “Pep Talk”. “Treasure Hunt” was a TV-series in coproduction by TV-House, SVT and MANUS. Later MANUS got the opportunity to produce 29 independent sections in the popular TV-series “Fishing Tour” that received extraordinary ratings. Over 50% of the youth audience (SVT 1989-91). Börje Peratt has produced award-winning short films and the feature “Bella & Real - The Movie” (2010). “Child from the Sea” (1999) is a 15-minute pilot for the feature film “Land of Wooden Gods” depicting the emancipation of slaves during the Viking era. This particular project is in corporated Draupner Film AB. Börje Peratt has also written lyrics and composed music for radio, film and musicals. The theme for Bella & Real “Freedom in foreign land” has topped radio charts in spring 2010.

Besides being an independent TV- and Film making company, Manus AV-produktion AB also has an outstanding record producing for community, transportation an environment that has led to many forms of media assignments, slide shows, videos, exhibitions, publications, community campaigns, corporate presentations, educational films, music cassettes, CDs, multimedia and so on.

Clients cover the entire market from ministries, municipalities and counties to companies, associations and organizations with missions in nature, recreation, health, safety and skill development. Education has been transferred to Visam AB (1987).

CONTACT & INFO

Börje Peratt MOBILE +46 70 55 66 994 PHONE +46 8 768 41 11 ADRESS Manus AV-produktion AB/Draupner Film AB, Norrhagsvägen 10 A, SE-18247 Enebyberg Sweden E-MAIL [email protected] WEB www.peratt.com/draupnerfilm