Original subtitles

Norway the year 999

I don't want anyone to burn in the flames of hell.

So if you find more heathens around

then hear their confession, baptize them

and after that, kill them.

The White Viking

A film by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson

Chapter 1 The Day of Wrath

In Halogaland, I destroyed a likeness of Odin, made of gold

and in Maeri I burned Odin again where he appeared

as a tree twice a man's size.

They were not alive.

But Godbrandur the chieftain is said to have a likeness that is alive

and eats stockfish.

Odin spits out the bones!

A God that eats stockfish

is both blind and deaf.

Will that Odin help the last chieftain that I have to fight?

Or... will he fight like a berserker?

Godbrandur the chieftain has never been conquered by anyone.

But he has never had to face King Olafur Tryggvason

and his White Christ.

So you will grant me a victory?

Without me there will be no victory.

Now I have reached the farthest part of Norway.

Do not forget what you promised me

when I started this crusade.

1 will live forever but you will die.

It's a pity to have to burn such a beautiful temple.

"My mother's words were: Go buy a ship and oars,

sail with the Vikings.

Stand on the prow, steer the mighty Viking ship.

Hold course for a haven, Hew down a man or two. "

Pull, little Vikings. Pull! Pull now, birds and chickens!

One, two, three,

and heave!

It's too steep! Askur, you are too heavy.

Are you not real Vikings?

You are as heavy as a dungheap!

Imagine this wagon piled high with silver.

And you that you are in Ireland, fighting the Christians traitors.

Pull! Before the arrows start flying and heads are chopped off.

With Askur in charge, there is nothing to fear.

"My mother's words were: Go buy a ship and oars,

sail with the Vikings.

Stand on the prow, steer the mighty Viking ship.

Hold course for a haven, Hew down a man or two.

My mother's words were: Go buy a ship and oars,

sail with the Vikings.

Stand on the prow, steer the mighty Viking ship... "

Here!

Pater Noster!

Now one of you will show his strength

by fighting against me.

To prove that he is worthy

of becoming your new leader instead of me.

And steer my ship in Viking.

We were sent her to spy, not to slay youngsters

that would only alert them unnecessarily.

Mighty Freyr! Will you grant me many gallant sons and fair daughters

with my bride Embla.

May you whet your weapon day and night

and strengthen it between her thighs.

What were you saying Hrafn, about Embla?

I just meant that you are now her owner.

You can do with her whatever you desire.

Shut your gob about my woman.

She is the only woman worth staying at home with, and not sailing with you.

Isn't it so!

Yes Askur!

She's the only one who's worth it.

It isn't possible to have more than one child at a time.

With other women!

If he copulates with two women at the same time

She could bear twins.

That's it! Twins!

She could bear twins!

Oh Pater Noster!

We will surprise these heathens at their wedding party.

Pater!

There would be no Christians in Norway without me.

And there will be no more

without me.

Norway is bleeding!

It is for your sake that blood has been flowing

and in battle

I am your humble tool.

Without me there will be no victory.

It is to our mutual advantage that I make all Norwegians

worship you.

Let my whip absolve me from sin

so I can hear your voice

speak to me

as you speak to the king.

I was the one who baptized him

and gave him to you

when he was an outlawed Viking in England.

Outlawed from Norway!

If he conquers Norway for you

reward me by speaking also to me.

Are there polar bears in Iceland?

Neither polar bears nor brown bears.

This one came floating on an iceberg from the cold Greenland to the warm Iceland.

The names that the Vikings chose for these continents

might have confused it.

How much do you want for it?

It isn't for sale.

But I have some Icelandic sheepskins

that should keep you warm.

I'd rather purchase some Irish slave women

to stoke my fire during the winter.

These fancy dressed lads that were on your ship

behave like they had already conquered the world.

Why are they not working like ordinary men?

These are the sons of Icelandic chieftains.

They prefer skirmishes and poetry.

And the chief Lawspeaker of Iceland does not sail to Norway for his son's wedding?

The Lawspeaker was riding to the ship

but then his horse collapsed on a flat road.

ODIN!

COME DOWN TO US!

ODIN!

COME DOWN TO US!

ODIN!

ODIN!

ODIN!

HE IS HERE!

I offer you my dolls.

Mighty mother Freya

as you have given me a child, growing inside of my body.

At the beginning of time the gods in Valhalla constructed the world and created life.

Then they hammered together man and woman

so that families might thrive.

Stronger than bear sinew are the bonds that will now bind you together.

You Embla, my own daughter, my only child.

And you, Askur, son of Thorgeir the Lawspeaker of Iceland.

The greatest of all gods, Odin,

is here

proclaims you to be one flesh,

marked for him.

Step hard on the ground

let the seed fly

welcome the young maiden

Freyr, in time of love

Freya, in time of love.

Step hard on the ground

let the seed fly

welcome the young maiden

Freyr, in the time of love.

Freya, in time of love.

I am a white bear!

I came floating from Greenland on an iceberg.

Accept the scent of the bear as a wedding gift!

And...

This shawl was made for an Arabian princess.

Accept it, beautiful chieftain's daughter, as a gift

from a humble seafarer.

Thorgeir, Askur's father, Lawspeaker of Iceland,

entrusted me and my two companions

to bring you this likeness of Freya.

Thorgeir says that this goddess will protect you forever

as she protects in her womb, her precious gift of unborn life.

Now we shall sail in search of adventure!

Do not forget to shovel the manure and milk the goats while we're away!

Milk what!

Shall I hold your prick when the arrows start flying?

Just think of us when you stand there in the dung,

while we're looking for adventure!

This dagger, sacred to Odin,

has given us many glorious victories on our Viking raids!

I will steer Godbrandur's ship in the same glorious way as you did

when you were our leader.

Godbrandur's ship?

No. The ship of Askur Thorgeirsson from now on.

I am coming with you.

Come on then. And bring Embla with you.

Both of us are coming

in our minds!

In our minds!

We are the Vikings!

Now you are my ship.

And I shall sail on you.

Listen to this poem.

How wonderful it is.

"My mother's words were these.

Go buy a Viking ship and oars

Sail with the Vikings,

stand in the prow

steer the mighty Viking ship

Hold course for a haven..."

Do you know who wrote these words?

My grandfather.

Egill Skallagrimsson, the chieftain of Odin.

He was the greatest Viking ever.

And the greatest poet.

"Hew down a man or two. "

WE ARE THE VIKINGS!

Once, the King of England imprisoned my grandfather and was going to behead him.

But do you know what happened?

Egill, my grandfather, wrote a poem:

The Head Ransom - "Hofudlausn".

A poem so beautiful,

so magnificent,

that the King cried when he heard it.

Erik the Bloodaxe cried like a baby.

And Egill kept his head.

That is the power of poetry.

"My mother's words were these.

Go buy a Viking ship and oars... "

Here we spent our wedding night, your mother and I.

And I was conceived here myself when your grandfather wed your grandmother.

When you return to Iceland, please give Askur's father, Thorgeir

this book as a gift from us.

This book shouldn't get wet and needs proper care.

Is it Irish?

Askur took it in Ireland when he fought dragons and giants.

What!

Who are...

What is the matter?

I gave my dolls to mother Freya.

But they did not burn.

I had this strange dream.

I saw a large tree growing up from the ground

but it bore no fruit.

So, it was a tree this time!

Did it speak to you?

Maybe it means that Freya will not allow me to have children.

Something will happen to our child, Askur.

Nothing will happen to our baby.

My father, the chieftain of Odin, has sent us the spirit of the great Freya.

He is a chieftain, like your father.

This is a sacred token.

And now I will show you the secrets of Freya.

Look. This is you,

and this is our child.

In a safe shelter.

Surrounded by warmth and happiness.

Then you better keep me, the mother part

while I take care of the child.

As for that dream of yours, Embla...

...this is what the tree signified.

That is Freyr's scepter!

Deep in the forest... Freyr's scepter, rising in glory

and the bringer of fruit in the shining springtime.

Who wrote that?

Your great grandfather?

No.

1, Askur Thorgeirsson, wrote it for my beautiful bride.

Listen!

What?

Can you hear the waves, kissing the shore?

Up and down...

Back and forth...

Before you take up arms, listen to my words!

I offer you the same conditions as the others

I have subdued for the White Christ.

The one that rules all heaven and earth.

Those who accept baptism into the true faith,

of their own free will, they shall live.

Those who refuse, shall die.

If your god is as powerful as you claim, let him challenge our god

and see who is the strongest!

No one has seen this White Christ

except as a lifeless figure on a cross.

Then show us your god, Godbrandur.

Where is your god now?

Our god is here and sees fear in your eyes.

Godbrandur tries to tell you that our god is invisible

but he will soon come.

Askur.

As for your god, it is just a blind and deaf lump of wood.

King Olafur, the one eyed monster... Let us kill him.

Let's Kill him!

Now look there! Our god appears with burning lights!

Are you destroying the god of your forefathers, you traitor!

Show Odin what you are made of!

Kill these bastards!

Let's kill them!

Let's kill them!

Take them alive!

Agnus Dei!

No! No!

Alive, Thangbrandur! I said alive!

What a hero! Attacking men with no weapons!

Baptism is quick! We will Christianize with holy water,

and then it's done.

But if you prefer to die, it will take a much longer time.

You will die slowly. The choice is yours.

May you freeze in Hell!

Freeze!

A man who tries to Kill his legitimate king

deserves to die slowly and then burn in the fires of hell!

But this king has a great and noble heart

and you are young, so I shall be merciful.

His soul does not deserve such torments.

Thangbrandur!

Baptize him, hear his confession

and then execute him.

Choose your fate, chieftain Godbrandur.

I have brought Askur up as my own son,

and I will die with him.

Together we shall go to Valhalla, with our heads held high.

So be it.

But you shall be the last one to die.

Your death will be longer and more painful than mine.

White Christ wants to baptize you, chieftain Godbrandur.

Come to him freely.

And I shall spare your daughter's life.

Father! Don't give in because of me!

The White Christ wants everyone to come to him by his own free will.

How much do care about your daughter's life, Godbrandur?

My daughter's family can be tracked back to Odin,

to the beginning of time, when Odin first visited Norway.

Odin will take revenge!

This lump of wood will never take revenge!

Do not give in because of me!

You refuse to see the light of Christ,

and therefore, your daughter must burn.

FREYA!

No! No!

This pelt is fit for a King!

This pelt is fit for a King!

Please accept this gift from a humble merchant!

I am no heathen. I was baptized by the archbishop of Rouen!

I am just a travelling merchant.

Make him shut up!

You took part in a heathen wedding.

Therefore I will forfeit your ship and goods.

FREYA!

I'm ready!

Throw water over me!

Throw water over me!

Embla!

Now the last chieftain is defeated

and the last heathen stronghold is fallen

and all of Norway is in my power.

I want more.

I want to unite into one great kingdom all the countries

and the islands where the Vikings have settled.

You demand more than I can offer.

If you have not established this kingdom within a year,

you shall cut off your right hand.

No! No.

Weep and place your hand on my bleeding heart,

or I shall make you blind.

No. I shall weep

with the one eye that is capable of weeping.

Show me your tears. Swear to establish this kingdom of mine

with all the Nordic countries.

Look at my tears.

Look at my tears!

I swear with my tears, that I will cut off my right hand

if all the Northern countries are not yours within a year.

Bigger tears.

Bigger tears!

Bigger tears!

I have already given you one eye.

No sacrifice is too great

for such a glorious victory.

Bigger tears!

No! No!

Bigger tears!

The White Christ has heard my prayers!

The White Christ has heard my prayers.

The boy who tried to kill you, is the son of the Lawspeaker of Iceland.

The one who had you whipped on the arse and sent back to Norway?

Yes. That beast is the father of the boy who tried to kill you.

Now we can take revenge and send the Lawspeaker his son's head and burn the body.

Let the head bring heartfelt greetings

greetings from Thangbrandur, the Bishop,

the very man he disgraced!

First we burn his hand, the hand that tried to kill you

and then we burn his limbs.

One by one.

So you are an Icelander?

Your father is Lawspeaker and poet in Iceland?

In Iceland men are either heroes or poets.

They have brought both poetry and heroism and peddled it here on a grand scale.

What are you, a hero or a poet?

Both.

Have you written any glorifying verses about me, poet-hero?

No, and if I did, they would not be glorifying.

Unless gold was given in return.

We will send the Lawspeaker his son's head attached to the body.

You will travel in one piece.

Thangbrandur.

These Icelanders you are going to baptize,

are they also chieftains' sons?

Yes, but...

Tell them the happy news that they are chosen as Christian missionaries.

They'll become heathens again if they set foot in Iceland.

Do what I command.

Make sure my soldiers do not touch his bride

until we have reached an agreement.

A king has to reward his men when they win a great victory.

Now they expect to have your bride as a reward.

If you harm a hair on Embla's head,

you will wish you had burned me instead.

Cut him down.

This time the cross will be your weapon,

poet- hero.

You will lead my missionaries on a crusade to Iceland.

If you want to conquer Iceland

then why don't you go there yourself with your army.

Iceland is too remote

and the seas too turbulent for longships

and if the king is away for too long

the chieftains will take advantage of it and rise against me.

Nonetheless, Iceland needs to be Christianized

and you will do it!

And if I refuse to go?

Then you will die

and my soldiers will have your bride.

I swear upon the bleeding heart of my saviour, that your bride

will be placed in Christ's charge and shall be returned to you

the day you prove that Iceland belongs to the White Christ, like I do.

1, King Olafur Tryggvason, kneel before you as your humble servant.

Put your hand on his heart.

He has a great and noble heart like me.

Repeat after me:

I swear

to dedicate my life to this holy mission.

But I do not believe in Christ.

I do not demand that you believe.

Your mission is to make other people believe in him.

I swear

to dedicate my life...

I swear

I swear

to dedicate my life...

To this holy mission...

To this holy mission...

Benedictus!

Benedict.

Now you will learn the Ten Commandments.

You shall only believe in one God.

There is just one God.

That is the difference between the gods in Valhalla and Christianity.

That the Christian God is only one

but in Valhalla there were many gods and they really didn't exist.

One God,you say.

But didn't this god beget a son?

There is but one God.

Other gods do not exist.

But this seems to be quite a family

and Mary, the mother of God as its head.

Should I tell my men to worship Christ or Pater Noster before battle?

Christ, Pater Noster and the Holy Spirit,

are one and the same.

Don't you understand this?

It is enough for you to believe.

Aside from understanding,

then tell me what to do when I've arrived in Iceland,

ready to Christianize the heathens.

What should I say and do?

You'll say:

"Christ has arrived!

Let yourself be baptized

or else, die. "

So I'll convert them with weapons?

Usually, it is not necessary.

They are commoners

that are easy to convince.

They only need to see this cloak

and they become as meek as lambs.

Then you have to baptize them with holy water

and say: "I baptize you in the name of White Christ. "

Then you explain to them the perils of hell.

And explain to them what I don't understand myself?

You tell them, that as heathens, they will surely burn in the fires of hell.

You explain to them that you are there to save them from the fire.

I was taught that all men who died by weapons

would go to Valhalla and would live there as heroes with great feasting,

that the bonfire was always burning and it never got cold.

People will assume that your hell is the same place as Valhalla

and then everyone will want to go to hell.

It is not the same place!

Not at all!

And the fire,

the fire in hell is cold!

Ice cold fire!

Ice cold fire!

Yes! You don't want to go there when you're dead.

Into the frost! Stress that point.

You're there to absolve them from their sins.

Save them from the freezing fires of hell!

But what is sin?

Everything that goes on in Valhalla is a sin.

Lusts of the flesh the conscience has to conquer.

But how about Mary?

She couldn't have born a child if the Pater Noster hadn't desired her.

How did he do it?

The birth of Christ was a virginal birth.

The holy spirit told Mary that she would give birth to the son of God.

There was never any fleshly communion.

And you expect the Icelanders to believe this?

If they start to ask stupid questions you'll just say:

"The ways of God are inscrutable to man. "

And then you baptize them.

An easy job, really.

Don't confuse them with the theology.

But if this is so easy, why did you fail at it Bishop?

I was alone! A stranger to everyone.

They sent feathered monsters against me.

That I had to kill by myself with my sword.

You are the Lawspeaker's son

and have a powerful brother

and you'll have this cloak

and the sword!

And you have the sons of the most powerful chieftains to back you up.

If I had that support, things would have been different.

I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ, the White Viking

who fought with his holy weapon the cross, in life and death.

Amen.

Kiss it!

I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ, the White Viking

who fought with his holy weapon the cross, in life and death.

Amen.

I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ

who fought with his holy weapon the cross, in life and death.

Tell his brother that Askur intends to Christianize the Icelanders

and make them the subjects of the King of Norway.

And that he will demand the chieftainship after his father.

Are you afraid he may have success where you failed?

For Askur's head 1 will give you this ting.

Only for his head? Then the whole body might be expensive.

For the head!

I should dispossess you of all your belongings and make you serve in my army.

I am an old man. I would be of little use as a soldier.

Then I shall make you a warrior of Christ.

You will build a church here. A temple to the White Christ.

Twice as big as the barn where you kept your likeness.

Then I shall let you keep your estate.

May your mission bear rich fruit, dear brother.

I want you to gain great glory from this journey.

Your victory shall be my victory.

Here is your holy cloak. And the purseful of coins

that the King ordered me to give you for the journey.

Everybody here is a witness, that I have fulfilled the king's will.

Since my wife passed away,

I have grown too old to manage my own estate.

But I have Askur and my daughter to help me.

Askur!

1 will be back!

I will be back when I have Christianized the Icelanders.

What!

I will not be gone for long!

Don't let them trick you to go! Don't go!

The King has sworn an oath.

What oath?

When I have Christianize the Icelanders,

he swears to spare my life, free you and give you back to me.

1 will go with you!

Embla!

Let me go with him.

No! You stay here.

You are the fuel that fires his burning zeal.

Embla! Wait for me!

I shall return!

Don't be afraid!

His fearlessness is his strength.

When you are young even the impossible is possible.

You are sending him to his death!

He is too young to fear death and then death does not exist.

Askur! - Embla!

May you freeze in Hell!

I've heard these words before.

You took baptism only to save your daughters life.

She will be my hostage to make sure you do not betray me

and do not try to escape to Iceland.

One day you will regret your deeds.

Your daughter has the temper of a queen, Godbrandur.

The sea is cold.

Even the great Grettir himself would not attempt to swim ashore.

What is that?

A token that will secure me victory.

A token of Freya.

And yet the White Viking wears it proudly around his neck.

The ways of God are inscrutable to man.