A modern Beowulf

We are lucky to have the great Old English epic poem Beowulf. A copy of it was written down by a scribe about 1000 AD, and this sole existing copy was scorched but not destroyed during a fire in Sir Robert Cotton’s library in 1731. In 1786 an Icelandic scholar, G.J. Thorkelin, organised for transcripts to be made, before parts of the original became illegible.

The poem helps connect us to our distant forebears. For this reason, it is undeniably an important cultural artefact for Anglo-Saxons in particular and Europeans in general. Which is why the following story is disappointing.

A four-time Emmy winning filmmaker, Scott Wegener, is creating a screen version of the story of Beowulf. But he is rewriting the events described in the poem to turn it into a multicultural fantasy. Some of the film is being shot in South Africa, a decision Wegener defends as follows:

Beo scholars believe that while we know that Beowulf’s father married into the Geat royal tribe, he wasn’t a Geat. There is no documentation to support where he may have come from.

Which is why the film,

presents him as an African explorer in search of the Edge of the World, who settles into viking society and fathers Beowulf as a man caught between two cultures, striving to prove himself time and again.

So the film depicts Beowulf as the son of an African father and a Scandinavian mother, whose heroism derives from his multiple identities and loyalties.

You can see the cast of the film here. A protest website is up and running here.

Better news is that two other Beowulf films are being produced - hopefully at least one of these will be worth watching.

Posted by Guest Blogger on Friday, December 9, 2005 at 06:25 AM in Ethnicity and Ethnic Genetic Interests
Comments (8) | Tell a friend

Comments:

Posted by jonjayray on December 09, 2005, 06:51 AM | #

What utter garbage to treat Beowulf that way!

I saw a film a few years ago that made the story into a martial arts story—which was much more appropriate

Hwæt! We gar-dena in geardagum,
theodcyninga thrym gefrunon,
hu tha æthelingas ellen fremedon!

Posted by Guessedworker on December 09, 2005, 01:26 PM | #

I suppose they could have cast Beowulf with Pee-wee Hermann. Still, the film will surely bomb - which is one consolation.

Posted by Svigor on December 09, 2005, 03:12 PM | #

No, hey, this is good news! I was just fuming last night that there are no movies available on DVD about the Barbary Pirates and how they abducted more than a million white Europeans and put them in chains. I was thinking it would be nice for Euros to know that for a time large swathes of Europe’s coastline were practically depopulated for fear of being kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Now, I can expect that to change and to see the story told…with the Pirates as Swedes and the slaves as Congolese of course, but who am I to quibble over details?

Posted by Al Ross on December 10, 2005, 08:33 PM | #

Svigor is of course correct to point out the Barbary pirates’ depredations which were ended,not by European action, but by American force. In Islam the theory goes that a believer cannot enslave a fellow-Muslim so what is a poor pirate to do?

Posted by Mark Richardson on December 10, 2005, 10:22 PM | #

The Americans sent a fleet to Algiers (in 1814 if I remember correctly) and forced the release of American slaves. This gave impetus to the movement set up by the English admiral, Sir Sydney Smith, called the Society of Knights Liberators of the White Slaves of Africa, and the pressure of this group and of some southern European governments persuaded Lord Castlereagh to organise a fleet.

In 1816 a fleet of British and Dutch ships led by Sir Edward Pellew fought a fierce battle at Algiers, eventually destroying the corsair fleet and forcing the unconditional surrender of the city. Tunis, Tripoli and Morocco renounced slavery soon after.

Posted by Kelly on February 24, 2006, 12:55 PM | #

This site sucks ass.U blue ball losers

Posted by Guessedworker on February 24, 2006, 01:02 PM | #

Thank you, Kelly, for that really very convincing argument for multiculturalism. Are you black? That would make sense to me.

Posted by Nick Tamiroff on February 24, 2006, 03:36 PM | #

Once more[ala Wegner’s Beowulf],the blind Liberal establishment,is attempting to enhance “self-esteem”,by portraying Negros as intelligent,brave,intelluctual beings,who built the pyramids ,created the “great city of Zimbawe”,gave rise to Euclidian thought,invented most of the White man’s devices,AND PEANUT BUTTER!!! One question-just how the hell did a nigger wind up in 1000 AD Europe,unless as an oddity akin to a monkey?And to think that a Scandinavian woman would indulge in beastiality in those days is absurd-she and her offsping would have immediately put to death.Romantisizing a Stone age race thats greatest achievement is the harnessment of fire,and how [hopefully]to keep dry when it rains is an insult modern mankind.

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