Biography
Anja Breien (born 1940) studied French at the University of Oslo before attending the French film school L'Institut des hautes études cinématographiques (IDHEC), graduating in 1964. She began her film career as a script supervisor on Nils R. Müller's 1961 film Det Store Varpet. Breien made her directorial debut with the short film Growing Up in 1967, based on a medieval legend, which was later included in the anthology film Days From A Thousand Years (1970). Her first feature film, the crime drama Rape (1971), received positive reviews and was recently reissued on DVD as part of the Norwegian Classics series.
Breien’s second feature, Wives (1975), is one of the most discussed and analyzed films in Norwegian cinema history. This lively feminist comedy was a box-office hit and led Peter Cowie, editor of the International Film Guide, to describe Breien as a dogme director two decades ahead of her time. The film inspired sequels: Wives - Ten Years After (1985) and Wives III (1995), which revisit the original characters a decade and two decades later. Wives - Ten Years After won the Norwegian National Film Award Amanda for Best Film in 1985.
Following the success of Wives, Breien solidified her status as a leading figure in Norwegian cinema. She directed acclaimed films such as Games of Love and Loneliness (1977) and Heritage (1979), the latter nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival. Her 1981 drama Witch Hunt was selected for the Venice Film Festival, and the thriller Paper Bird (1984) showcased her versatility across genres.
Beyond feature films, Breien has made significant contributions to short and documentary films throughout her career. Her later works, including Solvorn (1997), To See a Boat in Sails (2000), Untitled - Sans titre (2005), Etching (2009), and Yezidi (2009), have been screened internationally and earned awards. Notably, To See a Boat in Sails won the Prix UIP Berlin at the 2001 Berlin International Film Festival and Best Live Action Short Film at the Toronto World Wide Short Film Festival.
Primarily known as a director, Breien is also an accomplished writer, having penned most of her own screenplays, both originals and adaptations. She has written scripts for other filmmakers as well, including Ola Solum’s Second Sight (1994).
Anja Breien remains a subject of academic study, a pioneering figure among Norwegian female filmmakers, and a respected veteran of Norway's film industry. With a career spanning five decades, she is regarded as one of the most influential and internationally recognized directors in Norwegian film history.
