Film7-en

Enquiry

The escort boats from the Poseidon diving club.

Dressing up extras at the German rowing club.

In the autumn of 2022, we were contacted by SVT, Swedish TV, if we could
participate in a series, Historien om Sverige with Tilia, very similar to the Danish series Historien om Danmark, which is the inspiration for the Swedish series in which we participated 5 years ago.
In the board we agreed to go through with it, but with reservations for the weather, as it was a bit late in the year. The date was later set to 11-13 November.
We agreed with them that we would provide boat, crew, accompanying boat and dinner.
However, it turned out to be a problem with the crew, after I had written to them that most of us were over 60. They only wanted men and aged 20-40, but some of us came along anyway.
The Poseidon diving club provided two escort boats, which were also used to film from.

Friday 11 Nov.
The first team of Swedes arrived, who were out looking at
suitable places to film and where we agreed a lot about what was going to happen on the Saturday, where the filming would take place, there could be no modern things in the film, as it all takes place in the Bronze Age.
We had borrowed/rented the German rowing club for changing and catering.

Saturday morning
the boat was launched and the crew were dressed and made up.
The Swedes had found the missing extras via Facebook, so the boat was fully crewed.
Most of the filming was done in Mejlsvig, where they filmed from land, on board, from the main escort boat and from the air with a drone.
After we had dinner at the rowing club, the last filming on the water was done in Dyvig.
The weather was fine, dry and very little wind.

Finally, thanks to all those who helped make it all happen, those in the film and those who worked behind the scenes.

Jørn Anders Jørgensen

Actors and photographer in Tilia.

The finished TV series

Composite image with characters from all sections.

The TV series is in 10 episodes, covering the development of Sweden from the beginning of the Ice Age to the present day. The first three episodes cover the Stone Age, the Metal Age (Bronze Age to Iron Age) and the Viking Age.

The series will be shown on TV on Sundays at 9pm from 5 November 2023 to 11 February 2024. The episodes are one hour long and are followed by half an hour of Historiskt Eftersnack (Historical After Talk), where interesting details may emerge.

The individual episodes can be seen on SVT's streaming service for 2 years after the first broadcast, the date is indicated at each mention below.
After talk can be seen here.

Stone Age, approximately 14,500 - 3,700 years ago.

1. Stone Age, about 14,500 - 3,700 years ago

Who were the first humans? How did they live? As the ice sheet retreats and the climate warms, our latitudes become populated. With people comes ritual, to honour men and gods and to show power. When people who can cultivate the land appear, everything changes.

First broadcast on television on 5 November 2023 and available for streaming until 4 November 2025.

The Age of Metals, ca. 1,700 BC. 500 AD.

2. The Age of Metals, c. 1,700 BC –500 AD.

In search of metals, people leave the Stone Age behind and embark on long and risky journeys across Europe. The artefacts and knowledge they bring back home create new opportunities for everyone living in our country. But they also lead to violence and war.

First broadcast on television on 12 November 2023 and available for streaming until 11 November 2025.

Historical after-talk, from left:
Host, Cecilia Düringer;
Viewer representative, cultural journalist Nanna Olasdotter Hallberg;
Professor of Archaeology Johan Ling;
Doctor of Archaeology Helena Viktor

The age of metals.
Historical after-talk

After each broadcast, there is a half-hour conversation between a host and affiliated experts. From this conversation, some details are reproduced here:

The price of one kg of gold is equivalent to the price of 200 kg of copper
The price of a kg of gold is equivalent to the price of a kg of amber
The price of 60kg of wool is equivalent to the price of 30kg of cobr
The societal cost of a large Viking ship is approximately 300 man-years, according to Johan Ling
The equivalent for a "Hjortspringbåd" is approximately 100 man-years.
Compare this to our 10,000 hours in the workshop and just as much in preparation. Add to this the labour value of the donations we have received.

There's a lot more interesting information in the half-hour chat. Watch and listen (in Swedish) here.

The Viking Age, 5th century to the end of the 11th century.

3. The Viking Age, 5th century to the end of the 11th century

A new era is dawning as farmers from our land take to the sea and make themselves known throughout Europe - and beyond. The Vikings bring wealth and new knowledge back to the Nordic countries. Over time, a new religion will take root here, a doctrine of faith that challenges the Viking way of life.

First broadcast on television on 19 November 2023 and available to stream until 18 November 2025.