by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Jag Armed Eder translates literally as I Am with You. This oddly bland title fails to capture the scope and grandeur of the film, which tells the story of Swedish missionaries spreading the Word in the wilds of Africa. Much of the film was lensed on location in Rhodesia and along the Zambesi river by Ake Dahlquist, one of the unsung masters of Scandinavian cinematography. The head missionary is played by Victor Sjostrom, the veteran actor/director best known to American audiences for his performance in Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries. A hit in its native Sweden, Jag Armed Eder did equally well in Norway, Denmark and Finland.
