The Child (1940): cast, story & where to watch
1940 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1940, The Child is a comedy, drama and family film directed by Benjamin Christensen, running about 85 minutes.
What it’s about. The action begins one early summer morning in a hostel, where we see, among others, two young girls, a law student, Ruth, and a small office lady, Ilse. From their conversation, we understand that Ilse has a very bourgeois outlook on life. By chance, these two girls come across one of Ruth's fellow students, Pontus Berthelsen, who is spending the summer holidays in a fisherman's cabin. Ilse, who has little world experience, quickly takes an interest in Pontus, who possesses a lot of innate charm. Pontus does his best to conquer Ilse, but her bourgeois attitude means - at first - that she does not fall for his rather deft approaches.
Who’s in it. The Child stars Agis Winding as Fru Bertelsen, moderen, Charles Tharnæs as Elias, Beatrice Bonnesen as Cora and Mogens Wieth, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, The Child has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Child page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Child tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Child (1940)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Child change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Child worth watching?
- The Child holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Child?
- The Child stars Agis Winding, Charles Tharnæs, Beatrice Bonnesen, Mogens Wieth and Inger Lassen.
- When was The Child released?
- The Child was released in 1940, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.