The Ox takes place in mid- to late-nineteenth century Sweden. The story revolves around a family’s struggle for survival; Sweden was in the midst of a devastating famine. Often through the use of color, the design details work well to signify the disparity and hardship through which the characters persevere.

Use of Color and Costume

The film opens in near grayscale, a bleak winter scene that immediately puts the audience in the foreboding atmosphere of the film. For most of the story, there is little color, which serves as a constant reminder of the harsh conditions in which the characters live.

For most of the film, the costuming reflects this disparity. The costumes do not reflect the high fashions of the 1860s--rural fashion was far more simplistic. Helge and Elfrida are outfitted in dark, somewhat shabby clothing that would have been sensible for the cold weather and the hard work of living in rural Sweden. Based on illustrations and pictures of the time, the costume designers did an accurate job portraying the country clothing. For example, in this illustration of Swedish American immigrants, the woman now dressed fashionably, once wore a headscarf like the ones Elfrida and other women of their rural community wear.

In another picture of a Minnesota farmer in the 1880s, the clothing the man wears resembles Helge’s clothing in the movie. Helge is frequently seen in a loose fitting shirt, long pants, and a flat hat, all of which were appropriate for the outdoor work on which he made his living.

The clothing, while also accurate for the time and place, is also appropriate to show the mood of the piece. For most of the film, the clothing dark. Winter, a dark time, is darkened by Helge and Elfrida’s guilt about killing the ox. Had their clothing been bright, it would not have worked nearly as well to enforce the serious tones and themes running throughout the story.

However, at the very end, this changes. Helge is released from prison on Midsummer-- an annual holiday that began with pagan traditions. In Sweden, Midsummer begins the Friday preceding Midsummer eve and continues until that Sunday.(1) In the film, weather is visibly warmer, and the colors considerably more vibrant. Helge passes a Midsummer party where the women are in white blouses and colorful skirts, head scarves, and ribbons. The men are also dressed more colorfully, in tan jackets and colorful shirts. All around them is the green, lush landscape of summer. It is a cheerful, hopeful atmosphere that is enhanced by the colorful scenes.
When Helge returns to his home, he finds his house more decorative and colorful than when he had left it. Elfrida returns as well, wearing a white dress quite different from the dark, shabby clothing she is seen wearing up to this point. The color is likely accurate for a summer holiday but also accurate for symbolizing the hope and happiness that comes at the end of the story.

Prison

The prison that was used in the film bears a really close resemblance to the Karlsborg Fästning which is located in Karlsborg, Sweden. After the war of 1808-09 where Finland was lost to Russia, the Swedish government wanted to protect their country from other surrounding countries like Russia. This was a result from the loss of Finland to Russia. In 1845 C. F. Meijer created the design for the Karlsborg Fortress.(2) Carl XVI Johan decided to go ahead with the decision of making the fortress in Karlsborg, Sweden. For the building of the fortress prisoners were used as well as local farmers, soldiers, and in the ending stages skilled craftsmen. The building was supposed to take only ten years to construct, but ended up taking ninety years.(3)  

The fortress was designed with the round end towers and Monumental elevation of barrack-like accommodations to keep prisoners separate while also providing security in the way the prisoners were contained. These types of prisons were also used in the seventeenth century at the House of Correction.(4)

In the film Helge was sent to a prison for the crime of killing the ox of his neighbor. The prison that he ends up in is the Karlsborg Fästning. We know this by the letters that he writes to Elfrida during his time in the prison.  Throughout the time he is at the prison he has multiple jobs. The first one was him carrying the dirt that they were removing from the side then the second was him working in the blacksmith.

Conclusion

The Ox does well at showing the changing in moods by using the difference in colors in clothing, lighting and in the time of year.  The film did not do well at showing the traditional clothing that would have been worn by the rural home owners in the 1860s. From the letters that Helge writes to Elfrida we know that he is at the Karlsborg Fästning. The film follows the letters by having it film set at either the actually fortress or creating a copy of the fortress.  

(1) "Midsummer Day," Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, ed. Helene Henderson, 5th ed, Omnigraphics, Inc., 2015, https://cordproxy.mnpals.net/login?url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/hfcwd/midsummer_day/0?institutionId=4015. 
(2) Neil Kent, The Soul of the North (London: Reaction Books, 2000), 201-202.
(3) "The Karlsborg Fortress" Göta Kanal. http://www.gotakanal.se/en/46472/The-Karlsborg-Fortress/(accessed March 25, 2017).
(4) Kent, Soul of the North, 202.

Written and edited by Rachel Olson, Ali Froslie, Morgan Kelly, and Katie Tuel.