in 1921 he composed music for the silent film "growth of the soil" ("markens grøde"), directed by the danish film director gunnar sommerfeldt. this was the first norwegian film to receive original music. the premiere took place at the national theater on december 26, 1921, where hamsun himself was present. in 2009, the film with its music by leif halvorsen was shown at the hamsun jubilee at hamarøy. a dvd with the movie has been released, with the norwegian radio orchestra playing leif halvorsen's score.