[1][2] Breistein was born in Åsane in the city of Bergen in Hordaland county, Norway.
[1][4] In an interview he stated that "the film was the beginning of something, a Norwegian production with a more national character.
Breistein is considered the most important Norwegian filmmaker of the silent film era.
During the period known as the "national breakthrough" in Norwegian film (1920–1930), he directed five feature films: Fante-Anne (Gypsy Anne, 1920),[7] Felix (1921),[8] Jomfru Trofast (Miss Faithful, 1921),[9] Brudeferden i Hardanger (The Bridal Procession in Hardanger, 1926),[10] and Kristine Valdresdatter (1930).
[13] The documentary films Jorden rundt på to timer (Around the World in Two Hours, 1949)[14] and Tirich Mir til topps (To the Top of Tirich Mir, 1952)[15] are classics in the history of Norwegian documentary film.