Eight first-time directors in Norway’s film spring
- Cannes winner Bobbie Peers’ The Disappearing Illusionist is among this year’s first ten Norwegian releases
While 34 new Norwegian films were released last year, to control 24.4% of the local market, 2015 is likely to be closer to the average of 25. “Still, it will be unusual: eight of the first ten spring premieres are signed by first-time directors,” observed Sindre Guldvog, managing director of the Norwegian Film Institute.
Half of the films are made by female directors, while six have female producers, including Staying Alive [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Charlotte Blom
film profile] – launched on 16 January – which qualifies for both: Charlotte Blom’s feature debut was staged by Synnøve Hørsdal, for Maipo Film. Starring Agnes Kittelsen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen and Linn Skåber, the comedy, which is also scripted by Blom, is about 34-year-old Marianne, who one day discovers that her boyfriend is having an affair with a young colleague. Supported by her best friend, she wants revenge and realises that cosiness is overrated; having fun is all that matters.
The Disappearing Illusionist [+see also:
trailer
interview: Bobbie Peers
film profile], the first feature by Bobbie Peers, whose Sniffer won the Palme d’Or for Best Short at Cannes in 2006, will be launched on 27 March. Bjørn Olaf Johannessen wrote the story, which is based on a real-life event: when German illusionist Dirk Ohm visited Grong in 2003, the whole village was searching for a missing woman, Maria; Ohm took part and gradually fell in love with her, without having ever met her. August Diehl, Sara Hjort Ditlevsen, Jørgen Langhelle and Alexandra Rapaport star in the Maria Ekerhovd production for Mer Film.
Three of the upcoming premieres are documentaries: Tonje Hessen Schei’s award-winning Drone [+see also:
trailer
film profile], about the CIA’s secret unmanned-vehicle war in Pakistan and how it could influence future warfare (staged by Lars Løge and Johnny Holmvåg, of Flimmer Film – 27 February); Leiv Igor Devold’s The Accidental Rock Star, about a celebrated member of the band Kaizers Orchestra, who had never dreamed of achieving this kind of lifestyle (produced by Ingvil Giske, of Medieoperatørene – 13 March); and Aslaug Holm’s Brothers [+see also:
trailer
film profile], about the close relationship between two brothers aged 14 and 11 who live in Oslo (from Tore Buvarp, of Fenris Film – 27 March).
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