Dar Salim reprises his role from the 2017 action thriller.
Denmark’s TrustNordisk has announced sales at Hong Kong Filmart on action thriller sequel Darkland: The Return.
The film, directed by Fenar Ahmad and starring Dar Salim from Game Of Thrones, has been acquired by Leonine Distribution for German-speaking countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Following 2017’s Darkland, Dar Salim returns as a heart surgeon who sought revenge on his brother’s killers. After seven years in prison, he goes undercover in a violent gang for the police, while attempting to build a relationship with his estranged sonn, but eventually the two worlds collide.
Denmark’s TrustNordisk has announced sales at Hong Kong Filmart on action thriller sequel Darkland: The Return.
The film, directed by Fenar Ahmad and starring Dar Salim from Game Of Thrones, has been acquired by Leonine Distribution for German-speaking countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Following 2017’s Darkland, Dar Salim returns as a heart surgeon who sought revenge on his brother’s killers. After seven years in prison, he goes undercover in a violent gang for the police, while attempting to build a relationship with his estranged sonn, but eventually the two worlds collide.
- 3/15/2023
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Streaming
South Asian focused streamer ZEE5 Global and BBC Studios India have partnered to create a slate of Hindi-language originals across genres, commencing with series “The Broken News,” an adaptation of Mike Bartlett’s BBC show “Press,” directed by Vinay Waikul (Netflix’s “Aranyak”). The plot turns on two rival news channels based in Mumbai – Awaaz Bharati, an independent, ethical news channel, and Josh 24/7 News, which offers sensationalist and invasive journalism, and what transpires between the main characters in their quest for news. The cast includes Sonali Bendre, making her streaming debut, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Indraneil Sengupta, Taaruk Raina, Aakash Khurana and Kiran Kumar.
Archana Anand, chief business officer, ZEE5 Global said: “This partnership is in line with ZEE5 Global’s strategy to build a portfolio of unique and compelling stories from South Asia that continue to delight our viewers.” Sameer Gogate, general manager, BBC Studios India, added: “The...
South Asian focused streamer ZEE5 Global and BBC Studios India have partnered to create a slate of Hindi-language originals across genres, commencing with series “The Broken News,” an adaptation of Mike Bartlett’s BBC show “Press,” directed by Vinay Waikul (Netflix’s “Aranyak”). The plot turns on two rival news channels based in Mumbai – Awaaz Bharati, an independent, ethical news channel, and Josh 24/7 News, which offers sensationalist and invasive journalism, and what transpires between the main characters in their quest for news. The cast includes Sonali Bendre, making her streaming debut, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Indraneil Sengupta, Taaruk Raina, Aakash Khurana and Kiran Kumar.
Archana Anand, chief business officer, ZEE5 Global said: “This partnership is in line with ZEE5 Global’s strategy to build a portfolio of unique and compelling stories from South Asia that continue to delight our viewers.” Sameer Gogate, general manager, BBC Studios India, added: “The...
- 5/11/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Ahmad’s Darkland (2017), also sold by TrustNordisk, was selected for Fantastic Fest and was a box office hit in Denmark.
TrustNordisk has boarded international sales for Fenar Ahmad’s action thriller sequel Darkland: Case Closed.
The film is shooting now in Copenhagen with Dar Salim again taking the lead role. He plays Zaid, a truth-seeking anti-hero, who after seven years in prison is forced to return to the criminal underworld in his attempt to see his estranged 7-year-old son.
Ahmad’s Darkland (2017), also sold by TrustNordisk, was selected for Fantastic Fest and was a box office hit in Denmark.
Ahmad...
TrustNordisk has boarded international sales for Fenar Ahmad’s action thriller sequel Darkland: Case Closed.
The film is shooting now in Copenhagen with Dar Salim again taking the lead role. He plays Zaid, a truth-seeking anti-hero, who after seven years in prison is forced to return to the criminal underworld in his attempt to see his estranged 7-year-old son.
Ahmad’s Darkland (2017), also sold by TrustNordisk, was selected for Fantastic Fest and was a box office hit in Denmark.
Ahmad...
- 5/11/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
"Keep all warriors in readiness." Madman Films in Australia has debuted a new official trailer for a Danish fantasy epic titled Valhalla, which already opened in Denmark (and a few other countries) last fall. But is still awaiting release in the rest of the world. Viking children Røskva and Tjalfe embark on an adventurous journey from Midgard to Valhalla with the gods Thor and Loki. Life in Valhalla, however, turns out to be threatened by the dreaded Fenrir wolf and the god's barbaric archenemies, the Jotnar. Side by side with the gods the two children must fight to save Valhalla from the end of the world. Starring Roland Møller as Thor, Salóme Gunnarsdóttir as Freja, Lára Jóhanna Jónsdóttir as Sif, Ali Sivandi as Skrymer, plus Jacob Lohmann, Patricia Schumann, Andreas Jessen, and Stine Fischer Christensen. This looks cool! Definitely a Scandinavian cinema take on the classic Ragnarok fairy tale, but it still looks entertaining.
- 4/3/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The film is based on Peter Madsen’s comic-book series.
TrustNordisk has boarded sales for Danish director Fenar Ahmad’s pan-Nordic production Valhalla, which has shot in Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and wraps its shoot in Norway this week. The first image of the film features Roland Møller as Thor.
The film is quite different than Ahmad’s gritty urban feature Darkland (which was a box-office hit in Denmark).
The film is based on the classic Nordic folk tales that were told in Peter Madsen’s comic book series. The comics were adapted into an animated feature called Valhalla in 1986 but...
TrustNordisk has boarded sales for Danish director Fenar Ahmad’s pan-Nordic production Valhalla, which has shot in Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and wraps its shoot in Norway this week. The first image of the film features Roland Møller as Thor.
The film is quite different than Ahmad’s gritty urban feature Darkland (which was a box-office hit in Denmark).
The film is based on the classic Nordic folk tales that were told in Peter Madsen’s comic book series. The comics were adapted into an animated feature called Valhalla in 1986 but...
- 9/7/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Vengeance lives in a far-away country until it comes home to roost in your brain. A successful surgeon, Zaid (Dar Salim) is happily married to Stine (Stine Fischer Christensen), who is expecting their first child. They are celebrating her pregnancy with a few close friends when Zaid receives a phone call. He puts his cell phone back in his pocket and furrows his brow, thus laying the groundwork for the tragedy that is to come. In Darkland (Underverden), director Fenar Ahmad and his co-writer Adam August explore what it means to be an immigrant and then to be confronted decades later with questions about identity, self-worth and assimilation. Zaid's parents brought him along when they emigrated from Iraq to Denmark, later having another son, Yasin...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/23/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Sales outfit TrustNordisk also inks deals for Japan, China and Turkey.
Studiocanal has picked up Danish action thriller Darkland (Underverden) for UK release.
The deal was struck with sales agent TrustNordisk at the recent American Film Market.
TrustNordisk has also closed deals on the film for Japan (Gaga), China (Dd Dream) and Turkey (Euromedia), with further territories in negotiations.
Directed by feature debutant Fenar Ahmad, Darkland stars Dar Salim (A Hijacking), Stine Fischer Christensen (After The Wedding), Roland Møller (Land Of Mine), and Dulfi Al-Jabouri (A War).
The film follows a successful surgeon whose younger brother is murdered. When the police turn out to be unhelpful, he is forced to take matters into his own hands and to face the criminal gangs of Copenhagen by himself.
It was produced by Jacob Jarek for Profile Pictures with support from Danish Film Institut, Dr and Scanbox Entertainment - and executive produced by Thor Sigurjonsson, Ditte Milsted and [link...
Studiocanal has picked up Danish action thriller Darkland (Underverden) for UK release.
The deal was struck with sales agent TrustNordisk at the recent American Film Market.
TrustNordisk has also closed deals on the film for Japan (Gaga), China (Dd Dream) and Turkey (Euromedia), with further territories in negotiations.
Directed by feature debutant Fenar Ahmad, Darkland stars Dar Salim (A Hijacking), Stine Fischer Christensen (After The Wedding), Roland Møller (Land Of Mine), and Dulfi Al-Jabouri (A War).
The film follows a successful surgeon whose younger brother is murdered. When the police turn out to be unhelpful, he is forced to take matters into his own hands and to face the criminal gangs of Copenhagen by himself.
It was produced by Jacob Jarek for Profile Pictures with support from Danish Film Institut, Dr and Scanbox Entertainment - and executive produced by Thor Sigurjonsson, Ditte Milsted and [link...
- 11/23/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
TrustNordisk will handle international sales on director Fenar Ahmad’s second feature film Darkland.
TrustNordisk has picked up international rights for the upcoming action thriller Darkland. The film is directed by Fenar Ahmad.
Darkland stars Dar Salim (Games of Thrones) as the lead. He will be joined by Stine Fischer Christensen (After the Wedding), Roland Møller (Land of Mine) and Dulfi Al-Jabouri (A War).
The film tells the story of Zaid, played by Salim, a successful surgeon who lives with his pregnant girlfriend, played by Christensen. One night, Zaid’s younger brother knocks on his door and asks for money. Zaid refuses, but a few days later, his brother is assaulted and killed.
With little help from the police, Zaid feels obligated to find out who murdered him and embarks on a mission to eliminate all criminal gangs in Copenhagen by disguising himself and entering the criminal underworld. He must decide if the price of revenge is worth...
TrustNordisk has picked up international rights for the upcoming action thriller Darkland. The film is directed by Fenar Ahmad.
Darkland stars Dar Salim (Games of Thrones) as the lead. He will be joined by Stine Fischer Christensen (After the Wedding), Roland Møller (Land of Mine) and Dulfi Al-Jabouri (A War).
The film tells the story of Zaid, played by Salim, a successful surgeon who lives with his pregnant girlfriend, played by Christensen. One night, Zaid’s younger brother knocks on his door and asks for money. Zaid refuses, but a few days later, his brother is assaulted and killed.
With little help from the police, Zaid feels obligated to find out who murdered him and embarks on a mission to eliminate all criminal gangs in Copenhagen by disguising himself and entering the criminal underworld. He must decide if the price of revenge is worth...
- 10/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
Catch up with the key news and projects from the Goteborg Film Festival and Nordic Film Market.A warm ‘Welcome’ ahead of Efm
One of the hottest premieres in Goteborg was Welcome To Norway!, the immigration-themed dramedy that was the first film to sell out and later won the Audience Award for best Nordic film. Its industry and press screenings were also packed, setting the film up well as it heads to Berlin’s Efm, where Beta Cinema handles sales.
Director Rune Langlo Denstad said he had the project in mind for more than ten years after he visited a centre for asylum seekers while working on documentary projects. A decade later, the film couldn’t be more topical.
The story follows Primus (Anders Baasmo Christiansen), a desperate and somewhat racist hotel owner in a remote Norwegian village who wants to turn his hotel into a home for asylum seekers to cash in on government funding. Of course...
One of the hottest premieres in Goteborg was Welcome To Norway!, the immigration-themed dramedy that was the first film to sell out and later won the Audience Award for best Nordic film. Its industry and press screenings were also packed, setting the film up well as it heads to Berlin’s Efm, where Beta Cinema handles sales.
Director Rune Langlo Denstad said he had the project in mind for more than ten years after he visited a centre for asylum seekers while working on documentary projects. A decade later, the film couldn’t be more topical.
The story follows Primus (Anders Baasmo Christiansen), a desperate and somewhat racist hotel owner in a remote Norwegian village who wants to turn his hotel into a home for asylum seekers to cash in on government funding. Of course...
- 2/8/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
I am very intrigued by "The Artist." It's a silent film after all (which is pretty cool!), but it's generating enough Oscar buzz that I cannot simply ignore it! But the road to the Oscars is still quite long and tumultuous even though the preeminent Academy Awards vote-getter, the Weinstein company, is behind the Michel Hazanavicius movie. Still, it would be awesome for "The Artist" to score a Best Picture Nomination! The last time a silent film scored a victory was in 1929 with "The Patriot."
The French film (or does language even matter since it's silent?) stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo and takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1931. It has "A Star is Born" story, if you may, that talks about a relationship between a declining male star and a rising actress. It also talks about the end of the silent film era and the beginning of the talkies.
The French film (or does language even matter since it's silent?) stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo and takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1931. It has "A Star is Born" story, if you may, that talks about a relationship between a declining male star and a rising actress. It also talks about the end of the silent film era and the beginning of the talkies.
- 10/17/2011
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Youth seized the Hamptons this afternoon, as the ongoing film festival here featured a fun Breakthrough Artists panel comprising actors Anton Yelchin (Like Crazy), Alexander Skarsgård (Melancholia), Emily Browning (Sleeping Beauty), Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) and Stine Fischer Christensen (Cracks in the Shell). It was a wide-ranging chat veering from the subjects of stage parents to confronting vulnerability, but things didn't really get going until Yelchin and Miller (pictured above) replied to a question about their early influences. Hint: They both involve megastars. And, uh, animated rabbits.
- 10/15/2011
- Movieline
Getty Alec Baldwin
The Hamptons International Film Festival kicks off today and runs until Monday, Oct. 17. The festival, now in its 19th year, includes programs such as conversations with personalities, and draws about 18,000 people each year, according to Executive Director Karen Arikian. Films will be shown in East Hampton, Southampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, and Westhampton.
“What distinguishes us from other festivals is we’re located in a very incredibly beautiful spot,” Arikian told Speakeasy. “During the fall, it’s very loose and informal.
The Hamptons International Film Festival kicks off today and runs until Monday, Oct. 17. The festival, now in its 19th year, includes programs such as conversations with personalities, and draws about 18,000 people each year, according to Executive Director Karen Arikian. Films will be shown in East Hampton, Southampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, and Westhampton.
“What distinguishes us from other festivals is we’re located in a very incredibly beautiful spot,” Arikian told Speakeasy. “During the fall, it’s very loose and informal.
- 10/13/2011
- by Barbara Chai
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Judi Dench Yossi Madmoni's Israeli family drama Restoration, in which two brothers fight for the affection of both their father and the wife of one of the brothers, won the Crystal Award (worth $30,000) at the 2011 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. [Full list of Karlovy Vary winners.] Earlier this year, Restoration took home the Screenwriting – World Cinema Dramatic Award at Sundance. Written by Erez Kav-El, Restoration features Henry David, Sasson Gabai, Nevo Kimchi, and Sarah Adler. Martin Szulik's Czech-Slovak coming-of-age drama Gypsy won the Special Jury Prize, worth $20,000. Additionally, Gypsy received the European Cinemas Label Award, the International Federation of Film Societies Don Quixote Prize and a special mention for actor Ján Mizigár. The Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to, respectively, David Morse for his performance as an ex-con who takes his neighbor (Martin Donovan) hostage in Donovan's Collaborator, and Stine Fischer Christensen for her young actress cast in a production of Camille in...
- 7/12/2011
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Henry David, Sasson Gabai, Sarah Adler in Yossi Madmoni's Restoration Judi Dench, John Turturro, Goran Bregovic: Karlovy Vary 2011 Honorees Grand Prix – Crystal Globe Restoration / Boker Tov, Adon Fidelman Directed by: Yossi Madmoni Israel, 2010 Special Jury Prize Gypsy / Cigán Director: Martin Šulík Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2011 Best Director Award Pascal Rabaté for the film Holidays by the Sea France, 2011 Best Actress Award Stine Fischer Christensen for her role in the film Cracks in the Shell / Die Unsichtbare Directed by: Christian Schwochow Germany, 2011 Best Actor Award David Morse for his role in the film Collaborator Directed by: Martin Donovan Canada, USA, 2010 Special Mention Ján Mizigár for his role in the film Gypsy / Cigán Directed by: Martin Šulík Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2011 Jocelyn Pook for the music of the film Room 304 / Værelse 304 Directed by: Birgitte Stærmose Denmark, Croatia, 2011 East Of The West – Films In Competition East of the West Award...
- 7/12/2011
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Famous spa town Karlovy Vary located in Western Bohemia traditionally belongs to the International Film Festival. This year Israeli film Restoration, from director Joseph Madmony, has won the Crystal Globe, grand prix at the Czech 46th Mff . Slovak director Martin Sulik received the Special Jury Award for the Czech-Slovak touching coming-of-age movie Gypsy.A jury headed by Hungarian Oscar-winning director Istvan Szabo also awarded the Best Director Award to the French offbeat comedy Holidays by the Sea by Pascal Rabate.
Restoration is a psychological study of various characters of contemporary Israeli society. The lead role of an elderly man facing the question of whether to continue with a collapsing family antique furniture restoration business was acted by Sasson Gabai.
Restoration was a labor of love — lacking money, I gave it all my heart and now I feel as if the movie is paying me back. And to be awarded the...
Restoration is a psychological study of various characters of contemporary Israeli society. The lead role of an elderly man facing the question of whether to continue with a collapsing family antique furniture restoration business was acted by Sasson Gabai.
Restoration was a labor of love — lacking money, I gave it all my heart and now I feel as if the movie is paying me back. And to be awarded the...
- 7/11/2011
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Israeli director Joseph Mahmony's "Restoration" won the Crystal Globe, the top prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, over the weekend, taking nods with France's Pascal Rabate for "Holiday's by the Sea," which earned the director the Czech film even't Best Director Award. Also taking home prizes this weekend in the resort town's fest were David Morse (Best Actor Award, "Collaborator"), Stine Fischer Christensen (Best Actress Award, "Cracks in ...
- 7/10/2011
- Indiewire
This review was written for the festival screening of "After the Wedding".A filmmaker who excels in peeling back those delicate layers of human frailty, Denmark's Susanne Bier returns to Toronto, which premiered her previous two films, with another powerful family portrait.
In "After the Wedding", a festival Gala presentation for which Bier again collaborated with her "Open Hearts" screenwriter, Anders Thomas Jensen, the ever-versatile Mads Mikkelsen plays the part of Jacob, a lonely Dane who has dedicated his life to helping street kids in a struggling Indian orphanage.
Help is potentially on its way in the form of a generous offer from a wealthy businessman back in Copenhagen, with the proviso that Jacob return to meet his would-be benefactor in person.
But the gregarious, forceful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) proves to have more to offer him than a fat checkbook. Reluctantly agreeing to Jorgen's invitation to attend his daughter's wedding the next day, Jacob unwittingly opens a window on his long-shuttered past.
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters.
And once again her cast proves adept at navigating both the surface and those tricky undercurrents of deceit. While Mikkelsen and Lassgard are required to do the bulk of the emotional heavy-lifting, young newcomer Stine Fischer Christensen, as Lassgard's sheltered daughter, and Sidse Babett Knudsen, as his emotionally reserved wife, turn in equally affecting, respectfully cliche-free performances.
In "After the Wedding", a festival Gala presentation for which Bier again collaborated with her "Open Hearts" screenwriter, Anders Thomas Jensen, the ever-versatile Mads Mikkelsen plays the part of Jacob, a lonely Dane who has dedicated his life to helping street kids in a struggling Indian orphanage.
Help is potentially on its way in the form of a generous offer from a wealthy businessman back in Copenhagen, with the proviso that Jacob return to meet his would-be benefactor in person.
But the gregarious, forceful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) proves to have more to offer him than a fat checkbook. Reluctantly agreeing to Jorgen's invitation to attend his daughter's wedding the next day, Jacob unwittingly opens a window on his long-shuttered past.
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters.
And once again her cast proves adept at navigating both the surface and those tricky undercurrents of deceit. While Mikkelsen and Lassgard are required to do the bulk of the emotional heavy-lifting, young newcomer Stine Fischer Christensen, as Lassgard's sheltered daughter, and Sidse Babett Knudsen, as his emotionally reserved wife, turn in equally affecting, respectfully cliche-free performances.
- 3/30/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This review was written for the festival screening of "After the Wedding".A filmmaker who excels in peeling back those delicate layers of human frailty, Denmark's Susanne Bier returns to Toronto, which premiered her previous two films, with another powerful family portrait.
In "After the Wedding", a festival Gala presentation for which Bier again collaborated with her "Open Hearts" screenwriter, Anders Thomas Jensen, the ever-versatile Mads Mikkelsen plays the part of Jacob, a lonely Dane who has dedicated his life to helping street kids in a struggling Indian orphanage.
Help is potentially on its way in the form of a generous offer from a wealthy businessman back in Copenhagen, with the proviso that Jacob return to meet his would-be benefactor in person.
But the gregarious, forceful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) proves to have more to offer him than a fat checkbook. Reluctantly agreeing to Jorgen's invitation to attend his daughter's wedding the next day, Jacob unwittingly opens a window on his long-shuttered past.
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters.
And once again her cast proves adept at navigating both the surface and those tricky undercurrents of deceit. While Mikkelsen and Lassgard are required to do the bulk of the emotional heavy-lifting, young newcomer Stine Fischer Christensen, as Lassgard's sheltered daughter, and Sidse Babett Knudsen, as his emotionally reserved wife, turn in equally affecting, respectfully cliche-free performances.
In "After the Wedding", a festival Gala presentation for which Bier again collaborated with her "Open Hearts" screenwriter, Anders Thomas Jensen, the ever-versatile Mads Mikkelsen plays the part of Jacob, a lonely Dane who has dedicated his life to helping street kids in a struggling Indian orphanage.
Help is potentially on its way in the form of a generous offer from a wealthy businessman back in Copenhagen, with the proviso that Jacob return to meet his would-be benefactor in person.
But the gregarious, forceful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) proves to have more to offer him than a fat checkbook. Reluctantly agreeing to Jorgen's invitation to attend his daughter's wedding the next day, Jacob unwittingly opens a window on his long-shuttered past.
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters.
And once again her cast proves adept at navigating both the surface and those tricky undercurrents of deceit. While Mikkelsen and Lassgard are required to do the bulk of the emotional heavy-lifting, young newcomer Stine Fischer Christensen, as Lassgard's sheltered daughter, and Sidse Babett Knudsen, as his emotionally reserved wife, turn in equally affecting, respectfully cliche-free performances.
- 3/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A filmmaker who excels in peeling back those delicate layers of human frailty, Denmark's Susanne Bier returns to Toronto, which premiered her previous two films, with another powerful family portrait.
In After the Wedding, a festival Gala presentation for which Bier again collaborated with her Open Hearts screenwriter, Anders Thomas Jensen, the ever-versatile Mads Mikkelsen plays the part of Jacob, a lonely Dane who has dedicated his life to helping street kids in a struggling Indian orphanage.
Help is potentially on its way in the form of a generous offer from a wealthy businessman back in Copenhagen, with the proviso that Jacob return to meet his would-be benefactor in person.
But the gregarious, forceful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) proves to have more to offer him than a fat checkbook. Reluctantly agreeing to Jorgen's invitation to attend his daughter's wedding the next day, Jacob unwittingly opens a window on his long-shuttered past.
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters.
And once again her cast proves adept at navigating both the surface and those tricky undercurrents of deceit. While Mikkelsen and Lassgard are required to do the bulk of the emotional heavy-lifting, young newcomer Stine Fischer Christensen, as Lassgard's sheltered daughter, and Sidse Babett Knudsen, as his emotionally reserved wife, turn in equally affecting, respectfully cliche-free performances.
In After the Wedding, a festival Gala presentation for which Bier again collaborated with her Open Hearts screenwriter, Anders Thomas Jensen, the ever-versatile Mads Mikkelsen plays the part of Jacob, a lonely Dane who has dedicated his life to helping street kids in a struggling Indian orphanage.
Help is potentially on its way in the form of a generous offer from a wealthy businessman back in Copenhagen, with the proviso that Jacob return to meet his would-be benefactor in person.
But the gregarious, forceful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) proves to have more to offer him than a fat checkbook. Reluctantly agreeing to Jorgen's invitation to attend his daughter's wedding the next day, Jacob unwittingly opens a window on his long-shuttered past.
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters.
And once again her cast proves adept at navigating both the surface and those tricky undercurrents of deceit. While Mikkelsen and Lassgard are required to do the bulk of the emotional heavy-lifting, young newcomer Stine Fischer Christensen, as Lassgard's sheltered daughter, and Sidse Babett Knudsen, as his emotionally reserved wife, turn in equally affecting, respectfully cliche-free performances.
CANNES -- Anders Morgenthaler is one angry cartoonist. The multi-talented Dane, among other things, creates and directs children's TV shows, writes and illustrates children's books and with a partner produces a daily comic strip with a large cult following. His first animated feature, Princess -- he previously made an acclaimed short "The Killing of a Japanese Photographer" -- is a revenge tragedy that attacks the porno industry with fierce animus.
Morgenthaler views this business not only as a monstrously abusive exploitation of people and their bodies, but the height of anti-eroticism and anti-art that demands a complete emotional disconnect between viewer and performer, a media that turns human beings into abstraction.
Princess makes a terrific festival film, but with careful promotion as an adult cartoon the film could enjoy a healthy theatrical career in select markets and make a strong DVD.
Morgenthaler certainly doesn't mind pushing hot buttons involving sex, violence and religion. His simple tale, written with Mette Heeno, has August, a clergyman, return home from missionary work following the death of his sister Christina, a porn star who goes by the name The Princess, due to drug abuse. He spirits her 5-year-old daughter Mia away from her prostitute guardian to his sparsely furnished flat where he promises to nurture and protect her.
As the two shed their initial wariness with each other, August comes to realize the child has also suffered abuse from her mother's "friends." Livid over this and the continuing exploitation of his dead sister's images, August issues a warning to the Paradise Lust porno company: Either destroy all videos and images of his sister or he will do it himself.
August's crusade against porn quickly assumes the manic dimensions of Travis Bickle's rampage against pimps in Taxi Driver, a bloodlust that sweeps both him and Mia into a maelstrom of violence that reminds us of the proverb that he who seeks revenge becomes the first victim.
The 1.2 million film takes its inspiration from Japanese anime, where drawings of locations and backgrounds are clean, clear and mostly static, bathed in complementary, mood-setting colors. The characters are modeled after the actors who play them. Blond and angular Thure Lindhardt plays August while the Princess is played by the young, innocent-faced Stine Fischer Christensen. Mira Hilli Moller Hallund is the feisty, dark-haired Mia.
Eighty percent of the film is animation with live-action video, supposedly taken by August in earlier days, fill us in on the backstory of their parents' deaths and the guilt the sibling feel, which probably lead to such extreme career choices.
Morgenthaler, who is 33, possesses a young man's anger and vehemence in his own crusade against porn. His images are stark and he is clearly unapologetic about taking such a strong point of view that shines through every image. This is an impressive feature debut for the Camera d'or jury to consider.
PRINCESS
Zentropa GRRRR in collaboration with Shotgun Pictures
Credits: Director: Anders Morgenthaler; Writers Anders Morgenthaler, Mette Heeno; Producer: Sarita Christensen; Executive producers: Peter Aalbaek Jensen, Peter Garde, Thomas Haberle, Peter Rommel; Directors: Kristjan Moller, Mads Juul; Editor: Mikkel E.G. Nielsen Music: Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen.
Cast: August; Thure Lindhardt; Christina: Stine Fischer Christensen; Mia: Mira Hilli Moller Hallund; Karen: Margrethe Koytu; Charlie: Christian Tafdrup; Sonny: Soren Lenander.
No MPAA rating, running time 77 minutes.
Morgenthaler views this business not only as a monstrously abusive exploitation of people and their bodies, but the height of anti-eroticism and anti-art that demands a complete emotional disconnect between viewer and performer, a media that turns human beings into abstraction.
Princess makes a terrific festival film, but with careful promotion as an adult cartoon the film could enjoy a healthy theatrical career in select markets and make a strong DVD.
Morgenthaler certainly doesn't mind pushing hot buttons involving sex, violence and religion. His simple tale, written with Mette Heeno, has August, a clergyman, return home from missionary work following the death of his sister Christina, a porn star who goes by the name The Princess, due to drug abuse. He spirits her 5-year-old daughter Mia away from her prostitute guardian to his sparsely furnished flat where he promises to nurture and protect her.
As the two shed their initial wariness with each other, August comes to realize the child has also suffered abuse from her mother's "friends." Livid over this and the continuing exploitation of his dead sister's images, August issues a warning to the Paradise Lust porno company: Either destroy all videos and images of his sister or he will do it himself.
August's crusade against porn quickly assumes the manic dimensions of Travis Bickle's rampage against pimps in Taxi Driver, a bloodlust that sweeps both him and Mia into a maelstrom of violence that reminds us of the proverb that he who seeks revenge becomes the first victim.
The 1.2 million film takes its inspiration from Japanese anime, where drawings of locations and backgrounds are clean, clear and mostly static, bathed in complementary, mood-setting colors. The characters are modeled after the actors who play them. Blond and angular Thure Lindhardt plays August while the Princess is played by the young, innocent-faced Stine Fischer Christensen. Mira Hilli Moller Hallund is the feisty, dark-haired Mia.
Eighty percent of the film is animation with live-action video, supposedly taken by August in earlier days, fill us in on the backstory of their parents' deaths and the guilt the sibling feel, which probably lead to such extreme career choices.
Morgenthaler, who is 33, possesses a young man's anger and vehemence in his own crusade against porn. His images are stark and he is clearly unapologetic about taking such a strong point of view that shines through every image. This is an impressive feature debut for the Camera d'or jury to consider.
PRINCESS
Zentropa GRRRR in collaboration with Shotgun Pictures
Credits: Director: Anders Morgenthaler; Writers Anders Morgenthaler, Mette Heeno; Producer: Sarita Christensen; Executive producers: Peter Aalbaek Jensen, Peter Garde, Thomas Haberle, Peter Rommel; Directors: Kristjan Moller, Mads Juul; Editor: Mikkel E.G. Nielsen Music: Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen.
Cast: August; Thure Lindhardt; Christina: Stine Fischer Christensen; Mia: Mira Hilli Moller Hallund; Karen: Margrethe Koytu; Charlie: Christian Tafdrup; Sonny: Soren Lenander.
No MPAA rating, running time 77 minutes.
- 5/19/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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