Isabella Eklöf’s latest film Kalak is a loose adaptation of the autobiography by Danish-Norwegian author Kim Leine - who helped write the script along with Eklöf and Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen. It’s a tough and raw watch that tracks Jan (Emil Johnsen), a nurse who was abused by his father (Søren Hellerup), whose lingering trauma makes his life in Greenland with his family become increasingly unstable.
Although it is a personal work, the Swedish filmmaker, who sat down for a chat with us after the film's world premiere in competition at San Sebastian Film Festival, says she took a robust approach.
Isabella Eklöf: 'There's stuff in the film that did not happen to him, but that happened to me' Photo: Iñaki Luis “I don't think I need to respect his personal story, to be honest, because we are very aware that it’s a piece of cinema. It's not a book,...
Although it is a personal work, the Swedish filmmaker, who sat down for a chat with us after the film's world premiere in competition at San Sebastian Film Festival, says she took a robust approach.
Isabella Eklöf: 'There's stuff in the film that did not happen to him, but that happened to me' Photo: Iñaki Luis “I don't think I need to respect his personal story, to be honest, because we are very aware that it’s a piece of cinema. It's not a book,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Sweden’s Isabella Eklöf has followed up her acclaimed debut “Holiday” with the Greenland-set “Kalak,” this time around opting for a male protagonist.
“He’s a guy, but the story is exactly the same,” she says.
“It’s still about sexual assault and ‘restaging’ your trauma, or looking for family and connection, but I have never explored that perspective before. An artist should be able to make art about anything, but it was strangely difficult. He does become more of a perpetrator. Why? I am not sure. Just because he has a dick, he becomes more dangerous.”
Eklöf, who previously co-wrote Ali Abbasi’s “Border,” based the story on an autobiographical novel by Kim Leine, with both of them writing alongside Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen.
Produced by Maria Møller Kjeldgaard (Manna Film), “Kalak’s” production partners take in Mer Film (Norway), Momento Film and Film i Väst (Sweden), Made (Finland), Dutch...
“He’s a guy, but the story is exactly the same,” she says.
“It’s still about sexual assault and ‘restaging’ your trauma, or looking for family and connection, but I have never explored that perspective before. An artist should be able to make art about anything, but it was strangely difficult. He does become more of a perpetrator. Why? I am not sure. Just because he has a dick, he becomes more dangerous.”
Eklöf, who previously co-wrote Ali Abbasi’s “Border,” based the story on an autobiographical novel by Kim Leine, with both of them writing alongside Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen.
Produced by Maria Møller Kjeldgaard (Manna Film), “Kalak’s” production partners take in Mer Film (Norway), Momento Film and Film i Väst (Sweden), Made (Finland), Dutch...
- 9/23/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
First look at the adaptation of Kim Leine’s novel.
France-based sales firm Totem Films has boarded worldwide sales on Kalak, the second feature from Holiday directed Isabella Eklof.
Earlier today the film was announced for a world premiere in competition at San Sebastian International Film Festival.
A first look at the film has been released, above.
Adapted from Kim Leine’s 2007 novel of the same name, Kalak follows a man who, while on the run after being sexually abused by his father, yearns to be part of the open, collectivist culture on Greenland.
Written and directed by Swedish filmmaker Eklof,...
France-based sales firm Totem Films has boarded worldwide sales on Kalak, the second feature from Holiday directed Isabella Eklof.
Earlier today the film was announced for a world premiere in competition at San Sebastian International Film Festival.
A first look at the film has been released, above.
Adapted from Kim Leine’s 2007 novel of the same name, Kalak follows a man who, while on the run after being sexually abused by his father, yearns to be part of the open, collectivist culture on Greenland.
Written and directed by Swedish filmmaker Eklof,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Kalak
We still think about her breakout directorial debut and we were filled with glee when we learned that Isabella Eklöf moved into her sophomore feature packing her bags for Denmark and Greenland for Kalak. Production took place sometime around September and producer Marie Møller Kjeldgaard might look to premiere at a Euro-fest coming ’23. 2018’s Holiday was a big deal for actress Vic Carmen Sonne, this film sees Asta Kamma August and Emil Johnsen topline. Eklöf has worked in television between features and this project was co-written by Kim Leine and Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen – this is described as a harrowing drama based on Leine’s own childhood trauma and experience of working as a nurse in Nuuk, and a take of the complex relations between Denmark and Greenland.…...
We still think about her breakout directorial debut and we were filled with glee when we learned that Isabella Eklöf moved into her sophomore feature packing her bags for Denmark and Greenland for Kalak. Production took place sometime around September and producer Marie Møller Kjeldgaard might look to premiere at a Euro-fest coming ’23. 2018’s Holiday was a big deal for actress Vic Carmen Sonne, this film sees Asta Kamma August and Emil Johnsen topline. Eklöf has worked in television between features and this project was co-written by Kim Leine and Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen – this is described as a harrowing drama based on Leine’s own childhood trauma and experience of working as a nurse in Nuuk, and a take of the complex relations between Denmark and Greenland.…...
- 1/18/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
In terms of new trauma triggering old trauma experiences, her debut film Holiday was no walk in the park and now for Isabella Eklöf‘s sophomore film, we can expect wounds of a personal and collective nature. Screen Daily reports that production begins today on Kalak – with Emil Johnsen toplining. Asta Kamma August, Søren Hellerup, Berda Larsen, Connie Kristoffersen and Hans-Jukku Noahsen also join the project. Eklöf will reteam with her cinematographer in Nadim Carlsen. Co-written with Kim Leine and Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen, adapted from Leine’s debut novel of the same name, Manna Film’s Maria Møller Kjeldgaard produces a project that has received a ton of Scandi support.…...
- 9/20/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Eklöf previously directed Sundance 2018 selection Holiday.
Danish filmmaker Isabella Eklöf today (September 20) starts shooting her second feature Kalak in Copenhagen, followed by a shoot in Nuuk and Kulusuk in Greenland.
Eklöf previously directed Sundance 2018 selection Holiday and co-wrote Border with Ali Abbasi and John Ajvide Lindqvist, as well as directing episodes of Servant for Apple and Industry for HBO Max.
She wrote the Kalak script alongside Kim Leine and Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen, adapted from Leine’s debut novel of the same name.
The story follows Jan, a nurse who is also a father, who was sexually abused by his father as a teenager.
Danish filmmaker Isabella Eklöf today (September 20) starts shooting her second feature Kalak in Copenhagen, followed by a shoot in Nuuk and Kulusuk in Greenland.
Eklöf previously directed Sundance 2018 selection Holiday and co-wrote Border with Ali Abbasi and John Ajvide Lindqvist, as well as directing episodes of Servant for Apple and Industry for HBO Max.
She wrote the Kalak script alongside Kim Leine and Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen, adapted from Leine’s debut novel of the same name.
The story follows Jan, a nurse who is also a father, who was sexually abused by his father as a teenager.
- 9/20/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Psychological drama is from the director of mass shooting feature ’Utoya - July 22’.
Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe is set to direct a period drama about infamous Norwegian prime minister and Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling.
Quisling will be produced by Paradox, Sf Studios’ Norwegian production company, which was run for many years by Poppe with producers Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B. Kvae.
The team describes the feature as a psychological drama. Quisling was eventually put on trial and executed for his collaboration with the Nazis during the Second World War.
Shooting will begin in late 2021 and Sf Studios will handle Nordic distribution.
Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe is set to direct a period drama about infamous Norwegian prime minister and Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling.
Quisling will be produced by Paradox, Sf Studios’ Norwegian production company, which was run for many years by Poppe with producers Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B. Kvae.
The team describes the feature as a psychological drama. Quisling was eventually put on trial and executed for his collaboration with the Nazis during the Second World War.
Shooting will begin in late 2021 and Sf Studios will handle Nordic distribution.
- 5/13/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Swedish documentary specialist Momento Film, the company behind “Tiny Tim: King for a Day” and Cph:Forum work in progress “Stories from the Debris,” is ramping up its narrative feature film output.
A decade after he founded his outfit, helmer/producer David Herdies has propelled Momento Film among Sweden’s top creators of cutting-edge documentaries and shorts. Award-winning pics to his credit include “Ouaga Girls” (2017), “Hamada” (2018), “Transnistra” (2019), and most recently Johan von Sydow’s docu biopic “Tiny Tim: King for a Day,” currently touring the U.S., courtesy of Juno Films. Herdies also produced and co-helmed with George Götmark the buzzed about Visions du Réel competition entry “Bellum: The Daemon of War,” and is spotlighting Jennifer Rainsford’s works in progress documentary “Stories from the Debris” at this week’s Cph:forum, industry sidebar to Denmark’s Cph:dox fest.
While keeping a solid foundation in documentary films, Herdies — a former European Film...
A decade after he founded his outfit, helmer/producer David Herdies has propelled Momento Film among Sweden’s top creators of cutting-edge documentaries and shorts. Award-winning pics to his credit include “Ouaga Girls” (2017), “Hamada” (2018), “Transnistra” (2019), and most recently Johan von Sydow’s docu biopic “Tiny Tim: King for a Day,” currently touring the U.S., courtesy of Juno Films. Herdies also produced and co-helmed with George Götmark the buzzed about Visions du Réel competition entry “Bellum: The Daemon of War,” and is spotlighting Jennifer Rainsford’s works in progress documentary “Stories from the Debris” at this week’s Cph:forum, industry sidebar to Denmark’s Cph:dox fest.
While keeping a solid foundation in documentary films, Herdies — a former European Film...
- 4/28/2021
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Haugesund’s New Nordic Films will run as a hybrid event Aug 18-21.
Isabella Eklof, the Danish director of Sundance 2018 selection Holiday and co-writer of Cannes 2018 award-winner Border, is presenting her new feature project Kalak as part of Haugesund’s New Nordic Films Co-Production Market (August 18-21).
This year’s hybrid event will see with some participants physically attend the event in Norway and others watching online films and presentations.
Scroll down for the full list
Kalak is Eklof’s second feature and is set in Greenland. It is about a man who tries to escape the demons of childhood...
Isabella Eklof, the Danish director of Sundance 2018 selection Holiday and co-writer of Cannes 2018 award-winner Border, is presenting her new feature project Kalak as part of Haugesund’s New Nordic Films Co-Production Market (August 18-21).
This year’s hybrid event will see with some participants physically attend the event in Norway and others watching online films and presentations.
Scroll down for the full list
Kalak is Eklof’s second feature and is set in Greenland. It is about a man who tries to escape the demons of childhood...
- 8/11/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦39¦
- ScreenDaily
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