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From traffic chaos, to hip-hop dance, to the cracks of Scandinavian perfection, the Nordic Film Festival offers a fascinating look at a movie industry on the other side of the world.
Hosted by Joburg’s Bioscope movie theatre in conjunction with the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway, the festival boasts a selection of contemporary films that are sure to delight South African film buffs who are not always exposed to work from that part of the world.
“The Nordic countries [Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland – the latter not present in South Africa] always have good cooperation both back home and the countries where we have embassies. That’s the case in South Africa. We also have small embassies with none of us having separate culture institutes, so it makes sense for us to pool our resources and organise joint events,” said
Anna Merrifield from the Embassy of Finland.
“We’re testing this concept of the Nordic Film Festival for the first time now, together with Bioscope with which the Danish Embassy has previously successfully organised a festival showcasing Danish films.
“We hope it’s a possibility to show the variety of films coming out of the Nordics, not very well known outside of the region.”
The festival kicks off on Friday with the acclaimed The Swedish Theory of Love, and runs until Wednesday, September 14. Tickets costs R25 and include a drink to the value of R25.
“As you’ll see from the programme there is no overriding theme, just showing a heterogenic variety of both feature films and documentaries. Every filmgoer should be able to find at least one film catering to their taste,” said Merrifield.
“Like the Nordics themselves, the festival aims to have a low threshold – everyone welcome – and relaxed atmosphere, not too uptight. We’re also not afraid of showing there are various problems also in Nordic societies and many of the films touch upon subjects like family tragedies, alcoholism, and political violence which are also very topical in South Africa.”
For bookings and more information, click here.
Friday, September 9 at 7.30pm – The Swedish Theory of Love
Internationally Scandinavia is seen as ’the perfect society’, a role model, an example of the highest achievements in what humans can achieve…Is this true? The Swedish Theory of Love will try to penetrate the cracks of Scandinavian perfection, dig into dysfunctional sides of this on the surface perfect society.
Saturday, 10 September 10 at 6pm – Bikes vs Cars
Depicts a global crisis that we all deep down know we need to talk about: climate, earth’s resources, cities where the entire surface is consumed by the car. An ever-growing, dirty, noisy traffic chaos. The bike is a great tool for change, but the powerful interests who gain from the private car invest billions each year on lobbying and advertising to protect their business. In the film we meet activists and thinkers who are fighting for better cities, who refuse to stop riding despite the increasing number killed in traffic.
Saturday, September 10 at 8pm – Mama Africa
The life and career of Miriam Makeba, South African singer and crusader against apartheid.
Sunday, September 11 at 5pm – Martha & Niki
Martha Nabwire and Niki Tsappos took 2010 part in the biggest international street dance competition, Juste Debout in Paris. It was the first time ever two women became world champions in hip hop. This film depicts Martha and Niki’s love of dance, each other and about friendship put to the test. About desires, yearning and finding the right path in life.
Sunday, September 11 at 7pm – Armi Alive!
Armi Alive! is a portrayal of a theatre company that is preparing a play about Armi Ratia, the founder of the iconic Finnish design company Marimekko. Maria, who plays Armi’s role, is in the lead when the group keeps asking who this strange woman really is. The play focuses in Armi’s life between the years 1949 and 1968, when she founds the fashion company Marimekko, leads it to an international success, and is finally forced to ponder her relationship with the company: does Marimekko need Armi, or does Armi need Marimekko? During the rehearsal process, the actress Maria struggles with Armi’s contradictions and tries to find the truth and the person behind the legend.
Monday, September 12 at 7.30pm – Pioneer
Pioneer takes us back to the start of the Norwegian oil era. Professional diver Petter is obsessed about reaching the bottom of the North Sea. Along with his brother Knut, he has the discipline, strength and daring necessary for the world’s most dangerous mission. A test dive to below 500 meters is compared to Norway’s moon landing, to convince skeptics that laying a pipeline to the mainland is possible. Then a tragic accident changes everything.
Tuesday, September 13 at 7.30pm – Bravehearts
Documentary which follows four youth politicians in their work for four different Norwegian youth organizations. The premise changes drastically on the 22nd of July 2011, when neo-nazi Anders Behring Breivik massacred 69 labor party youths on the island of Utøya, hours after he had blown up the governmental centre of Oslo. The labor party youth survives the massacre, but gives a horrifying description of the flight from the killer, seeing friend being shot one after another. We get to know how it is to be a youth politician, both before and after such a political terror attack, and how the youths decide that politics are more important than ever to make the world better and safer.
Wednesday, September 14 at 7.30pm – Submarino
A story about two estranged brothers, marked by a childhood of gloom. They were separated from each other at a young age by a tragedy that split their entire family. Today, Nick’s life is drenched in alcohol and plagued by violence, while his kid brother, a solo-parent, struggles as a junkie to give his son a better life. Their paths cross, making a confrontation inevitable, but is redemption possible? Submarino was selected for the Berlin Film Festival’s main competition and won the Nordic Council Film Prize
