Scandinavian Film Festival

If you’ve ever lamented the paucity of Scandinavian films that make it to our sunburnt country, then you’ll be very happy to know that a brand new Scandinavian Film Festival is now part of the annual national calendar, with Brisbane’s turn being 11-20 July. Films from Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Finland will help you feel that winter is just that little bit colder and a cinema just that little bit cosier. 

Brought to us by our friends at Palace, the festival promises culture, cuisine and music, starting with a gem of an Opening Night Gala with the film adaptation of Jonas Jonasson’s amusing bestselling book, The 100-year-old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. This will be followed by Cake wines, Nordic food and live entertainment. 11 July 6.30pm. (You can also catch the film and party at Palace Byron Bay, 25 July 6.30pm.)

Another special evening is 60s Sweden Jazzed Up, where you’re encouraged to come in a glamorous ‘60s outfit and enjoy the wine, Scandinavian cheeses and jazz entertainment, followed by the film, Waltz for Monica. 15 July 6pm.

Winner of a swag of awards in various festivals, Waltz for Monica is a biopic based on the life of popular Swedish jazz singer, Monica Zetterlund, played by Edda Magnason who sings her own vocals. The story tells of the singer’s rise to fame and the tribulations that come with it, and has an amazing array of ‘60s costumes and music to match.

Finnish films include Heart of a Lion (12 July 2.15pm) and August Fools, both featuring the acclaimed Laura Birn (a guest at the festival for Q and A sessions but only in Sydney and Melbourne). Heart of a Lion sees director Dome Karukoski reuniting acclaimed lead actors from Finland’s 2012 Oscar submission, Purge. White supremacist Neo-Nazi, Teppo (Peter Franzen), wants to start a new life after leaving prison, then he falls for Sari (Birn), who has a mixed-raced son. 12 July 2.15pm. August Fools is a Cold War romantic comedy loosely based on real political events – 12 July 8.45pm and 19 July 4pm.

Heavy metal music from Scandinavia has made its mark ever since those Finnish guys, Lordi, won Eurovision, so there’s sure to be interest in the Icelandic film, Metalhead. Young Thorbjörg Helga Thorgilsdóttir puts in an award-winning performance as Hera, who after witnessing her brother’s death, starts to take on his identity, including his love of heavy metal music. It’s a moving film about loss and grief set against an imposing, stark landscape. 14 July 8.45pm.

A crime trilogy from Sweden, a Norwegian documentary about ballet, a debut feature from Denmark that opened Copenhagen’s biggest film festival – there’s all this and so much more so check out the website for session, events and ticketing details - click here

by Vicki Englund