Yahoo Lifestyle TrustNordisk Boards ‘Brace Your Heart’ From ‘Sámi Blood’s’ Amanda Kernell Ahead of European Film Market in Berlin (EXCLUSIVE)
Scandinavia’s leading sales agent TrustNordisk has swooped on the international sales rights of Amanda Kernell’s “Brace your Heart” (“Förbannelsen”) ahead of the European Film Market in Berlin.
The Swedish drama, which starts filming this week in the Kiruna region, Northern Sweden, is Kernell’s third pic after the Swedish Oscar entry “Charter” and her acclaimed debut “Sami Blood” (a best directing debut at Venice Days 2016) which firmly put her name among Scandinavia’s most promising female voices.
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Based on Kernell’s own original script, the story is set in a remote Sámi village, high in the mountains.
When Ejva (20) inherits her father’s reindeer herd upon his death, she takes over the family tradition and struggles to keep it thriving. At the same time, the local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept, says the logline.
Everything changes when Nejla, Heaika’s cousin, arrives, and Ejva discovers true love for the first time. Betrayed and jealous, Heaika reacts harshly, leaving Ejva with a condition that makes her hands shake uncontrollably, threatening her ability to care for the herd. Ejva must find a way to reclaim control over her life and her future.
In the main roles are newcomers Elli-Sara Valkeapää as Ejva, Andte Jusso Gaup as Heaika, and Vincent Niia as Nejla. “It’s been a long detective work to find those actors,” said the helmer of South Sámi origin from her father’s side, who started four years ago with the casting process.
“I have long aspired to tell a love story set in reindeer herding, one of our most lethal professions and a world I grew up with. I want it to have the rawness of reality and to have this entire cast made up of reindeer herders, poised to captivate the world, is a dream,” Kernell said.
Addressing the core of the story, she said that as with her two previous features, “Brace Your Heart” explores the theme of forgiveness, in its own distinctive way. What can be forgiven? What can be healed? And how? What can set us free? The film, akin to “Sami Blood” and “Charter,” is “a choir piece of different people’s memories. Those in reindeer herding who lost their fathers early, those who found love, and those faced with the difficult choice to fight or forgive. I am immensely grateful to be creating this film with an extraordinary team, both in front of and behind the camera,” said the helmer.
TrustNordisk managing director Susan Wendt said: “Amanda Kernell is a really talented director with a deep connection to the characters she portrays. In ‘Brace Your Heart,’ she takes us deep into the Sámi world, where a young woman struggles to find her place within the reindeer community dominated by men, caught between following her heart and fulfilling the expectations placed on. From the moment I read the script, I was captivated by this striking story, which will be filmed in visually stunning surroundings. There was never any doubt in my mind that we had to be a part of this.”
Prominent heads of department attached to the pic include cinematographer Sophia Olsson (“The Crown”, “Charter”, “Sámi Blood”), production designer Sabine Hviid (“Another Round”, “Charter”), editor Linda Man (“Sauna”, “Borgen”) and composer Rebekka Karijord (“All the Old Knives”, “Songs of Earth”).
The film is produced by Eva Åkergren for Nordisk Film Production Sweden, in co-production with Norway’s Forest People, Iceland’s Compass Films, Bulgaria’s Invictus, Nordisk Film Production Denmark, Filmpool Nord, SVT and Film i Väst, with support from The Swedish Film Institute, The Danish Film Institute, The International Sámi Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Bulgarian National Film Centre, the Icelandic Film Centre, Eurimages and Arktisk Film Norge. Nordisk Film Distribution will handle the domestic release.
TrustNordisk’s strong Berlin slate includes the Berlinale Special Gala selected “Late Shift” by Petra Volpe, Panorama entry “Home Sweet Home” by Frelle Petersen and six market screenings: the Göteborg opener and winner “Safe House,” Sundance buzz title “Sauna”, Rotterdam-selected “Acts of Love” and animated pics “Super Charlie,”, “The Polar Bear Prince” and “Caterella.”
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