Archive of films Sons / Sønner

Norway
2006, 103 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2007

This raw debut by Norwegian director Erich Richter Strand is a compelling drama set in contemporary Oslo. The hero is lifeguard Lars, who tries to take matters into his own hands by incriminating a man suspected of pedophilia.

Synopsis

In this film, made by a group of young Norwegian filmmakers, several of the main characters are played by debuting actors. The story oscillates between various genres – drama, thriller and tragicomedy. Its heroes are caught in a trap between childhood and adulthood, in a period of their lives when they still know nothing of the ruses life has up its sleeve and are unable to deal with harsh realities. 25-year-old Lars works as a lifeguard and attendant at a swimming pool in south Oslo. While his childhood friend Jorgen has a girlfriend with a baby on the way, Lars lives alone. His only form of amusement is watching football on television with a can of beer. But when he discovers Hans hanging around the pool, a guy universally known to have pedophilic tendencies, Lars decides to take matters into his own hands. Armed with a video camera, he keeps a close watch on Hans and, during this private punitive expedition, tries to keep young Tim out of harm’s way.

About the director

Erik Richter Strand (b. 1974, Bergen) studied directing at the Norwegian National Film School in Lillehammer. His commercials (for the Moland Film Company) and short films won awards at a series of international festivals, including San José and Cannes. Strand says of his film: “You find sons, like those in our film, everywhere. In every country, every day. But you very rarely see them. Our film lends a voice to those explosive secrets that are normally kept hidden under a tight lid of aggression and denial. I tried to make a bleakly sincere and uncompromising film. It deals with the grey areas of our morality, which I find are the most interesting to explore.” Sons is the debut film by this Norwegian director who also collaborated on the screenplay.

Contacts

Norwegian Film Institute
Box 482 Sentrum, 0105, Oslo
Norway
Tel: +47 224 745 00
Fax: +47 224 745 97
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.nfi.no

About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Another View

Director:	Erik Richter Strand
Screenplay:	Thomas Seeberg Torjussen, Erik Richter Strand
Dir. of Photography:	Johan-Fredrik Bødtker
Music:	Marius Christiansen & Magnet
Editor:	Simen Gengenbach
Producer:	Eric Vogel
Production:	Tordenfilm AS
Cast:	Nils Jørgen "Jøgge" Kaalstad, Mikkel Bratt Silset, Edward Schultheiss, Henrik Mestad, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Marika Enstad
Contact:	Norwegian Film Institute

Guests

Stine Oppegaard

Film Institution Rep.

Eric Vogel

Producer

Thomas Torjussen

Screenwriter, Screenwriter

Stefanie Zeitler

Distributor

Thorsten Schaumann

Festival Organizer

Thorsten Ritter

Sales Agent