In “Beloved,” opening the Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund, Erik Poppe takes on a script by Nobel Prize winner Jon Fosse. Jon Fosse wrote it almost 20 years ago. After he received the Nobel Prize in Literature [in 2023], it felt like the whole world wanted to read it.
But I always knew it was a powerful piece of work,” he tells Variety. They have a child, but Asle is drawn back to the sea while Gerd remains in the village. The film, starring Leo Magnus de la Nuez and Kristi-Helene Giæver Engeberg, was produced by Paradox and SF Production.
It’s sold by Reinvent Yellow Sales. One of Norway’s most acclaimed directors, Poppe is known for larger productions, from “The King’s Choice” to “Utøya: July 22,” “The Emigrants” and “Quisling: The Final Days.” But focusing on a more intimate story felt right this time. I wanted to explore the relationship between two people, as well as between a father and son, because it’s a story of daily life I can relate to.” He adds: “We’ve all seen how well they perform in the cinemas, surprisingly enough.
People long for something honest and truthful that they can just dive into.” The fact that Fosse is only growing in stature doesn’t hurt either. As a filmmaker, he’s opening up the space between the dialogue for me to fill in. His style is so simple yet deep.
You connect with it, understand it, and it hits you right in the stomach. His novels are short, but when you read them, it feels like Dostoyevsky. I find it extraordinary.” Despite following only two characters and their son, Poppe didn’t change his approach to working with actors.
If I can establish a truthful, honest relationship with my actors, I can push them quite far,” he says. He also paid extra attention to their surroundings. It’s almost like a mythical landscape, a mythical part of Norway.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
