Sofie Gråbøl, Sidse Babette Knudsen Talk ‘Good Mothers' as Oscar Nominee Jasmina Žbanić Reflects on the Female Side of War at Film i Väst Cannes Event
'We're seeing what's happening now in Ukraine and Palestine [Gaza], and it's crazy. We see and hear only men's side of what's going on. But the female side of war needs to be told,' said a passionate Žbanić, discussing her upcoming project 'Quo Vadis, Aida – the Missing Part'.
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One of eight new projects co-produced by Film i Väst, the sequel to the 2021 Bosnian Oscar nominated film 'Quo Vadis, Aida' will be produced by Deblokada in co-production with Ruben Östlund's Swedish outfit Plattform Produktion.
The story explores the aftermath of the tragic consequences of the 1990s' Bosnian War, from the viewpoints of wives and mothers uniting together after the genocide of thousands of husbands and sons and fighting for justice.
'Quo Vadis Aida' changed a lot of people [in Serbia],' said Žbanić about her multi-awarded drama turning on the Srebrenica massacre in 1995 which she said was able 'to overcome censorship at home thanks to the streamers.' 'I hope this film will also put people in the shoes of all the women who took action to bring to justice those responsible [of the massacre]. Because peace cannot be achieved without finding justice.' In Cannes to close the financing of her pic, Žbanić said she hopes to start filming in the spring 2026.
In a totally different genre, the Danish thriller 'Good Mothers,' produced by Zentropa, will be a tense thriller about how far mothers –and dads – are willing to go to protect their children. Helmed by rising talent Amalie Næsby Fick ('Sex') from a script co-penned by Oscar-nominated Nicolaj Arcel ('The Promised Land' 'A Royal Affair') and Sara Isabella Jønsson ('Copenhagen Cowboy'), the character-driven drama stars Knudsen and Gråbøl – for the first time united on screen – and Asta Kamma August ('Families like Ours').
Set in a quiet suburban community, the story turns on three women whose friendship is challenged when one of their sons is accused of sexual assault.
'I read the script, loved it, but honestly, my main reason was the opportunity to work with Sidse!!,' said Gråbøl, in a laugh. 'She is a good friend and we've known each other decades but never got a chance to work together. So finally we can do this now!'About her role in the film and being a mother Gråbøl said: 'I have done research for 24 years now, having a son turning 24 soon. The balance between unconditional love, ambitions, expectations, is very interesting. It's like there are angels and demons inside this role [of being a mum]. This story plays in that whole field.'
Arcel, who said he became a father of two sons in the last five years, confessed he was intrigued by the theme of parenthood – at any cost. 'Would you really defend your child, no matter what?' he asked.
The project, in the final stages of financing. is being produced by Louise Vesth for Zentropa Entertainments3, in co-production with Zentropa Sweden, Topkapi Films and Film i Väst with support from Danish Film Institute Market Scheme, NL Film Fonds in co-operation with DR, SVT, September Film and Nordisk Film Distribution. Trust Nordisk handles sales.
Family Themes
Several other upcoming projects tackle family relationships. 'Bloody Men,' reuniting 'The Pirate Bay' helmer Jens Sjögren and producer Fredrik Heinig (B-Reel Films), is described by Sjögren as 'a coming-of age set in the 1980s, about a boy and his relationship with his mother-and her-showing and not showing love. 'It's about friendship and growing up, something we all connect to,' said the director who plans to fill his project with 'a punk aesthetic'.
The story, penned by Karin Arrhenius ('Blackwater'), is based on Andrev Walden's best-selling book 'Jävla Karlar' which won the top literary August Prize 2023 and sold across Europe, including in the U.K. where it will launch this August. Headlining the cast are Filip Berg ('A Man Called Ove') and Aliette Opheim ('Black Crab,' 'Exit').
'Bad Moon Rising', helmed by Norway's acclaimed filmmaker Erik Poppe ('Quisling the Final Days,' 'The Emigrants'), is based on Nobel Prize winning author Jon Fosse's only original script written for the screen. The story centres on a couple, from their first meeting, through to becoming parents until their separation. 'It's a beautiful love story about people, longing for something,' Poppe told Variety. According to the director's long-time producer Finn Gjerdrum, the cast will be announced this summer, before start of principal photography.
Other projects pitched were Nordic Drama Queens' empowering drama 'Will You Care If I Die?' helmed by Rojda Sekersöz, announced exclusively by Variety, the animated pic 'Dante' from producer Linda Hambäck of Lee Film ( 'The Ape Star'), with Stellan Skarsgård and David Dencik lending their voices to the main characters, and the SVT series 'Burden of Justice' penned by Frans Wiklund from an idea by 'Easy Money' creator and author Jens Lapidus. Strive Stories is producing.
Kristina Börjeson, Film I Väst's head of production also mentioned Cristian Mungiu''s family drama 'Fjord' toplining Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan. As announced in Variety, the pic, which wrapped shooting in Norway, was just picked up by Neon for the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
Asked to comment on yet another top year in Cannes for Film i Väst, with five titles in official selection including three Palme d'or contenders – 'The Eagles of the Republic,' 'Sentimental Value' and 'The History of Sound' – Börjeson said: 'It's really hard work! No, but jokes aside it's one of our objectives, and we've managed to achieve this through a combination of long-time relations with producers and directors as well as a 'good nose' to find new talents,' the inhouse 'nose' being senior executive, in charge of international co-productions Anthony Muir.
Börjeson said she's hoping that in 2026 the Film i Väst protégé and Palme d'Or winner Ruben Östlund will again challenge the audience and the jury with his upcoming pic 'The Entertainment is Down.' 'Then we'll celebrate a 10-year-in-a-row-strike rate in competition in Cannes,' she said.
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