Reprise (Reprise)

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Reprise
Original title	Reprise
Alternate title	Auf Anfang
Type	Features
Genre	Drama
Director	Joachim Trier
Short summary	Reprise is a playful film about friendship, madness and creativity, about love and sorrow, great ambitions and the often unpleasant clash between youthful presumptions and reality. With its somewhat un-Norwegian structure, Reprise has a distinct style and narrative technique which moves the story forward in a rich and enthusiastic manner.
Summary	Erik and Phillip are trying to make it as writers. Erik is rejected by publishers as lacking in talent, while Phillip’s manuscript is accepted and the young man becomes a major name on the Norwegian cultural scene practically overnight. Six months later, Erik and his friends come to visit Phillip at a psychiatric hospital to bring him home after long-term treatment. Writing is the last thing on Phillip’s mind, but Erik is continuing his literary attempts and tries to convince his friend to go back to writing. This film could be seen as a subtle reflection on youth as a time of promise, plans and hopes which gradually dissolve under the impact of life experiences. If the style of the narration is reminiscent of the poetic works of the French New Wave, it’s no coincidence: the director admits to the influence of François Truffaut, in particular, the latter’s Jules and Jim, in which fundamental themes are treated with an enchantingly light touch. Reviews: Screen International, Variety, www.european-films.net Festival Daily – The Official English Daily of the 41st International Film Festival Karlovy Vary Monday, 3 July 2006 NORWAY’S REPRISE IS FIRST FEATURE FOR ACCLAIMED SHORT-FILM DIRECTOR Norwegian-Danish director Joachim Trier’s Reprise has its first screening today in the KVIFF Official Selection competition. It’s a film which explores the relationship between two young writer friends striving to make a name for themselves on the Norwegian cultural scene. Their friendship is tested when one of them becomes a huge success and his life spirals out of control as a result. Reprise is Trier’s first feature film. He has previously made a number of well-received short films such as Procter, which won Best European Film at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002. The Festival Daily spoke to him before he came to KVIFF. You initially did a number of short films before taking on Reprise as your feature-length debut. Is there a big difference between doing shorts and full-length movies? Having made films since before I could write (I made my first super-8 at age four), I see every film as a new opportunity to develop as a film maker. In a strange way short films have this freedom to them because the audience doesn’t expect a certain narrative form of structure as much as they do with features. But we tried hard in Reprise to keep this free spirit in the way we worked, especially with the story and the editing. Your film depicts the relationship between two interesting, handsome, but mentally unstable writers. You actually co-wrote the screenplay with Eskil Vogt. Was the movie in any way autobiographical? It is not an autobiographical film, but one always puts a part of oneself into the various characters. The environment and the world the characters inhabit is one I know very well. In Norway, and a lot of other places as well I guess, young middleclass people all want to do something “creative”. Very few succeed. The tragedy in the life of many people is their failure to live up to their “great expectations”. This unbearable lightness was an interesting but challenging premise to work with dramatically. Music is used to great effect in Reprise and the punk group Kommune also appears in the movie. Is music as important to you as it seems to be to some of the characters in the film? Growing up in Norway, a lot of young people don’t feel a strong sense of cultural identity as a Norwegian. When you are 23 what music you listen to or what books you read becomes your identity. I wanted to show the ambivalence of this alienation. I am not just critical, maybe there is a sort of freedom in this pick and mix approach to culture? It’s surprising that there’s not more hip hop in the film considering that you were twice the Norwegian skateboarding champion. Do you still skate by the way? No I don’t skate much these days. As for the music, you must remember that skateboarding was synonymous with punk culture before it went hip hop. My musical taste is very diverse. Maybe I’ll do a film about bossa nova next, who knows? Depression, suicide and insanity also feature strongly in your film. Why do you think these themes are so important for Scandinavian artists? Is it an inherent cultural thing? I am sure there is something to be said about cold winters, and Bergmanesque contemplation in the northern territories of Europe. People like to swim naked in the sea at close to zero degrees centigrade. No wonder there are some who think we are mad. - Katerina Kadlecová SCRIPTWRITER / Eskil Vogt Eskil Vogt is the only Norwegian to have studied directing at France’s national film school La Femis. He has been co-writer of several of Joachim Trier’s films, and has also written and directed several award winning short films. His film Une étrainte (An Embrace) won the Terje Vigen Prize and the Prix UIP at the Short Film Festival in Grimstad in 2003, and was also nominated for a European Film Award the same year. His short-story film Les étrangers (The Strangers), made in 2004, is still getting special mentions at international film festivals. Eskil is currently developing a feature film project in France. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/ Jakob Ihre The Swedish photographer Jakob Ihre has worked previously with Joachim Trier, notably on the short film Procter. Jakob Ihre lives in London. In recent years he has been director of photography on a number of award winning European and Asian films. PRODUCTION DESIGNER / Roger Rosenberg Roger Rosenberg is also from Sweden. Reprise is his debut as production designer on a Norwegian film. Roger is also an established set and production designer in Sweden, with wide experience on advertising, TV and film production. EDITOR / Oliver Bugge Coutté Olivier Bugge Coutte went to The National Film and TV School in London, where he edited several of Joachim Trier’s shorts and commercials. He is currently working on Per Fly’s Forestillinger. COMPOSER / Ola Fløttum Ola Fløttum composed the score and theme-music for REPRISE, which marks his debut as a film composer. Since 1996 he has worked as songwriter for the group The White Birch, which has achieved great success in Europe on the legendary Glitterhouse label. Their two most recent releases Star Is Just A Sun and Coming Up For Air have received rave reviews all over the world. SONG-WRITER AND PRODUCER / Knut Schreiner Knut Schreiner is executive producer and composer with the group Kommune in REPRISE. In daily life he is guitarist and songwriter with Turboneger. He has previously recorded with Kåre and the Cavemen and with Euroboys. He is co-owner and manager of the Crystal Canyon studio in Grunerløkka, Oslo. PRODUCER / Karin Julsrud Karin Julsrud, the producer of REPRISE, has been involved in Norwegian film for a long time as both director and producer. She directed Bloody Angels (1732 Høtten/2000) which attracted international acclaim in 1998, and was both producer and director of the TV-series Hotel Oslo which was sold to a number of European lands. She was one of the first film consultants of the Norwegian Film Fund, and spent 3 years there. Today Karin Julsrud is co-owner of 4 ½, the production company behind Reprise. 4 ½ was started in 1998 and is today run by 6 partners: Marius Holst, director, Pål Sletaune, director, Turid Øversveen, producer, Håkon Øverås, producer, Aagot Skjeldal, production and administration, Karin Julsrud, production and management. With its wide range of technical expertise, 4 ½’s team is today a leading maker of advertising and feature films. The company’s last feature-film productions were Next Door (Naboer/2005) and United (2003), both of them commercial successes in Norway and also noted abroad, including showings at the film festivals in Venice and Berlin. 4 ½ co-produced Mongoland (Muz film), Dogville and Inheritance (Arven) (both Zentropa), and currently on Du Levande, Roy Anderssons Filmproduksjon, Sweden.
Cast	Espen Klouman Høiner (Erik), Anders Danielsen Lie (Phillip), Christian Rubeck (Lars), Odd Magnus Williamson (Morten), Pål Stokka (Geir), Viktoria Winge (Kari), Silje Hagen (Lillian), Henrik Elvestad (Henning), Thorbjørn Harr (Mathis Wergeland), Sigmund Sæverud (Sten Egil Dahl), Elisabeth Sand (Hanne, Erik's mother), Tone Danielsen (Inger, Phillip's mother)
Narrator	Gard Eidsvold
Screenplay	Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
D.O.P	Jakob Ihre
Editor	Olivier Bugge Couté
Composer	Ola Fløttum, Knut Schreiner
Sound	Morten Solum
Costume designer	Maria Bohlin
Scenography	Roger Rosenberg
Producer	Karin Julsrud
Line producer	Bent Rognlien
Production company	4 1/2 AS \| St. Olavsgt. 21C \| N-0165 Oslo \| Tel: +47 22 94 24 94 \| Fax: +47 22 94 24 99 \| E-mail: karin@fourandahalf.no
Co-producer	Filmlance, Sweden
Country of origin	Norway
Release date (national)	2006-09-08
Release date (international)	2006-07-03
Technical information
Format	35mm
Screen ratio	1:1,85
Colour	Colour - B/W
Sound System	Dolby SR
Length in min's	106
Length in meters	2908
No. of reels	6
International sales	Nordisk Film International Sales \| Mosedalsvej 14, DK-2500 Valby \| Tel: +45 36 18 82 00 \| Fax: +45 36 18 95 50 \| E-mail: contact@nordiskfilm.com \| www.sales.nordiskfilm.com
Distributor (Norway only)	Columbia Tristar Nordisk Film Distributors
Festival participation	2006 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2006 Norwegian International Film Festival, Haugesund New Nordic Films 2006 Toronto International Film Festival 2006 London International Film Festival 2007 Sundance International Film Festival, USA 2007 Premiers Plans, Anger Competition 2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam 2007 Göteborg International Film Festival 2007 Cleveland International Film Festival, USA 2007 Norwegian Film Festival, Stockholm 2007 New Directors/New Films, New York 2007 Nordic Film Festival, Rouen Competition 2007 NATfilm Festival, Denmark 2007 Istanbul International Film Festival Competition 2007 Buenos Aires International Film Festival Competition 2007 European Cinema Festival of Lecce, Italy Competition 2007 Minneapolis Film Festival, USA 2007 Crossing Europe Film Festival, Linz Competition 2007 Jeonju International Film Festival, South-Korea Competition 2007 San Francisco International Film Festival Competition 2007 Seattle International Film Festival 2007 Festroia International Film Festival, Portugal 2007 Transilvania International Film Festival, Romania Competition 2007 Norwegian Film Festival, Copenhagen 2007 Cinema Jove International Film Festival, Spain Competition 2007 IFF Artfilm Slovakia Competition 2007 Libertas Film Festival Dubrovnik, Croatia 2007 Palic European Film Festival, Serbia and Montenegro 2007 Era New Horizons International Film Festival, Poland 2007 Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia 2007 International Film Festival Piestany, Slovakia 2007 Milano Film Festival, Italy 2007 Umeå International Film Festival, Sweden Competition 2007 Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland 2007 Haifa International Film Festival, Israel 2007 Sevilla European Film Festival, Spain Europe-Europe Competition 2007 Athen Panorama of European Cinema, Greece Competition 2007 Riga Nordic Film Days, Latvia
Prizes received	2006 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Crystal Globe for Best Director 2006 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Don Quijote Award from FICC (International Federation of Film Societies) The jury was impressed with the lightness of touch exhibited by the director and cast, combined with the depth of characterization, a combination that is not common in contemporary cinema. This is a portrait of the artist or artists tailored to present daily reality. The narrative structure of the film is effective without being obtrusive. What was perhaps most impressive was the deceptively easy way it was able to present the creative and personal dilemmas of its characters without ever descending into easy melodrama and the way it signalled such easy narrative possibilities without committing to them. The performances of the leading actors were skilfully compatible with the light but probing touch of the director. A highly promising debut. 2006 Toronto International Film Festival: Diesel Discovery Award 2006 London International Film Festival: FIPRESCI nomination 2007 Premiers Plans, Anger: Prix de la Creation Musicale 2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam: Young People's Jury Award “This Norwegian film about friendship and creativity successfully balances between comedy and drama. The apparently easygoing lives of the main characters are interrupted by the mental illness of one of them. In the film, the jury was surprised by the many original moments creating their own specific atmosphere and by its interesting look at the process of artistic creativity. There is a constant tension between the two main characters who are friends, but also rivals. The fast-paced, sparkling editing and characters you can relate to draw you into the story.” 2007 Göteborg International Film Festival: Bergman Award Nomination 2007 Nordic Film Festival, Rouen: Audience Award 2007 Nordic Film Festival, Rouen: Grand Prix 2007 Nordic Film Festival, Rouen: Le Deuxième souffle 2007 Norwegian Film Ciritcs' Award: 2007 NATfilm Festival, Denmark: Critics' Award 2007 Istanbul International Film Festival: Grand Prize "Golden Tulip" 2007 European Cinema Festival of Lecce: Best Film: Golden Olive Tree 2007 European Cinema Festival of Lecce: Best Screenplay 2007 European Cinema Festival of Lecce: Special Audience Award 2007 Best Editing: Best Editing 2007 Kosmorama, Trondheim: Best Director 2007 Haugesund International Film Festival, Norway: Amanda for Best Film to Karin Julsrud 2007 The Norwegian International Film Festival, Haugesund: Amanda for Best Director 2007 The Norwegian International Film Festival, Haugesund: Amanda for Best Script to Eskil Vogt/Joachim Trier 2007 Milano Film Festival, Italy: Winner of the feature film competition 2007 Umeå International Film Festival, Sweden: Honorable Mention "For its inventive narration, its creative dialogue with the viewer and imaginative story-telling and for its remarkable matching of story and character with filmic structure and aesthetics." 2007 Riga Nordic Film Days, Latvia: Audience Award
URL	http://www.nfi.no/film/reprise

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Director biography:
Joachim Trier (b. 1974, Norway) is a graduate of the National Film and Television School in England (2000). Trier has already made a string of celebrated short films. Three of them, Procter (2002), Pietà (2000) and Still (2000), have been screened at more than thirty international film festivals and won many awards. The most important accolades include the Prix UIP and the Kodak Short Film Bureau Award for Best British and Best European Film, which Procter garnered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002. Trier also directed commercials in England and Norway for the company Moland Film AS. The film Reprise (2006) is his feature debut.

Joachim has twice been the National Skateboard Champion in Norway.

Reprise (2006), Procter (2002), Still (2001), Pietá (1999), Passport (1998), The Tranpararency of Evil (1996) and Fatal Strategies (1995).