Norsk filminstitutt

Documentary film The Art of Whistling
(Kunsten å plystre)


The film chronicles the life of author Thorvald Steen.


The film chronicles the life of author Thorvald Steen, who has facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy; a rare waste disorder that gradually and irreversibly paralyzes his body. The disease, however, has never stopped Thorvald. He is still an active public debater, freedom of speech advocate, author, and cultural communicator, although his ski jumping days are over. Through Thorvald's wonderful sense of humor and storytelling abilities, the film paints an intimate and poetic picture of an extraordinary life and the man who's still very much enjoying it. The well-known Norwegian photographer Per Maning has followed Thorvald with his camera for 25 years and documented Thorvald's development. The result is a unique and rare portrait of the meaning of life. 

Production and distribution

Production Year:
2021
Production country:
Norway
Release date (national):
2021-08-24
Production company:
Integral Film AS
Financing company:
Norwegian Film Institute
Fond for lyd og bilde
Norsk kulturråd
Viken Filmsenter
Fritt Ord Foundation
Executive producer:
Petter Skavlan
Producer:
Jørgen Lorentzen
Nefise Özkal Lorentzen
Film consultant:
Lars Daniel Krutzkoff Jacobsen

Director

  • Per Maning

    Per Maning (b. 1943) is a Norwegian photographer. Reoccurring themes in his works are the relations between human and nature. He is represented in galleries and museums both nationally and internationally, among them The Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum Volkwang in Essen, Germany Kiasma in Helsinki, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and Moderna Museet in Stockholm.  

Awards

2021:
Nordic/Docs
Best Medium Length Documentary

Festivals

2021:
The Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund
2021:
Nordic/Docs

Crew

Director:
Per Maning
Cinematographer:
Per Maning
Editor:
Anders Hoft
Composer:
Nils Petter Molvær
Sound Design:
Andreu Jacob

Technical information

Format:
DCP 4k
Screen ratio:
4:3 letterbox
Colour:
Colour
Sound format:
Stereo 5.1
Length in min's:
53'
Language:
Norwegian
Subtitles:
English

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