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PRODUCTION Norway

Joachim Trier shooting Thelma

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- The Norwegian director’s new supernatural thriller and coming-of-age story is currently filming in Sweden

Joachim Trier shooting Thelma
Norwegian director Joachim Trier with Eili Harboe, his lead actress in Thelma (© Paal Audestad/Motlys)

Norwegian director Joachim Trier, whose Louder than Bombs [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile
]
(2015) was the first Norwegian title selected in competition at the Cannes International Film Festival for 36 years, has started principal photography for his next movie, Thelma [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eili Harboe
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile
]
, in Västra Götaland, western Sweden.

After his English-language Isabelle Huppert and Gabriel Byrne starrer, which toured 17 international festivals and won six prizes, including the Bronze Horse for Best Film at the Stockholm International Film Festival, Trier has returned to his native tongue for his portrait of a 20-year-old woman who moves to Oslo to study. When she falls in love, she realises she has frightening and inexplicable powers. 

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The supernatural thriller with horror elements – plus a coming-of-age story – was scripted by Trier with his usual collaborator, Eskil Vogt. “This type of film has not been made in Norway before,” he told the local press. “It strongly emphasises the visual elements, with a considerable number of CGI effects, which also adds to the budget.”

“By making a supernatural thriller set in a seemingly realistic, contemporary Norway, Trier will combine an exciting and visual genre film with a close character drama,” added film consultant Eva Færevaag, of the Norwegian Film Institute, which has chipped in €1.2 million for the €6.6 million production being staged by Norwegian producer Thomas Robsahm for Oslo’s Motlys.

The title role of Thelma is being played by Stavanger-born actress Eili Harboe (“Right now she is not Norway’s hottest film name, but after this, she will be,” agreed Trier and Robsahm), and she is flanked by Kaya Wilkins, Ellen Dorrit Petersen and Henrik Rafaelsen. After Västra Götaland, filming will continue in Gothenburg and at Studio Fares at Swedish regional film centre Film Väst in Trollhättan.

Motlys, which also backed Trier’s Louder than Bombs and Oslo, August 31st [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile
]
(2011), also has Denmark’s Mikkel Jersin (Snowglobe), Sweden’s Mattias Nohrborg (B-Reel) and France’s Jean Lebadie (Le Pacte) on the production team. SF Studios Norway will handle the local distribution and Memento Films the international sales.

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