29/06/2023 - The drama is toplined by Renate Reinsve and is being staged by Norway’s Eye Eye Pictures, the outfit launched by the producers of The Worst Person in the World

Norway’s Eye Eye Pictures, the outfit launched by the producers of Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated romantic dramedy The Worst Person in the World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile], has announced the making of a new project, titled Armand [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel
film profile]. The picture recently entered production and is the debut feature by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel. The news was first reported by Variety.

In 2017, Ullmann Tøndel’s short Fanny was nominated for an Amanda Award, Norway’s national film prize. The story of the helmer’s new effort centres on the titular six-year-old boy, who is accused of crossing boundaries with his best friend at elementary school. While no one knows what actually happened between the two boys, the incident triggers a series of events, forcing parents and school staff into a captivating battle of redemption where madness, desire and obsession take hold.

The first confirmed member of the cast is Renate Reinsve. Through her leading role in The Worst Person in the World, she earned a BAFTA nomination and snagged the Award for Best Actress at Cannes in 2021. Reinsve defined the project’s script as “funny and dark”, and Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel as “a truly talented director”.

Eye Eye Pictures was launched last year by former Oslo Pictures producer and CEO Andrea Berentsen Ottmar and Dyveke Bjørkly Graver. The firm took part in last year’s Cannes Film Festival with Kristoffer Borgli’s Un Certain Regard entry Sick of Myself [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kristine Kujath Thorp
interview: Kristoffer Borgli
film profile].

“Halfdan [Ullmann Tøndel] has written a truly captivating story with a lot of excess and boldness. I think we will see a lot of interesting projects coming from him in the future,” commented Berentsen Ottmar.

Armand is being co-produced by Keplerfilm (Netherlands), Prolaps (Sweden) and One Two Films (Germany), as well as Zefyr and Film i Väst. Moreover, Joachim Trier and Bjørkly Graver are serving as the executive producers. Charades is in charge of its world sales. The release date is yet to be disclosed.