25/10/2024 - The new feature, helmed by the Oscar-nominated director and sold by Germany’s Beta Cinema, will soon head to the American Film Market

Robert Gustafsson in Let It Rain (© John Christian Rosenlund/Unlimited Stories)

This week, Munich-based firm Beta Cinema announced it had boarded world sales on Hannes Holm’s new feature, a comedy titled Let It Rain. Shooting on the film wrapped at the end of September.

Holm's previous effort A Man Called Ove [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2015), a heart-warming comedy that grossed over $30 million worldwide and was later remade as A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks, earned two Academy Award nominations. Holm is one of Sweden’s most successful filmmakers, with other hits under his belt such as Adam & Eva (1997), Shit Happens (2010) and the Andersson Trilogy (2012–2014), all of which set new box-office records nationwide.

The story is set in a small town in Southern Sweden, where grumpy widower Ingmar lives a regimented life. Ever since his wife passed away a few years ago, his relationship with his daughter Erika has deteriorated. Apart from his daughter, the only other things left in his life are his annoying, divorced neighbour Burman and his late wife’s roses. As the hottest and driest summer in living memory stretches on, everyone waits for rain that never seems to come. But through what might be a miracle or sheer coincidence, Ingmar finds himself thrust into the spotlight of an event that will change not only his life, but the entire village's fate — perhaps even the world.

The cast is led by Robert Gustafsson, star of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2013) and The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2016). The script was penned by Holm himself together with Jonas Karlsson, based on the latter’s novel The Rain Man. John Christian Rosenlund (The Wave [+see also:
film review
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interview: Roar Uthaug
film profile], The King’s Choice [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Erik Poppe
film profile], Hammarskjöld [+see also:
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film profile]) is attached as the project’s DoP. Karlsson also plays the role of the protagonist’s partner in crime, Burman, whilst Karin Lithman (The Bridge) and Emelia Sallhag round off the cast.

Producer Patrick Ryborn commented: “As a producer, I am focused on high-quality films that touch and attract a large cinema audience. Let It Rain will be comparable to A Man Called Ove. With Robert Gustafsson and Jonas Karlsson in the lead roles, and Hannes Holm as the director, we have a dream team aboard.”

Holm added: “When I first read Jonas Karlsson’s book, I was immediately struck by the fact that there was such a fine story about how crazy we humans can act when life takes us by surprise. When a simple solution is not to be found, we are more than happy to open ourselves up to pure magic. Something that can't really be true suddenly becomes true because so many people wish for it at a certain time. Let It Rain will be a touching film that balances humour and drama, told with love and warmth. Like a good movie should be.”

Finally, Thorsten Ritter, EVP Acquisitions, Sales and Marketing at Beta Cinema, stated: “Let It Rain will be magical, unapologetically larger-than-life cinema. Entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking. A true blessing that we are excited to embrace and eager to share with audiences around the world.”

Let It Rain is being produced by Ryborn for Sweden’s Unlimited Stories in co-production with Nordisk Film, SVT, Film i Skåne, Film i Väst, Nouvago Capital and Denmark’s DR. It has received backing from the Swedish Film Institute and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Nordisk Film will be distributing it in Scandinavia, releasing it during the Christmas holidays in 2025.

Beta Cinema will introduce the movie, which is now in post-production, to international buyers during the upcoming American Film Market, running in Las Vegas from 5-10 November.