Perth Voice Interactive

RIDERS of Justice, Another Round and The Worst Person in the World are some of the great Scandinavian films to hit the big screen in recent years.

Known for their unique mix of black humour, quirky characters, cerebral themes and stark but beautiful cinematogrophy, the popularity of Scandinavian films and TV shows has continued to rise.

Its mass appeal can be probably traced back to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which triggered an explosion of ‘nordic noir’, while TV dramas like The Bridge and Borgen have helped conquer the small screen. So it’s no surprise that this year’s Scandinavian Film Festival is a doozy and features a diverse and exciting program.

“This festival has a wide range of films such as a Finnish black comedy, a Danish sci-fi, a Norwegian nature documentary, an Icelandic romance and a Swedish political thriller,” says festival director Elysia Zeccola.

It all kicks off with the Australian premiere of the epic historical drama The Riot.

Starring Otto Fahlgren (Beartown) and Simon J. Berger (Margrete – Queen of the North), The Riot tells the story of the struggle against oppression in the isolated Norwegian mining town of Sulitjelma at the beginning of the 20th century.

Based on the incredible real events at Norway’s second largest workplace, where the mine workers struggled under inhumane conditions in the dangerous and dark copper mines, it was the Wild West of the Nordic countries.

If you like things a bit more futuristic then check out the Danish sci-fi/romance Eternal.

It follows a young climate change scientist, Elias (Simon Sears) who falls in love with an aspiring singer, Anita (Nanna Øland Fabricius, better known as Danish pop star Oh Land).

But he chooses his career over love when an opportunity arises for him to join a mission researching a mysterious fracture on the Atlantic Ocean floor, a phenomenon he has been obsessed with for years. Following a dangerous event, the fissure accelerates global climate change and is a threat to humanity.

Blending love, regret and existential mystery, Eternal is sure to be a hit with younger cinemagoers. There’s also some great documentaries in the festival including Songs of Earth which explores the mountainous landscapes of Norway.

Guided by her 84-year-old vigorous trekker dad Jørgen, who has been exploring Norway’s wilderness all his life, we are invited by filmmaker Margreth Olin to explore stunning vistas of glaciers, waterfalls and fjords of the Oldedalen valley in western Norway.

Here, their family has always lived side by side with nature. Even when the earth’s primordial forces have shown their most merciless side.

Songs of Earth features breathtaking cinematography, a beautiful score played by the London Symphony Orchestra, and was executive produced by Wim Wenders and Liv Ullmann.

Festival director Elysia Zeccola was particularly impressed by Stormskerry Maja, which stars Amanda Jansson and was directed by Tiina Lymi (Happier Times, Grump).

“The film is  is stunningly set on the remote Aland archipelago and it follows an epic love story through several Finnish seasons spanning decades,” Zeccola says.

“It is a very moving cinematic experience.”

Zeccola says the festival is celebrating its 10th birthday and interest in Scandinavian culture has never been so strong.

“Over the last decade, interest in the festival has snowballed as the Scandi aesthetic has become ever more popular – from the cuisine to fashion and interest in the exotic destinations has resulted in more people seeking out the experience of cinema from the region,” she says.

“Scandi or Nordic Noir has also been elevated as a genre and we have seen more of those style of films emerge and become well attended in the festival.”

The Scandinavian Film Festival is on from July 25 – August 14 at Luna Leederville, Palace Cinemas Raine Square, and Luna on SX in Fremantle. For more details and tix see lunapalace.com.au.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK