Punk is not Dead; Magnolia Adds Moodysson’s “We are the Best!” to Next Year’s Playlist

Our Nicholas Bell consider it among his top 5 best at TIFF this year and both Variety (will thrill to this sweet, spirited return to form) and THR (boards the rollercoaster of early adolescence with infectious results) come to the same consensus in Venice claiming that Together and Lilya 4-ever director Lukas Moodysson is back in great form and the Magnolia Pictures took notice (and so did 24 other territories who picked up the rights from TrustNordisk) – picking up the North American rights to the punk fueled coming-of-ager. Magnolia will release WE ARE THE BEST! in 2014.

Gist: VI ÄR BÄST! is about Bobo, Klara and Hedvig. Three 12-13-year-old girls who roam the streets. Who are brave and tough and strong and weak and confused and weird. Who have to take care of themselves way too early. Who heat fish fingers in the toaster when mom is at the pub. Who start a punk band without any instruments, even though everybody says that punk is dead.

Worth Noting: This is actually based on Moodysson’s (Coco) wife’s graphic novel.

Do We Care?: We didn’t have high hopes for his film especially after Container (’06) and Mammoth (’09), but did include it in our most anticipated film items for 2013 – looks like we do indeed have a hit on our hands.