Top 150 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2019: #118. 438 Days – Jesper Ganslandt

438 Days

After premiering two films in 2018, Sweden’s Jesper Ganslandt fast tracks his sixth feature, 438 Days (438 Dager) Produced by Sandra Harms and Karl Fredrik Ulfung, the project stars Gustaf Skarsgård and Matias Varela based on the true story of two Swedish journalist held captive in Ethiopia. Ganslandt appears in the supporting cast which also includes Fredrik Evers, Joseflin Nelden, Philip Zanden, and Faysal Ahmed. Cinematographer Sophia Olsson (Sparrows, 2015; Sami Blood, 2016) is lensing the feature. Ganslandt’s 2006 debut Falkenberg Farewell and his 2009 sophomore feature The Ape both premiered in Venice Days. 2012’s Blondie went to Toronto and 2018’s Jimmie opened the Rotterdam Film Festival. His English language debut, Beast of Burden starring Daniel Radcliffe, opened theatrically in the US in early 2018.

Gist: Based on the book by Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, two Swedish journalists are locked up in the notorious Kality Prison in Addis Adaba for 438 Days of an eleven-year prison sentence after they’re caught illegally crossing the Somalian border into Ethiopia.

Release Date/Prediction: While a teaser trailer was released in November 2018, Ganslandt hasn’t yet entered post-production. This is dated for late August back in Sweden, so timing would suggest a return to Venice and/or Toronto, potentially competing in the Platform program.