Film Movement Finds Itself in ‘Troubled Water’

Don’t worry, the Film Movement are still in the green – today they announced the pick-up of a Norwegian crime/dramatic thriller titled Troubled Water (not to be confused with Carl Deal and Tia Lessin’s doc Trouble the Water) from the helmer behind Hawaii, Oslo. Judging from the trailer (below), Erik Poppe’s Troubled Water isn’t anything close to his previous film in terms of narrative strategy, I’d categorize HO as a “network narrative” structure a la Bordwell, but it appears to display a similar marriage between chaos theory and Poppe’s flair for a visually appealing, in your face aesthetic. Troubled Water will be released on DVD and Cable VOD probably in early 2010 with a probable one week release in Gotham.

Jan, recently released from prison after serving time for the murder of a child, has always maintained his innocence and is ready to put the past behind him. A gifted organist, he takes a job at an Oslo church under his middle name, Thomas. His talent and gentle manner quickly earn him the respect of his superiors, as well as the love of the pastor, Anna. Thomas even overcomes his initial panic to return the affection of Anna’s young son, Jens. But his past catches up with him when Agnes, a local teacher, comes to the church on a school visit and recognizes the organist as Jan, the young man who was convicted for the murder of her son.