#4. The Ape
Director: Jesper Ganslandt
Cast: Olle Sarri, Francois Joyce, Sean Pietrulewicz, Niclas Gillis, Eva Rexed
Distributor: Rights Available.
Buzz: Ganslandt is being dubbed as part of the new wave of Swedish provocateur filmmakers – he is mentioned along the sides of Ruben Östlund, Tomas Alfredson and Fredrik Wenzel and Henrik Hellström (Burrowing). A self-taught filmmaker who works in the commerical and music video formats, what sounds especially nifty about this project and acts as an indicator that the Swede is working from a unique curriculum is that the lead actor had no clue what would occur from one scene to the next. He would be introduced to a setting without any knowledge of what would take place. What better way to get a fresh perf and introduce the element of surprise when the actor has no pre-conceived concept of the character’s actions, mindset and motivations beforehand. The Ape was invited to Venice Film Festival’s 6th edition of Venice Days sidebar and is the director’s second feature film. Read TIFF programmer Steve Gravestock’s great description of the film and filmmaker here. Sounds like edgy material to me.
The Gist: Krister, a husband and father wakes up to the consequences of a tragedy. He is a broken man, but not aware of it yet. Confronted with everyday reality, there is no place for escape and Krister is soon forced to face up to his actions. The Ape is about the struggle to hold on to things around us already lost. The question arises. What is left, when the life you once had is completely gone?
TIFF Schedule: TBA