What was the starting point or the initial idea for this film?
The film started as a music video for the group Little Dragon. I wanted to create something as delicate, beautiful and minimalistic as the music. Speak the same language, yet telling my own story. After the video I felt that the story was not told to its end, and therefore came up with the idea of developing it to something longer and more complex. And I asked Little Dragon to write new music for it.
Can you share an important/funny/moving/surprising anecdote of the making-of this film with us?
The film is not a typical film, but rather a filmed theatrical play, a shadow puppet theater. An important principle throughout the production was to do everything the old analogue way, not in postproduction with digital techniques. Every shot is rehearsed multiple times. Then shot, live, with numerable puppet players controlling the figures and elements. Sometimes we were 15 people controlling different small elements of the scene simultaneously; one controlling a little bird, another a girl, four people controlling the wind, yet six to control the fires all over the image. Some shots were so difficult and complex that we had to reshoot 200 times.
What do you do when not making films?
Right now I am very much into Helmi. That is my half year old daughter. She is a very good hypnotist and can have me spellbound for hours. Tomorrow is the first day of my paternity leave. I am also a lot into football and just got myself a new very cool table.
What would you like to say to your audience before seeing your film?
The idea behind the film is to tell a story that is a mix between dream and reality. For the first time in my life, I guess, I wanted to create something that actually looked beautiful, in its true classical sense, without any irony.
What project(s) are you working on this year? Could you please tell us something about your future projects ?
I am working on a feature film that is very exciting to me. A very sweaty, frustrating and a bit dreamlike drama comedy.