flocking A FILM BY BEATA GÅRDELER It’s a small Swedish community, idyllic on the surface. synopsisBut when 14 year old Jennifer claims to have been raped by classmate Alexander, everything changes.

The rumour rapidly spreads throughout the community, and more and more people are convinced that Jennifer is lying. This is the beginning of a stirred up lynch chase in which an entire village turns against a young girl and her family. In this brutal collective, evidence and decisions of court mean nothing and grown up people start laying down their own rules and laws. There is no such thing as going too far. The only thing that matters is sticking with the flock. director’s vision

I grew up in a small community in northern Sweden Sweden, to have the right dialect and personal experien- where the social behavior and unwritten laws are very ce of growing up in a small village. All the other actors old fashioned. At the same time, many things have were trained to have the right dialect to create a more changed thanks to social media. I felt that this film had realistic feeling of this village. To create a special feeling an unusually important mission: to tell an outstanding of the visual light we decided to shoot almost everything story about people’s deepest fears and what they lead outside in nighttime. In northern Sweden we have bright to, especially in a civilized society in the year 2014. nights this time of year, but it is a special kind of light. What kind of mechanisms makes a ordinary village to When we worked inside we wanted to block out the light turn against a 14 –year old girl and condemn her? These with curtains to create a darker, trapped feeling. things happen in a small Swedish village but it could take place anywhere. I put a tremendous effort into the research of this Jennifer’s character film. Based on what I’ve found, I hope that I’ve created a You see many female victims on film. But I wanted drama that is both thrilling and poetic. Jennifer to be more complex and interesting. I wanted her to be aggressive and also in some way unlikeable. About some of my work Fatime in herself has so much intensity and presence In this film it was hard to find the young actors, which I don’t think is possible to act when you are 15 especially because I wanted them to be from northern years old. writer’s vision

”Flocking” is a film about what a community is capable to do when its values are threatened. It’s about class and gender but also about community structure – structure that’s not unique for Sweden, we see it all around the world. For me it has been important to tell not only the story of a victim, but also from the perspective of a young rapist. A rape is created by the society we live in. A society where everyone tells you to follow the flock.

Emma Broström Scriptwriter

producer’s vision

Too many sad and horrible stories have been told in news- Agneta as a director, with many price winning tv series in papers and televison on this matter during the years. the box, and Annika as a production manager and last ten That’s why we decided to bring this story to the public years as a producer. – and we think we have a rather new angle and perspective on the theme. Our drive is to find stories both provocative and brave. ”Flocking” is not only about the girl, the victim. It’s also Stories that have the guts to step aside and are willing to about the 15 year old rapist and his guilt. He is also, in a reflect both society and human relationships in an un- way, deserted by the community. expected way. Our intention has been, together with the director and We are looking for directors and scriptwriters who have the scriptwriter, to tell a story on a complex matter with a a universe of their own. strong visual appearance. The film is based on true stories and our own experien- We are mainly interested in new storytelling and visionary ces. development considering filmmaking.

2afilm AB was established three years ago by Agneta Agneta & Annika Fagerström Olsson and Annika Hellström. ”Flocking” is our producers first feature. But not the last. We both have 30 years of experience in film making. Fatime Azemi John Risto Eva Melander Jennifer Alexander Susanne

Fatime Azemi grew up in the small We actually found John Risto under Susanne is Alex’s mother. She tries village Harads close to almost all a car. He resisted playing this role to protect her son, and the family of the locations for ”Flocken”. Both from the beginning but after seve- reputation, after Alex is accused of Fatime and John Risto are the ral callbacks and meetings he said rape in school. same age as their characters. Still yes. John is a wrestler and has con- Melander is previously known for children – but they act more adult trol over his body, but at the same portraying the single mother in than all the adults. time a hidden aggressiveness. ”Sebbe” (Best Feature Film, Berli- Jennifer is more complex than In our daily media a rapist is a nale 2010, and Best Film, Swedish many other female victims on film: monster or a pervert, but in real Guldbagge Award 2010), and ”The she is aggressive and also in some life the most common rapist is a Hypnotist” among others. She has way unlikeable. Fatime’s intensity normal, rather young man without also been working at The Royal and presence are hard to act at 15. a criminal record. Dramatic Theatre for several years. Henrik Dorsin Malin Levanon Jakob Öhman Tony Mia David

Tony was a rather new character Mia is alone with the responsibility The victim’s step dad. When the for Henrik to play. Used to words, for her kids and the circumstances news of the rape divides the small he was now a man almost without are harder than her ability to hold town into two camps, David finds words – a man afraid to show his herself together is strong. When himself struggling between them. feelings and lose control. her world falls apart she takes her Finally, he is forced to choose. Dorsin is a very gifted and versatile frustration out on her loved ones. Öhman has been working as one actor and writer for film, TV and Levanon performed in ”The Re- of the actors and artistic directors stage. Henrik has starred in many union” (awarded twice: Critic’s for theater Nya Rampen, as well as Swedish tv series, including popu- Week, Venice Film Festival 2013, acting in Swedish and Finnish film/ lar comedy show ”Solsidan” (”The and Best Film, Swedish Academy tv. Most recently he worked on Sunny Side”) for which he has was Award 2014), and also in Gårdelers ”Eisenstein in Guanajuato”, awarded with a ”Swedish Emmy”. debut feature ”In Your Veins”. premiere at Berlinalen 2015.

Beata Gårdeler Agneta Annika Hellström director Fagerström Olsson producer producer Gårdeler often works with reality Annika Hellström has produced – in based stories, dealing with social Director and producer. Prix Italia addition to several award winning issues. Her feature debut ”In Your winner several times with ”Ham- short films – the feature films ”Shall Veins” was highly critically markullen” and ”Knife in the Heart”. we dance”, ”Almost Elvis” and most acclaimed. She has directed several Won Prix Europa with ”First Gipsy recently ”Underdog”, awarded series for tv, such as ”Spung” and in Space” together with scriptwri- with several prestigeous film prizes most recently the award winning ter Peter Birro, and recieved the throughout the world (Swedish ”30 Degrees In February”. In 2014 Award and the Bo premiere in 2015). She is also her featurette ”Solitude” was Widerberg Award. For the featu- behind the internationally known selected Best Film at the Gothen- re ”Knock Out”, she recieved the Doris Manifesto – a feministic burg Film Festival. ”Flocking” is her Nordic Film Award. She has also initiative to change the gender second feature. made several ”Wallander” films. imbalance within the film industry. production facts

Swedish title: ”Flocken” Running time: 1,50 min Subtitles: English International title: ”Flocking” National premiere: September 2015 Ratio: Cinemascope Production year: 2015 Country of origin: Sweden Available in 2K Genre: Drama Language: Swedish Sound system: Original 5.1 film crew

Director: Beata Gårdeler Screenwriter: Emma Broström Producers: Agneta Fagerström Olsson and Annika Hellström Cinematographer: Gösta Reiland Production Designer: Elle Furudahl Editor: Linda Jildmalm Sound Designer: Jonas Jansson Composer: Lisa Holmqvist Produced by: 2afilm AB in coproduction with Filmpool Nord, Film i Väst, Chimney and Filmgården HB, with support from The , Magdalena Jangard and Cmore. contact

World sales Media Luna New Films (Germany) Ida Martins, [email protected] +49-221-510 91891, www.medialuna.biz

Festivals The Swedish Film Institute Gunnar Almér, [email protected] +46-70-640 46 56 Pia Lundberg, [email protected] +46-706-92 79 80

Distributor TriArt Film (Sweden) Mattias Nohrborg, [email protected] Eva Esseen Arndorff, [email protected] +46-73-417 65 52

Producers Agneta Fagerström Olsson, 2afilm +46-70-551 9685, [email protected] Annika Hellström, 2afilm +46-70-786 64 16, [email protected]