Short Films

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Mined Zone

KALAK

• Director: Isabella Eklöf
• DENMARK, GREENLAND, SWEDEN, NORWAY, FINLAND, THE NETHERLANDS / 2023 / DCP / Colour / 126’ / Danish, Greenlandic, English; Turkish, English s.t.

• Screenplay: Isabella Eklöf, Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen, Kim Leine
• Original Work: Kim Leine
• Director of Photography: Nadim Carlsen
• Editing: Anna Eborn, Isabella Eklöf
• Cast: Emil Johnsen, Asta Kamma August, Berda Larsen, Connie Kristoffersen, Vigga Tukula, Søren Hellerup
• Producer: Maria Møller Kjeldgaard
• Production Co.: Manna Film
• World Sales: Totem Films

2023 San Sebastian Special Prize of the Jury, Best Cinematography

Jan is on the run from himself after being sexually abused by his father. Living in Greenland with his little family as he works as a nurse, he yearns to be a part of the open, collectivist culture and become a kalak, a ‘dirty Greenlander,’ at any cost. But he is no Greenlander, neither emotionally nor physically, and he is definitely not a part of the family. The latest feature from Isabella Eklöf, who visited the festival in 2018 with her debut feature Holiday, is adapted to screen from the novel by Kim Leine, based on his own personal experience working as a nurse in Greenland. ‘In Greenland, everybody knows who Kim is, and everybody knows about the scandal involved,’ says Eklöf who shot Kalak on 16mm film, ‘My artistic drive is all about addressing stereotypes and preconceived notions. And there is so much to unpack within the Danish-Greenlandic relationship–victim and perpetrator, collectivism and individualism, oppression and revolt.’ 

*Scenes of violence/sex might disturb some viewers.

This film is sceened with the kind contribution of Danish Culture.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.