Jon Blåhed discovers a well timed story within the Thirties interval drama Ecstasy.
“A few of these issues will occur immediately,” he mentioned.
Impressed by the so-called “Kopella Motion” – a controversial spiritual sect that first emerged in northern Sweden and have become recognized for its apocalyptic beliefs, unorthodox rituals and sexual practices – he didn’t intend to unfold gossip. .
“It is not nearly telling the funniest story, however staying true to what I feel is necessary. I grew up in that space. I used to be the son of a missionary within the village, and I heard rumors in regards to the motion as a child. One thing simply did not really feel proper. , prefer it’s one thing you shouldn’t focus on.
Later in life, Braihead discovered himself questioning spiritual dogma.
“I used to be compelled to go to church as a baby and I did not prefer it. It was unusual to listen to your personal father speaking about dying and the afterlife,” he admits. However he has not forgotten the Korpela motion.
“I keep in mind being chatting with a colleague ten years in the past and this subject got here up once more. I discovered myself contradicting their assertion with: ‘That’s not the way it works! ” And I spotted, “Nicely, possibly I needs to be the one telling this story.” “
Produced by Andreas Emanuelsson and Tony Österholm for Iris Movie AB and co-produced by Tiina Pesonen for Rabbit Movies, Ecstasy isn’t just about faith. Not solely did issues turn into private for Bleihold, however so did his main girl.
Raquel (Jessica Grabowski, forthcoming from the TV sequence “Icebreaker”) is confronted with an uncommon dilemma: her husband Theodore (Jacob Aumann) has based a sect. As issues begin to take a wierd flip, she must resolve if you actually need to assist your man – even when he is satisfied he is the savior.
“How would you react in that state of affairs? Particularly for those who have been a strict Christian and could not actually query paternity? My grandmother was Lestad [Christian revival movement]. She is timid and never very outspoken, however in the end a powerful individual. I knew an enormous a part of the story was going to be instructed by Jessica and her face.
Nevertheless, Rakai did not all the time keep silent, and he or she additionally appeared to heaven for solutions.
“She had these conversations with God, which helped us perceive how she was actually feeling. She did not essentially present it, however she was conflicted about what was happening. Jessica mentioned her jaw damage by the tip of filming . She all the time needed to cover the whole lot,” Blåhed mentioned.
He’s joined by different acclaimed Finnish actors, from Elina Knihtilä to Golden Globe nominee Alma Pöysti in “Leaves.”
“I like Finnish cinema, my father is from Finland, and I am pleased that everybody needs to be part of it, additionally as a result of we’re filming in a dying language that they do not really converse: Meänkieli,” he revealed.
It’s been a “troublesome journey” for the whole group, however a journey price doing.
“In Sweden it is usually political. Meänkieli is taken into account a “minority language” there: in Finland it’s a “dialect”. Coming from that space, I do know what it means to the locals and I wish to make them proud. Protecting the language alive is troublesome, however they do an amazing job. That is the primary characteristic movie shot in Meänkieli. It simply feels proper.
The identical goes for filming the place the unique story takes place.
“As somebody from the north, it is necessary to shoot within the north,” he mentioned with a smile.
“After the premiere, I wished to return there once more. This motion is a delicate subject. It all the time has been. I wished to speak to individuals about it as a result of you’ll be able to nonetheless discover kinfolk of cult members. In small communities, there may be numerous disgrace. It is easy to linger. You may’t do away with it. This film could deliver it again to the floor, however hopefully it will be a very good factor for everybody concerned.
Blåhed is presently engaged on the ultimate lower of the movie, which might be introduced on the 2023 Finnish Movie Pageant and is scheduled to premiere early subsequent yr. Offered by Image Tree Worldwide, the trailer debuts right here:
“Issues will not be all black and white. It is laborious to inform what the precise targets of this cult are, or what is nice and what’s unhealthy. Individuals are excited to attend these gatherings and a few of the leaders really give them hope,” he mentioned added.
“[In ‘Raptures’] Theodore is not a nasty man…however he’s. I do not suppose he would have lasted that lengthy earlier than being stopped immediately, though some would definitely attempt. I hope it will get us interested by spirituality and what it brings to individuals. They be part of these communities for various causes, with completely different agendas and completely different goals.
Andreas Rothbauer of Image Tree Worldwide added: “Apart from the historic context, this theme is well timed, if not timeless – historical past is filled with examples the place the road between devotion and delusion has turn into blurred.
“There appears to be this everlasting temptation not simply to imagine however to assert to know the reality, and so that’s the supply of numerous battle. That is more true immediately than it was then, when society is extra fractured.
