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Trying Freedom
73 minutes Documentary
Four ex-cons. One premiere. How hard can it be?
Intended Audience: Mature
Over 12,000 people are released from Norwegian prisons every year. Trying Freedom is a documentary about four of them trying to break a vicious cycle – and not end up behind bars again. Together they struggle against their worst enemy; themselves.
Three drug addicts, and a man convicted of attempted murder are released from prison. Through a theater group, they are given an opportunity to show a different side of themselves. They are used to standing alone, but now they are forced to work together in order to complete a shared goal - the opening night. Full of ambition, they begin by making a pact. Not long after, the battle begins with cheating, deceit and self-betrayal. In order to act you have to know who you are; you have to be ruthlessly honest. Opening night steadily approaches and slowly but surely they discover that they all are struggling against the same enemy – themselves.
Some fall. Some give up. A few stand tall and fight on.
Thor Bekkavik’s documentary “Trying freedom” shows how difficult it is to trust anyone, when deep inside you don’t even trust yourself. Tears, laughter and excitement – a strong and entertaining tale about creativity, lies, enemies and friendship, but most of all an exciting film about the importance of having someone believe you can do it – breaking the vicious cycle.
- Directed by: Thor Bekkavik
- Written by: C. Aanonsen, T. Bekkavik
- Produced by: Carsten Aanonsen
- Run Time: 73 minutes
- Release Date: 2008
-
Country:
Norway
- Intended Audience: mature
- Website Trying Freedom
Written by C. Aanonsen, T. Bekkavik
Produced by Carsten Aanonsen
Cast
Jeanett: herself
Staale: himself
Halvar: himself
Line: herself
Nils Petter Devold Midtun: DP
Siv Eberholst: Editor
Agnethe Brun: Stills Photographer
KAADA: Composer
Sophie Hesselberg: Editing Consultant
Lars Jørgen Bergsund: Sound Designer
Tormod Ringnes- Chimney Pot: Sound Mix
Tormod Glomnes: Graphic Design
"The best documentary at the Norwegian Int. Film Festival" NRK "Honest and direct piece of documentary drama" Dagbladet "A reminder of what it takes to help the weakest" Aftenbladet
About the director
Thor Bekkavik has directed the documentaries Advent and Rave-Zone, and the short films: Solitude, Revolver and Solitaire (the last of which won Best Short Film and Audience’s Choice, Zoomin 03, and competed in Venice 60 Corto Cortissimo). Furthermore, it was Bekkavik who directed The Malinatto Girls (received BAFTA Fuji Film awards and Special Mention at the Edinburgh Film Festival) His latest short: Revolver, won the Francisco García de Paso award at The 36th Huesca Film festival.
About the producer
Carsten Aanonsen is partner in Indie Film where he has produced commercials and documentaries since 1998. Previous to that he came from a producer position in Eureka Film & TV. He worked at NRK for the first time as a trainee in 1986 and for the last few years, both independently and through NRK, he has been involved in developing three large documentary drama series for primetime (Institusjonen, Orkesterliv and Hurtigruta). In 2006 he completed the acknowledged producer development course EAVE under the EU Media Program. He has previously won the Red Cross Humanitarian Award (2004), Sølvruten (1999), Gullruten (1998) and Noscar (1994).