'It's about the refugees today': Erik Poppe on the contemporary angle of Haugesund winner 'The Emigrants'

Norwegian director Erik Poppe revives Vilhelm Moberg's famous series of novels in "The Emigrants", his new historical drama film about a struggling Swedish family who emigrates to the United States in 1849, in search of a better future.

"It's probably the most classic piece of literature in all of Scandinavia", a-t he told Variety, about the 2022 Haugesund Film Festival winner ahead of its national premiere at the 50th Norwegian Haugesund International Film Festival.

That's why when he was approached to direct the film, he only had only one caveat: he had to make it his own.

"SF Studios tried to develop it for years, with another director, but they didn't couldn't crack it. I agreed to take over on the condition that I could start all over again. To focus on what I thought was the most interesting part: the story of Kristina and her husband Karl-Oskar, their children and their escape.

Written by Anna Bache-Wiig and Siv Rajendram Eliassen and produced by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, "The Emigrants" is distributed by SF Studios. REinvent International Sales manages sales.

Played by Lisa Carlehed, Kristina quickly became the beating heart of the film, with Poppe fully committed to put a female point of view first. Gustaf Skarsgård was cast as Karl-Oskar, with pop star Tove Lo also starring.

"I was curious to know how she felt about all of this, as mother and as a wife. What was it like coming to this new country and realizing that your family is ready to take all the opportunities it has to offer?" he wonders.

"I've done nine movies now and five of them had female leads. I I was raised without a mother, so I guess I'm just curious about them. I care about them. I respect the ongoing discussion [about representation], but we should be able to tell all the stories. I don't see why, as a man, I should only stick to those that relate to other men.

While trying to reflect the reality of the times through the costumes and sets, he wanted keep things "simple". and natural. »

"I wanted it to be truthful. That's why the camera was handheld, c "That's why there was this documentary touch. Things seem so staged in those epic movies sometimes. You can feel the whole crew breathing down your neck," he says.

The Emigrants Credit: Paradox/SF Studios

"I shot in natural light and wanted to get really close to these people. Be with them , above all ...