FEBRUARY 2009 27
When did you begin writing and then who are involved in TV and film and a pression. It’s to tell a story or maybe
filming O’Horten? few media companies. Then there is also it’s even deeper than that—to belong
auteur like me. We have a lot of different maybe.
The whole process was kind of different ways of producing things. We only have
from the other films I wrote. O’Horten was a population of 5 million in Norway. It is Have you had any moments like the
very unlike Factotum and my other films hard to have a film industry and it is even protagonist Odd where you see your-
which were more focused ideas. Kitchen harder when the movies are in English. self getting older and wondering what
Stories was based on a book from the you want to do with your life?
1950s. With O’Horten, I didn’t have any Your films all seem to be very focused
basic idea when I started. The story was on the lives of people just going about Yes. When you write a story and direct
pieced together for I don’t know how their ordinary lives… it, there is always something related to
long. All the ideas came from different your own life. When I was 30 or 40 I was
places. I had a few of the scenes before I Yes. I like to think I can do different mov- never depressed. But now, maybe it’s
knew where to use them. When I figured ies. I have made five pictures but I find because of my children. I just want to be
out that he was an engineer I started to it interesting to examine midlife and to around for them.
write it. look at the extraordinary in the ordinary.
If you look at it closer it is very interest- How old are they?
You have said you are your own pro- ing. With O’Horten, his story represents
ducer. So how does that work? much more than just his situation. I hope They are 13 and 8. In fact, the youngest
I have achieved a film where you can kid is in the movie. I had to bargain with
However I can finance a film I do. I come recognize something even if you are in him to do the part. I had to get him a
from a country with a small linguistic area another stage in life. There is something Play Station 3 and now he wants to
and we have a good supporting system universal about it. renegotiate the deal.
from the government. The government
can give us anywhere from 20% to 75% Who influenced you cinematically? You must have really wanted him to
of the budget and the rest you get from play the part…
private sources. It’s hard to say when I I never answer that question. I have been
am a writer and producer and a director influenced by so many things. It seems I was kind of lazy to go out and find the
because it is hard to separate them out. like the wrong question. I find inspiration young kid and audition. It’s hard. And I
Of course when I direct I am focused but in art, in anything that inspires. knew that he could do it. My wife helped
I also feel to a certain extent I am the me with the rehearsals.
writer taking care of my ideas and I see This film is dedicated to your mother
it from a producer’s point of view. the ski jumper—is she still alive? If
so, what did she say of the film? Do you have any desire to make a
You learn to become the producer by Hollywood studio film?
necessity… Yes, it ended that way and I wrote it in
quite early. But then I was embarrassed I always say that I am really open-mind-
Yes. You can’t have the idea and then and thought it was too personal to me. ed. There are few people from here who
have it come together without being a But then with people who read it they have gone over to the United States and
producer. You have to be prepared with said I should keep it in. Hopefully it gives are so disappointed. I went over there
an argument. That is the best way to pre- dimension to the character of the moth- and made an independent film but I
pare when you are going in to finance it. er. My mother was a tomboy and took knew what to expect. I am not killing for
It has always been a way to take care of me around everywhere. Unfortunately, it, But if I see a film that I am interested
my ideas she died 10 years ago. in then, yes, why not?
Is there a studio system per se in Why did you to become a movie
Norway? director?
No. You can hardly talk about an indus- I still don’t know. I think it is basically
try here. There are a few big producers because it is a basic mechanism of ex-
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