“the half brother”starring nicolai cleve broch frank kjosås jon

It’s not what you see that matters, but what you think you see
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY LARS SAABYE CHRISTENSEN
FOTO&DESIGN: KJERAND NESVIK
A SUSPENSE SERIES OF 8X45 MIN
MONSTER FILM AS PRESENTS “THE HALF BROTHER” STARRING NICOLAI CLEVE BROCH FRANK KJOSÅS JON ØIGARDEN GHITA NØRBY AGNES KITTELSEN MARIANN HOLE MARIANNE NILSEN BASED ON THE NOVEL THE HALF BROTHER BY LARS SAABYE CHRISTENSEN
DIRECTED BY PER-OLAV SØRENSEN SCREENPLAY BY METTE MARIT BØLSTAD DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN CHRISTIAN ROSENLUND FNF AND LARS VESTERGAARD DFF PRODUCTION DESIGN ANNA ASP COSTUME DESIGN KAREN FABRITIUS GRAM SUPERVISING EDITOR WIBECKE RØNSET SOUND DESIGN GISLE TVEITO COMPOSER KRISTIAN EIDNES ANDERSEN
CO-PRODUCERS TONE RØNNING NRK PRODUCERS OLAV ØEN AND HÅKON BRISEID IN CO-PRODUCTION WITH NRK SVT YLE RUV SUPPORTED BY NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE NORDISK FILM & TV FOND FUZZ MEDIA NORDIC DISTRIBUTOR SF NORGE A/S WORLD SALES SF INTERNATIONAL
SYNOPSIS
The Half Brother is a drama series of eight 45-minute
episodes, based on Lars Saabye Christensen’s novel by
the same name, being developed by Monster Film for
the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
Revolving around the life of un-produced screenwriter
Barnum Nilsen, The Half Brother is a dramatic family
saga that offers a historical parable of 20th century Europe.
On V-Day, May 1945, as a continent emerges from war,
Barnum’s mother Vera is raped in her attic in Oslo by an
unknown man, leading to the birth of Barnum’s half brother,
Fred. When Barnum is born five years later, fathered by the
man that Vera has since met and married, the Nilsen family,
like Europe, is already splitting in two. Growing up together
during the Cold War – Barnum with his father, Fred searching
for his – the half brothers become estranged and Fred
eventually disappears. At the film festival in Berlin in 1990,
as the Wall is still coming down, Barnum learns that Fred has
returned. Finally, as the true identity of Fred’s father comes
to light, the two half brothers may once again be reunited.
EPISODES
1.
Liberation day, 1945. The three women residing in Kirkeveien,
Vera, Boletta and the Elder, prepare for a celebration of the peace.
However, when Vera heads to the attic to fetch dresses suitable for the
occasion, she is assaulted and raped. Nine months later Fred is born in
a taxi. 43 years have passed when Vera’s other son, Barnum and his
girlfriend Vivian, is back in
the attic in search of furniture for their new apartment.
Here, they stumble upon Vera’s
old camera, still intact.
On the film they find a picture
of Barnum’s half-brother
Fred, who disappeared 22
years ago. Mysteriously,
at some stage it seems he
returned here. Why?
2.
Arnold, peddler and professional clown, move in with the women.
After a few years Arnold and Vera have Barnum, their son. Due to
the controversial nature of the boy’s name, the priest in Oslo refuses to
baptize him. Thus, the newly formed family head back to the more liberal
Røst, whom Arnold left as a young boy, to get Barnum baptized.
Adult Barnum continues the
search for his long lost halfbrother Fred, and his endeavors
propels him to a journalist
who wrote about Fred when
he was a young, promising
boxer many years ago.
3.
Fred is searching for his biological father. A short while after the
Elder reveals what she knows, his grandmother dies and Fred is
struck mute. An old acquaintance of the Elder prompts the family towards
a vacation to Denmark, and Fred’s voice returns once again.
Adult Barnum continues the search for Fred. In order to draw attention to
his disappearance,
he has a fake article
printed in a major
newspaper, regarding
two murders Fred
supposedly is guilty
of, to Vivian’s great
disapproval.
4.
When Vera realizes that young Barnum doesn’t have any friends,
she sends her son off to dancing school. Barnum, upon following
Fred’s advice on acting the complete opposite of normal, is consequently
kicked out of school. His abnormal behavior is noticed by Peder and
Vivian, who like Barnum, is there against their will. Fred continues his
search for the man
who entered the
gates of the apartment complex on
liberation day, his
father, whilst adult
Barnum stumbles
upon new clues
concerning Fred’s last
where-abouts before
he disappeared.
EPISODES
5.
The friendship between Vivian, Peder and young Barnum is
flourishing, and Barnum has never been happier. As it were,
Barnum has quite the pitching arm, and when Arnold rents Bislet stadium
to teach the lads how to throw the discus, Fred’s accuracy is more precise
than Arnold ever could have imagined. The discus hits Arnold in the head,
killing him instantly.
Adult Barnum and
Vivian receive a
pleasant surprise, but
simultaneously their
relationship is ridden
with dishonesty.
6.
On Arnold’s burial, the arrival of the circus director Mundus causes
quite a stir amongst the family. He reveals bits of their late father’s
past, and the bereaved are in for a surprise or two. Under the memorial
they also learn that the disappearance of a valued family treasure,
a letter from the Elder’s former boyfriend written in Greenland before
he disappeared in the
glacier, was Arnold’s
doing. Fred wants it
back. Adult Barnum
realizes that if he is
to find Fred, he must
find the letter.
7.
Young Barnum
receives a typewriter
from Fred for his birthday,
and a writer is born.
Barnum’s feelings for Vivian
grow ever fonder, but when
he realizes that Fred likes her
as well and confronts him,
the half-brother disappears.
Several years later they find
Fred’s jacket in Nyhavn,
Copenhagen, and the
family arrange a funeral for
the missing brother and son.
8.
Barnum decides to
leave Vivian, and
heads back to Røst to get on
the wagon. Incidentally, Røst
is precisely where he at last
finds the answers to the halfbrother riddle. When Peder
invites him over to Berlin
to sell screenplays, Barnum
joins him. However, Boletta
quickly sends for his immediate
return. Fred’s back.
MAIN CAST
NICOLAI CLEVE BROCH
as adult Barnum
Nicolai Cleve Broch is one of Norway’s most popular
actors. He trained at the Academy of Theatre in Oslo and
has worked on several stages in Norway. He also has a
long career working on television series and feature films,
such as Buddy, URO, Max Manus, and Lønsj.
Oskar Sandven Lundevold plays the young Barnum.
FRANK KJOSÅS
as Fred
After graduating from the Academy of Theatre in Oslo,
Frank Kjosås made his debut in Hair at Det Norske
Teatret in 2006. He has since appeared in a number
of lead roles at that same theatre including Peter Pan,
Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Gabe in Next to Normal,
and Che in Evita. He has also starred in features such as
Erik Poppe’s Troubled Water, House of Fools and 5 Lies.
AGNES KITTELSEN
as Viv ian
The award-winning actress Agnes Kittelsen trained
at the Academy of Theatre in Oslo, and has performed
on various stages in Norway. She has appeared in many
TV series and feature films such as Max Manus (for which
she won an Amanda (Norwegian Oscar) and Kanonsprisen
for her role as Tikken Manus), Happy Happy and the
popular TV series Dag. She plays a leading role in
the feature Kon Tiki.
Vibeke Bugge plays the young Vivian.
MARIANN HOLE
as Vera
After graduating from the Academy of Theatre in 2007,
Mariann Hole made her debut as Ophelia in Hamlet at
Riksteatret. She is currently employed at the National
Theatre in Oslo where she has performed in a number
of lead roles.
JON ØIGARDEN
as Arnold
Jon Øigarden is one of Norway’s most popular actors.
He is known for his performances on the stage, television
and in feature films. He has played in the popular TV
series Berlinerpoplene and the comedy Helt Perfekt,
as well as the feature films Comrade Pedersen, Curling
King, Norwegian Ninja, People in the Sun, Fuck Up, and A Somewhat Gentle Man.
GHITA NØRBY
as The Elder
The well-known and award-winning Danish actress
Ghita Nørby has a long career behind her. She made
her debut in 1956 and has appeared in over 100 different
films and several TV series. She won the Bodil Award
(the Danish equivalent of the Oscar) four times, making
her the most awarded actress in the history of the Bodil
Award.
MARIANNE NIELSEN
as Bolet ta
Marianne Nielsen trained at the Academy of Theatre
in Oslo and has been working at Den Nationale Scene
in Bergen since 1988. She has received several awards for
her performances. She has also appeared in Norwegian
TV series and feature films such as Varg Veum-Sleeping
Beauty and Comrade Pedersen.
OLA G. FURUSETH
as Peder
Ola G. Furuseth trained at the Arts Educational Schools
in London. He performed on the stage in Trondheim
before moving to the Oslo Nye Teater, where he
currently works.
Henrik Holm plays the young Peder.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Per Olav Sørensen
The Half Brother is a literary work that in many ways is wellsuited for TV dramatization (adaptation). The novel is filled
with interesting situations, exciting characters, spectacular
events, wonderful locations, and dramatic turning points.
Moreover, the main characters must struggle through so much
to achieve their realization toward the end of thestory that the
basic dramaturgical engine could hardly be any better.
When making a TV-series out of a novel it is not as easy as
just cutting the book in eight half’s. Since we wanted to keep
the novels jumping in time and not tell it as a traditional
chronological story, we had to take some dramaturgical and
director choices in the writing phase. The novels driving force
is the myth around the main character’s half brother. Who is
the half brother’s father? And does the brother actually live?
Therefor we have reinforced the story of the main character’s
search for answers.
The TV- series includes elements from crime stories in both
the script and in the director choices. We want the viewers to
take part in the search, both back in time, and in the present.
We want “everybody” to join us finding the half brother,
and who his father really is.
As for the visual plan, the history has given the photographers
John Christian Rosenlund and Lars Vestergaard, set designer
Anna Asp and myself the possibility to go both epic, wide
and beautiful. But this is not on the expenses of what The Half
Brother really is all about; which is the heartbreaking portrait
of a handful amazing characters.
DIRECTOR
Per Olav Sørensen
The director, writer and producer Per Olav Sørensen
has a long career within feature films, TV and the theatre.
He has directed TV series such as Seks som oss and Honningfellen (NRK), and the feature People in the Sun. Several of his theatre
productions have become international successes (“TanGhost”
and “KOM!”) and have toured around the world. Sørensen is
the only Norwegian director to have won or been nominated
for all the most prestigious Norwegian awards; Amandaprisen
(the Norwegian equivalent of the Oscar), Heddaprisen, Komiprisen, and Gullruten (the Norwegian equivalent of the Emmy).
CINEMATOGRAPHERS
John Christian Rosenlund & Lars Vestergaard
John Christian Rosenlund has been working with feature
films for over 25 years. He has photographed 20 features and
some 800-1000 commercials for countries all over the world.
Several of the features have been included in the official program
in both Cannes and Berlin. Beside “classic” film awards, John
has received “the golden clapperboard”, twice won the Kodak
Cameraman of the Year and the “Aamot Statuette” (one of the
highest ranking awards in the Norwegian film industry).
Lars Vestergaard is an award-winning Danish cinematographer
who has shot many TV series, feature films and commercials.
He has worked on Norwegian TV series such as Harry and
Charles, for which he won the Norwegian Gullruten award.
Further works include Emmy-winners The Eagle and The Unit,
and the feature film We Shall Overcome, which received over
25 international awards.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Anna Asp
The Swedish art director Anna Asp designed many of the
later films of famed director Ingmar Bergman. She began
her career after graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts
in Stockholm, and has worked with several other prominent
Scandinavian directors, including Billie August and Andrei
Tarkovsky. In 1983, Asp won an Oscar for her work in
Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander.
PRODUCERS
Olav Øen & Håkon Briseid
Olav Øen started the entertainment house MONSTER and
has worked as its CEO for many years. He produced the TV
series Kalle and Molo, the Emmy-nominated series Boys Will
Be Boys, and the features Weekend, Gone with the Woman,
and Orps - The Movie.
Producer Håkon Briseid is manager for the department
Monster Film. He has worked on several productions such
as Orps, Gone with the Woman and Kunsten å tenke negativt.
He has produced the TV series NAV and Nattskiftet.
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Monster Film AS
The companies were established by Trond Kvernstrøm
and Olav Øen in the fall of 2001. Today, Monster is an
Entertainment House that creates and produces television
programs, commercials, feature films and experiences.
Monster is part of NICE Entertainment Group, the last
group of independent production companies in the Nordic
region.
INTERNATIONAL SALES
Svensk Filmindustri AB
Svensk Filmindustri is Scandinavia’s largest film company
operating in every major Scandinavian territory. A market
leader for more than 90 years, Svensk Filmindustri is active in
all facets of the industry i.e. production, exhibition, theatrical
distribution, home video distribution, television distribution
and multimedia distribution. Svensk Filmindustri is a subsidiary
of the Bonnier Group - the major media company in the
Nordic region.
MAIN CAST
Nicolai Cleve Broch
Oskar Sandven Lundevold
Frank Kjosås
Jon Øigarden
Ghita Nørby
Agnes Kittelsen
Vibeke Bugge
Mariann Hole
Marianne Nielsen
Ola G. Furuseth
Henrik Holm
CREW
Directed by: Per-Olav Sørensen
Screenplay by: Mette Marit Bølstad
Director of Photography: John Christian Rosenlund, FNF /
Lars Vestergaard, DFF
Production Design: Anna Asp
Costume Design: Karen Fabritius Gram
Supervising Editor: Wibecke Rønseth (NFK)
Sound Design: Gisle Tveito
Composer: Kristian Selin Eidnes Andersen
Co-producers: Tone Rønning, NRK
Delegate Producer: Nina B. Andersson
Producers: Olav Øen & Håkon Briseid
Production Company: Monster Film
In co-production with: NRK, SVT, YLE, RUV
Supported by: Norwegian Film Institute /
Nordisk Film & TV Fond / Fuzz / Media
International Sales: AB Svensk Filmindustri
PRODUCTION FACTS
Genre: Suspense / Drama
Based on the novel by: Lars Saabye Christensen
Country of Origin: Norway
Production Year: 2012
First Release: January 2013
Format: 16:9
Sound: 5.1
Duration: 8x45 min.
Credits not contractual
International Sales: AB Svensk Filmindustri
SE-169 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 680 35 00 / Fax: + 46 8 710 44 60
international@sf.se / www.sfinternational.se