We are delighted
to announce that TrustNordisk has boarded the life-affirming Norwegian family
drama THE CROSSING (working title) by upcoming director Johanne Helgeland. This
is Helgeland´s feature film debut and she has joined forces with renowned Maipo
Film, known for Sundance and Göteborg-selectee SONJA - THE WHITE SWAN (2018),
the worldwide-selling fantasy adventure THE ASH LAD (2017) and Academy Award-nominated
ELLING (2001), to mention a few.
About the film,
currently in production, director Johanne Helgeland comments: ‘To be able to tell an emotionally engaging and suspenseful story about
such a defining chapter of our human history as WW2 is, with a theme that is both relevant and important for kids today, has been an
important driving force through this project.´
THE CROSSING (working
title) tells the story of the adventurous 10-year-old Gerda and her brother
Otto whose parents are in the Norwegian resistance movement during
the Second World War. One day, just before Christmas in 1942, Gerda and Otto´s
parents are arrested, leaving the siblings on their own. Following the arrest,
they discover two Jewish children, Sarah and Daniel, hidden in a secret
cupboard in their basement at home. It is now up to Gerda and Otto to
finish what their parents started: To help Sarah and Daniel flee from the Nazis
cross the border to neutral Sweden and reunite them with their
parents. THE CROSSING (working title) is a film about the confidence,
uncompromising loyalty and great courage you can find in even the youngest of
children.
Susan Wendt,
Managing Director at TrustNordisk, expresses her excitement about the
project: ‘We are very much looking forward to working together with Maipo
and Johanne Helgeland on this unique story of a group of brave young children
during terrible war times.´
Local release is set for February 2020. English script available.
THE CROSSING (working title) is produced by Cornelia Boysen for Maipo Film
with support from The Norwegian Film Institute.
For more information, please click here.