FRED Film Radio - Interview with director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson on his film PARIS OF THE NORTH (Paris Nordursins)

FESTIVAL SYNOPSYS - Teacher Hugi, who resides in a village in eastern Iceland, receives an unexpected visit from his relatively young and largely estranged father. Their differing personalities – 37-year-old, recovering alcoholic Hugi is involved with the local temperance center, while his father betrays a tendency toward hedonism – become the source of multiple problems, and their ill-matched cohabitation undergoes various phases.

 

Rather than emphasizing the drama of the plot, Sigurðsson prioritizes the creation of an emotional atmosphere for this story of gradual rapprochement. The central characters’ belated adolescence is a key factor in the process of their reunion as they discover heretofore unknown aspects of their personalities and, along with it, an understanding for one another.

 

The dialogue here is often helpful in revealing the characters’ natures, even in the case of the supporting roles, without in any way disadvantaging the concise depiction of the environment or the musical component, which greatly contributes to the narrative’s melancholy mood.

 

 

Matt Micucci: This film deals with fatherhood and masculinity in very interesting ways.

Hafsteinn Gunnar Sugurdsson: Yes, essentially it is a film about a father and son relationship. I think in cinematic terms, there is more to be done with the theme of fatherhood than has been done - especially seeing as it is such a universal theme. Most people have a father, and sometimes their relationship with their father can be complicated. [...] Also, this film is not a macho film. Men are not perfect and we're not too afraid to reveal the vulnerabilities of these characters.

 

MM: The film is very cold and desolate place. How important was it?

HGS: The location was very important, in fact we had spent some time there before, and we had decided that we would love to have filmed there. But also, I think that yes, the place is really important but more than that we tried to focus on making a universal story [...]

 

MM: What are the tricks of doing comedy with an arthouse twist?

HGS: I think it's mostly about being sincere, and not laughing at things but rather laughing with things. I think that sometimes in life we take things to seriously, much like the lead character in this story who takes life too seriously. But really, sometimes we just have to be able to laugh at things.

 

 

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