{"id":1050,"date":"2021-04-14T08:50:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T12:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=1050"},"modified":"2021-05-08T11:45:34","modified_gmt":"2021-05-08T15:45:34","slug":"hope-a-cinematic-uff-da-for-maria-sodahls-cancer-survival-story-film-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=1050","title":{"rendered":"Hope, A Cinematic \u201cUff da\u201d For Maria S\u00f8dahl\u2019s Cancer Survival Story\u00a0 \u2013 Film Review\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hope <\/i>is the latest cinematic endeavour by Norwegian film director and screenwriter Maria S\u00f8dahl. The film was chosen as Norway\u2019s Official Selection and Shortlisted Entry for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd<\/sup> Academy Awards.<\/p>\n

From the very beginning, the film plunges us into the strife of Anja, her partner Tomas, and their six children, aged from 10 to 16. The motion pictures opens with some music by Verdi that turns out to be revelatory: an aria of Anastasio, Vedr\u00f2 con mio diletto<\/i>, that expresses the thoughts of a man on the eve of battle. And a battle it is indeed for the characters of this film; a war against terminal cancer, where every effort is made to hold on to some shred of hope.<\/p>\n

Anja lives with Tomas in an extended family of the children they share biologically, and the ones from Tomas\u2019 first marriage that Anja loves as her own. In the course of their twenty year relationship, the two adults have grown to be independent developing their creative professions that have often led them to travel alone. But when Anja gets her terminal cancer diagnosis, their self-sufficient existences shatter. They both feel the urge to cling to the other, exposing the years of neglected love and postponed union. This journey, through the abyss of sickness, seems to provide a second chance to this detached couple, that will grow closer than ever, trying to weather the storm together.<\/p>\n

After her debut feature with Limbo<\/i> in 2010, Maria S\u00f8dahl returns with a drama based on her personal experiences, after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer years ago \u2014 that led to a nine-year hiatus from filmmaking. Hope <\/i>conveys the reserve and composure of Nordic culture in sharing pain and suffering, as Andrea Br\u00e6in Hovig (playing Anja) and Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd (as Tomas) heighten the craft of acting, as they interiorise turmoil and struggle throughout their performance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The drama gives to the Christmas holiday season a daunting twist, as Anja discovers that her constant headaches are caused by an edema and tumour on Christmas Eve, and her medical journey continues throughout the New Year, until the day of the surgery on January 2nd<\/sup>. In this brief time, the entire lifetime she and Tomas had continuously delayed, including marriage, is brought to completion. The couple is somehow putting its affairs in order, and trying to live to the fullest, although every ceremonious moment seems like a death sentence. Family comes first, and the children must be protected. Even a doctor will voice out the importance of the film\u2019s title, when he tells Anja and Tomas: \u201cyou should give children 10% more hope than you have yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The film, distributed by\u00a0KimStim, will have its theatrical (and virtual) release at Film Forum in New York City, at Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles, and in many other cities including Chicago, Seattle and Washington DC, on April 16, 2021.<\/p>\n

Hope<\/i>, has so far been part of the official selection at Toronto, Palm Springs and Berlin film festivals, and winner of multiple awards and the nominee for two European Film Awards.\u00a0After its much acclaimed success, in January 2021 it was announced that Nicole Kidman\u00a0<\/b>has bought the rights to the film, to star in the\u00a0series adaptation, that will be co-produced by her production company, Blossom Films, and Amazon Studios.<\/p>\n

The whirlwind of emotions traversed by Anja, epitomises the Norwegian phrase, \u201cUff da,<\/i>\u201d that is used to express dismay, discomfort, surprise and empathy towards something lamentable. This phrase has become part of American expressions, since it was brought to the United States during the 19th <\/sup>century Norwegian immigration wave. Therefore this locution can serve as the perfect trait d\u2019union between Maria S\u00f8dahl\u2019s Norwegian version of Hope<\/i>, and the American adaptation we shall see with Nicole Kidman. This universal cancer survival story, will thus continue its cinematic narrative with a new \u201cUff da<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n