Negative thinking is usually not the way to success. The Norwegian film maker Bård Breien proved otherwise when he won the Crystal Globe for Best Director for his debut film at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
11/07/2007 ::
The Art of Negative Thinking is Breien’s first feature. The lead character Geirr and his girlfriend Ingvild’s home is invaded by a municipal motivation group of handicapped. Geirr is a young but bitter man who got severely disabled after a car accident.
Ready for breakdown
Geirr is finally accepting a visit of the enthusiastic group, which wants to encourage Geirr to be more cheerful. However, Geirr refuses to take on a positive approach and gradually convinces the group that their situation is left with no hope. Still there is a glimpse of it after a drawn out night.
Risky business
Breien has also written the script of the film and Dag Alveberg has produced it for Maipo Minimal. It is Maipo Minimal’s first project and it endeavours to take on film talents and give them an opportunity to run risks in the business. The film was first screened in Norway last November.
Door opener
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic is on the A-list for film festivals in Europe, and is up there among festivals like Cannes, Berlin and Venice. The festival was arranged for 42. time this year and Norwegian films have continued to be wowed locally and internationally alike at Karlovy Vary.
Buddy and Reprise are other Norwegian films that have got international attention. In 2005 the internationally acclaimed Norwegian actor and director, Liv Ullmann, was presented with the Crystal Globe.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs