Lasse Hallström To Direct Hilma af Klint Biopic
Viaplay has announced its commitment to produce two major English language films every year that bring the stories of complex and inspirational Nordic figures and events to international audiences. The first movie in this project will be Hilma, a biopic of the revolutionary Swedish artist and feminist pioneer Hilma af Klint, written and directed by Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules) with Lena Olin (Riviera) and Tora Hallström (Hachi) to star.
Hilma will explore the enigmatic life of Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), whose unconventional art and spirituality meant that her 1,300 works remained largely unknown for decades. Today, af Klint is recognised as one of the Western world’s first abstract artists – an achievement made even more impressive by the static, male-dominated artistic scene that surrounded her.
Lasse Hallström: “I’ve spent three years trying to understand the mystery of Hilma af Klint. This is a story about an unwavering search for the truth about humanity and the universe, at a time when men made all the rules. Despite so many obstacles, Hilma created art that influences our lives today. My ambition is for the audience to experience these struggles with all their senses.”
Viaplay CEO, Anders Jensen, said: “The impact that women and men from the small countries in the Nordics have had on the world is nothing less than extraordinary. Many are of course very well known, but others are less known or even almost unknown. We want to share these stories with the world and hopefully find new perspectives that will both enlighten and entertain.”
Hilma will premiere exclusively on Viaplay across the Nordic region in 2022.