“No Tears” opens the NFL: an International Premiere from Sweden

„No Tears“, Director: Håkan Bjerking, Sweden 2006

The Nordic Film Days Lübeck will open this year with Håkan Bjerking’s “No Tears”. The Swedish family drama will be presented on Wednesday evening as an international premiere within the framework of the opening event with invited guests. Further screenings of the film for festival visitors are on Thursday, 2 Nov. at 2.15 pm in Kino 5, Friday, 3 Nov. at 4.45 pm in Kino 2, and Sunday, 5. Nov. at 2 pm in Kino 3.

We are particularly pleased that director Håkan Bjerking will be present at the opening press conference of the Nordic Film Days, which will take place this year for the first time in Kino 2 of the CineStar Filmpalast Stadthalle (Wednesday, 1 November, 5 pm).

“No Tears” is about the photographer Magnus (Per Graffman), who specialises in family portraits. But there is no photo of his own family, so he decides to create a collage of photos for his mother’s 75th birthday. Time is of the essence, for his father is dying. In his search for old photos, Magnus meets with considerable resistance from his siblings and his embittered mother. All of them fear that he will open old wounds. Magnus himself is tormented by memories of his childhood and his father’s unpredictable cruelty. But gradually he starts to find answers to his questions – questions he never before dared to ask.

This feature film directing debut of Håkan Bjerking, who has had years of experience as a producer in Sweden, takes the audience on an emotional roller-coaster ride that gathers in speed and intensity by the minute, increasingly linking episodes from the past with the storyline of the present. “No Tears” is a sensitive portrayal of how social norms and unwelcome truths can destroy the warmth of a family. Magnus’ father is played by the ever-charismatic Mikael Persbrandt (of “Beck” fame).

27 october 2006