The epic love story directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein (Midnight Sun) just started filming for Atmo Rights.

The €4.5m film will be one of Sweden’s most ambitious feature projects of 2018, under Nordisk Film distribution banner. Scripted by Mårlind, the film is inspired by the true story of two rival families running Stockholm amusement parks Gröna Lund and Nöjesfältet, determined to destroy each other when their young heirs Ninni Nilsson and John Lindgren unexpectedly fall in love. In the shadow of WW2, the family conflict escalates in a magical and swirling tale of war, treachery and forbidden love.

The young lovers are played by Albin Grenholm (Midnight Sun) and Swedish top model and upcoming actress Frida Gustavsson (Arne Dahl); Robert Gustafsson (The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared) and Helena af Sandeberg (The Hypnotist) play the Gröna Lund ruling couple Gustav and Nadeschda Nilsson, while Pernilla August and Lennart Jähkel (Miss Friman’s War) are Elina and Johan Lindgren.

Speaking to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, Stein said he and his long time directing partner Mårlind have been working for the last four years and a half on this possible screen adaptation. “When we first heard about this true story, we immediately thought: “Whoa this is a film! It was one of the best ideas we’d heard in a while. So we met the grand children of the two respective families, sat on long lunches with them and got anecdotes and stories from that time,” added Stein.

The film is produced by Kristina Åberg of Atmo Rights, in association with Nordisk Film, TV4, Filmregion Stockholm Mälardalen, Nordsvensk Filmunderhållning, Chimney Pot, Dagsljus, Parks & Resorts, TV4, support from the Swedish Film Institute and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

TrustNordisk handles world sales. Nordisk Film will release the film in Sweden on Christmas day in 2018.