The film produced by Sant & Usant with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond has an exceptional wide release on 100 screens, orchestrated by Euforia Distribution.
"Never before has a documentary film received such a large release in Norway, but we wanted it to reach as many people as possible at the same time," explains producer Anita Rehoff Larsen.
For her first feature length documentary, Kari Anne Moe had decided to tell a very personal story, the one of political engagement. She selected four youngsters from various political parties and filmed them between 2009 and the fall of 2011, hence before, during and after the Utøya and Oslo massacres. So the film is not about the tragic events and the aftermath but about the young generation of Norwegians who will remember forever July 22, 2011.
"The film will hopefully remind us of the engagement of those who fight for ideas and democracy and help us look for the future in a positive way," says the producer. "That generation of youngsters have experienced something never seen since WW2. They need to look forward and find their own way to stand up and keep fighting".
To pass the message to the youngsters and help them regain confidence in their nation's ability to maintain peace and democracy, Sant & Usant and Euforia are taking part in the initiative ‘Tidskapselen Til Ungdommen' (Time capsule to the Youth) whereby school pupils are invited to write letters to future generations telling about their views on July 22, 2011, on Norway today and in the future. The letters will be assembled as an artwork then locked in the national archives for 20 years, until 2031 when they will be opened and made available for the public and for research. Since August 22 the cast and crew of Bravehearts have been touring schools across Norway to promote the concept and the film. More promotional tours organised in collaboration with educational institutes will take place in September and October.
Bravehearts was produced by Sant & Usant in co-production with Sweden's Auto-Images and Germany's Majade. Deckert Distribution is handling world sales.
Sant & Usant has another documentary ready for delivery: When the Boys Return directed by Tone Andersen about very young Palestinians who return home after months or years in Israeli jails.