The Swedish comedy drama produced by Nordisk Film Production is Novotny’s third film as a director following Blind Spot and Britt Marie Was Here.

Filming is underway in Ystad and Malmö.

Novotny has hired again for the title role Norway’s Pia Tjelta whose performance in the Nordic Council Film Prize nominated Blind Spot earned her top female acting prizes in San Sebastian and at the Norwegian Amanda Awards.

In Diorama, Tjelta plays Frida who lives with Björn (Dencik). We follow their love story, from passion to marriage to family life, partly from a scientific perspective. The film will question what the director calls ‘biological human monogamy’, how human behaviour and the pattern of couple relationships really differ from those of the animal world.

“It is a privilege to be able to examine the patterns of duality, with the help of both research and science, circus artists, animals and some of Scandinavia's best actors,” said Novotny who plans to use both drama and humour to challenge societal norms and stigma about relationships. “Maybe Diorama can offer some comfort or an insight. If nothing else, it will be entertaining!”, she said.

The film produced by Eva Åkergren, is co-produced by René Ezra of Nordisk Film Production Denmark and Sveinung Golimo of Nordisk Film Production Norway, with co-financing from SVT, DR, support from the Swedish Film Institute, the Norwegian Film Institute, Ystad-Österlen Film Fund and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

The Swedish premiere is scheduled for 2022.