Possne's SF Comedy Leads Local Chart

When Possne joined the Scandinavian major a year ago as CEO of the production entity Sonet Film, part of the group but operating independently from SF's own production department, Swedish mogul was clear about his strategy : to make Swedish mainstream movies that could compete with Hollywood blockbusters. His first trial was bang on target. Released on 157 screens last Friday, Vi hade I alla fall tur went directly to the top, with 55,282 admissions.

The follow-up to the 1980 cult movie directed by Kjell-Åke Andersson is one of three Swedish films in the Swedish Top Ten released by SF. Rallybrudar has now sold 229,877 tickets in its ninth week, and in its second weekend, Involuntary increased its ranking from tenth to eighth place, for a total of 10,962 admissions from 16 screens. Number nine in the Top Ten, Let the Right One In has passed 120,000 admissions for Sandrew Metronome in its seventh week.

In Denmark, Lotte Svendsen's Max pinlig, which she adapted from her DR TV-series Max, charmed Danish audiences and film critics alike. The film produced by Per Holst (Asta Film) sold almost 30,000 tickets from 80 screens, taken the second place in its opening weekend. Only one other Danish film was at the Top ten: Terribly Happy, now the sixth most successful Danish film of the year with 234,567 admissions.

While waiting for next week's highly anticipated release of Max Manus, Norway had to do with a seventh position for its animation film Kurt Turns Evil, nearing the 90,000 admissions after six weeks for Nordisk Film. Just under Kurt, the comedy Fatso sold another 2,555 tickets, pushing figures up to 137,079 in its seventh week for Scanbox.

Finland's love affair with Niko the reindeer continues in full as the animation film is still the number one local title after nine weeks. Total admission figures for Niko & the Way to the Stars are now at 176,363. The film was third last weekend on the top ten Finland after Madagascar 2 and Quantum of Solace. The quality adult movie Fallen Angels released by Sandrew Metronome, entered the chart at number five with 3,235 admissions. At number six, the re-release of Christmas Story (last year's top local film), brought another 2,674 admissions for Sandrew Metronome. Total admissions are now at 281,615. The fourth Finnish film at the Top ten, The Novelist (Nordisk Film), kept remarkably strong in its 11^th week, and added 1,337 admissions (total 114,575).

Iceland's Reykjavik Rotterdam, winner of five Eddas including Best Director for Óskar Jónasson, has now sold 26,569 tickets in 10 weeks for Sena.

(Source: Danish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Filmwebrapportserver, SMAIS, Filmägarnas kontrollbyrå)

"I read that it's foreign entertainment journalists who have been GIVING out the award since 1944. I've won a Golden Globe earlier, but it was such a long time ago."

The legendary director commenting on his Golden Globe nomination for Everlasting Moments