Ingmar Bergman, Bo Widerberg, Ruben Östlund – and Filip and Fredrik.
The film success continues for Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson, and now they are in the film's fine room. Now Hollywood awaits, since the Film Institute has chosen their third feature film "The Last Journey" as Sweden's Oscar candidate.
It's clear that it's completely incredible to be part of such a context, but also the fact that it's about my family, says Filip Hammar via a link from Los Angeles, where he has lived for many years.
Talked to Dad
He has already had time to talk to his dad about the news. Dad Lars, who is the main character in the film.
The Filip-and-Fredrik documentary "The Last Journey" follows the elderly Lars Hammar, who is taken on a trip by his son to his beloved France to get the spark of life going again.
Last time I talked to him and said: "This is exciting", he said: "Yes, but first we have to talk about my elbow. It hurts again". That's how it is at home, but I know he's happy, he says.
Campaigning
Now an intense campaign awaits during the autumn to finally be nominated. This means a lot of traveling to launch the film internationally.
It's great fun. We've always toured with our films because we think it's great to meet an audience. This is a different kind of battle, but we're damn excited about it too, says Fredrik Wikingsson.
The last Swedish film to actually be nominated in the category was Ruben Östlund's "The Square" in 2017.
But can a documentary achieve success in a feature film category? Fredrik Wikingsson believes so. Abroad, where Filip and Fredrik are not known, the film has been received in a different way, as a drama with a universal theme.
I think it's a fairly timeless film about the impossibility of seeing a parent grow older and how you almost can shut yourself off from it and end up in denial. It's just as relevant all over the world.
A Needle's Eye to be Nominated
But at the same time, the needle's eye to be nominated is small. Fredrik Wikingsson takes a sports parallel
Yes, hell, it feels like you're the Faroe Islands and going to some qualifying match.
Over the years, 16 Swedish films have been Oscar-nominated in the category of best international feature film (previously called best non-English language film). Three, all by Ingmar Bergman, have won.
The Oscar gala takes place on March 2. Already on December 17, a first screening of the candidates will take place. Which five films will finally be selected for the gala will be revealed on January 17.
Here are the last ten years' Swedish Oscar candidates:
2015: "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" (Roy Andersson), 2016: "A Man Called Ove" (Hannes Holm), 2017: "The Square" (Ruben Östlund), 2018: "Border" (Ali Abbasi), 2019: "And then we danced" (Levan Akin), 2020: "Charter" (Amanda Kernell), 2021: "Tigers" (Ronnie Sandahl), 2022: "Boy from Heaven" (Tarik Saleh), 2023: "The Opponent" (Milad Alami). 2024: "The Last Journey" (Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson).
"The Square" is the latest film to be finally nominated in the category.
