Screaming Fox Productions, Nordisk Film Sweden Ally With Tekele Productions on Suvi West’s ‘Máttáráhká’: ‘An Intersectional Version’ of ‘Barbie’ (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Marta Balaga Sara Beate Eira (Screaming Fox Productions) and Eva Åkergren (Nordisk Film Sweden) have boarded Finnish project “Máttáráhká,” aka “When Johan Johanaš Disappeared to the Mountains.” Directed by Suvi West, and Anssi Kömi, it’s produced by Julia Elomäki for Tekele Productions.

Cinematographer Kerttu Hakkarainen, behind “Heartbeast” and “Natatorium,” will lens the film. In “Máttáráhká” – presented at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market’s Discovery Co-production Platform – Máret, who’s a filmmaker, lives in a beautiful place where predators are always present.

Disillusioned by her culture’s chauvinism and indifference, her life changes thanks to a passionate relationship with Johan Johanaš, allowing her to confront sexual traumas and find her own path. “For me, it’s actually a comedy.

But maybe it’s just my dark and surrealistic mind. It’s definitely an empowering project. I call it an intersectional version of ‘Barbie,’” Suvi West told Variety. “It’s dark and grotesque, but there’s also magical realism.