Tognazzi begins lensing on Norsk's 'Greatest' pic

Norway's version of 'Star Is Born' based on Bjornson book

By JORN ROSSING JENSEN

HAUGESUND, Norway -- Norway's state-owned production company Norsk Film commenced principal photography Tuesday on "The Greatest Thing," a $4 million feature based on Norwegian author Bjornstjerne Bjornson's classic, "Fiskerjenten" (The Fishing Girl), it was announced at the Norwegian Intl. Film Festival in Haugesund.

Described by Norsk Film CEO Tom Remlov as "a Norwegian version of 'A Star Is Born,' " "The Greatest Thing" will be directed by Thomas Robsahm Tognazzi, whose "SOS" was screening in Haugesund as a nominee for the Nordic Amanda film prize.

A stage actress and recording artist, newcomer to the bigscreen Herborg Krakevik will play Petra, a young Norwegian girl who has to leave her home town rather suddenly, as she has simultaneously promised to marry three men.

Remlov packaged the co-production with Tognazzi's Speranza Film, adding financing from Denmark's Nordisk Film Production, Norwegian pubcaster NRK Drama, the Norway's Audiovisual Production Fund and local distributor Egmont Columbia TriStar.

At the Haugesund showcase, the international jury awarded Finnish directors Anastasia Lapsui and Markku Lehmuskallio's "Seven Songs From the Tundra" the Nordic Amanda as best Nordic feature.