Haugesund

Scratch

Bagland (Denmark)

By GUNNAR REHLIN

A Nordisk Film Distribution release of a Nimbus Rights production, in association with Zentropa Entertainments5, TV2, SVT Vast. (International sales: Trust Film Sales, Copenhagen.) Produced by Birgitte Skov, Bo Ehrhardt. Directed by Anders Gustafsson. Screenplay, Kim Leona, from an idea by Janus Nabil Bakrawi.
 
With: Stephanie Leon, Nickolas Dufour, Christopher Laesso, Sofie Helqvist, Marco Grimnitz, Sarah Boberg, Paw Henriksen, Lars Ranthe, Julie Carlsen, Mikkel "Remee" Sigvardt, Henrik Noel Olesen, Joel Hyrland, David Boyd, Soren Lenander, Omar Shargawi, Mette Fons, Thomas Bense, Jens Blegaa.
 

Directed by promising new Swedish helmer Anders Gustafsson and with an amazing perf by young, unknown actress Stephanie Leon, "Scratch" is a Danish youth pic that takes its audience as seriously as its subject. Drama about a teenage girl finding her own path in life looks to have legs beyond Scandi markets, especially following its unveiling in Berlin's Kinderfest next February. Already shown at the Haugesund and Copenhagen fests, film opens in Denmark on Christmas Day.

Leon plays Mille, a 17-year-old with a mother (Sarah Boberg) who's a drunk. Mille lives in a crowded, noisy, slightly rundown youth hostel in a Copenhagen suburb. Her b.f., Kenny (Nickolas Dufour), lives at the same hostel but both want to get a more private place of their own.

When Kenny is offered a flat, Mille moves in with him. But Kenny is more interested in boozing, smoking dope and playing vidgames with his pals than finding a job. So Mille supports them both with her job in a bakery.

Meanwhile, Mille has gotten to know an immigrant, Sami (Christopher Laesso), and ends up not only in his rap band but also in his bed. Kenny starts to suspect what's going on and becomes violently jealous.

But, what looks set to be another predictable story about the a girl choosing between her abusive b.f. and a nice immigrant boy actually turns into something else. In the end, "Scratch" is a story about a young girl finding herself in a confusing society, walking a straight line without any glances at the men around her.

Leon won best actress award at the Copenhagen fest, and it's easy to see why. Young thesp makes Mille a totally believable human being, torn between differing loyalties and a desire to chose her own way in life.

Helmer Gustafsson also looks set for a bright future, managing within the pic's brief running time to provide sharp, honest portrayals of young people in contempo Scandinavia. Widescreen lensing captures the look and mood of a typical rundown suburb, but shows its inhabitants without prejudice.

Camera (color, widescreen), Manuel Claro; editor, Asa Mossberg; music, Lars Daniel Terkelsen; art director, Nikolaj Danielsson; costume designer, Louize Nissen; sound (Dolby SRD), Christian H. Lund, Kristian Eidnes Andersen. Reviewed at Haugesund Film Festival, Norway, Aug. 23, 2003. (Also in Copenhagen Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival 2004 -- Kinderfest, competing.) Running time: 81 MIN.