Empire (2023 film)
{{Short description|2023 period drama film}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Empire
| image = Empire (2023 film).jpg
| director = Frederikke Aspöck
| writer = Anna Neye
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Nina Leidersdorff
- Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen
- Pernille Munk Skydsgaard}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Anna Neye
- Sara Fanta Traore}}
| cinematography = Linda Wassberg
| editing = Martin Schade
| music = Rasmus Bille Bahncke
| studio = {{plainlist|
- Meta Film
- Brain Academy
- Seven Islands Film
}}
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2023|1|29|Gothenburg|df=yes}}
| runtime = 93 minutes
| country = Denmark
| language = Danish
}}
Empire ({{langx|da|Viften}}) is a 2023 absurdist period drama film directed by Frederikke Aspöck from a screenplay by Anna Neye. It stars Neye and Sara Fanta Traore.
The film had its world premiere on 29 January 2023 at the 2023 Gothenburg Film Festival. It won the 2023 Nordic Council Film Prize.
Premise
In the Danish West Indies in 1848, Anna Elizabeth Heegaard, a wealthy "free colored" woman, maintains a close friendship with Petrine, her housekeeper who is enslaved. Meanwhile, rumors of a slave rebellion begin to circulate.
Cast
- Anna Neye as Anna Elizabeth Heegaard
- Sara Fanta Traore as Petrine
- Claus Riis Østergaard [https://da.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_Riis_%C3%98stergaard da] as Peter von Scholten
- Jesper Groth as Admiral Carl Irminger
[https://da.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Irminger da]
Production
The idea of the film was conceived during Neye's trip to Saint Croix in 2015, where she filmed a documentary about the history of black Danes.{{cite web|url=https://soundvenue.com/film/2023/04/ny-film-om-dansk-slavefortid-blander-brutalitet-og-humor-det-var-ekstremt-voldeligt-bare-at-skulle-sidde-og-tage-imod-alt-det-lort-517851|title=Ny Film om Dansk Slavefortid Blander Brutalitet og Humor: »Det Var Ekstremt Voldeligt Bare at Skulle Sidde og Tage Imod Alt Det Lort«|work=Soundvenue|date=17 April 2023|accessdate=12 July 2024|first=Jacob|last=Ludvigsen}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/empire-frederikke-aspock-anna-neye-denmark-goteborg-efm-1235255754/|title="We've Been Told A Completely Different Story About Danish History": How Frederikke Aspöck & Anna Neye Crafted Göteborg Colonial Satire 'Empire'|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=13 February 2023|accessdate=12 July 2024|first=Zac|last=Ntim}} In January 2021, the project received €144,700 funding from the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.{{cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/396481/|title=The Nordisk Film & TV Fond announces the recipients of its January round of funding|work=Cineuropa|date=13 January 2021|accessdate=12 July 2024|first=Davide|last=Abbatescianni|archive-date=3 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003214142/https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/396481/|url-status=live}}
The principal photography took place in Canary Islands in May and June 2021.
Release
Empire had its world premiere on 29 January 2023 at the Gothenburg Film Festival, competing for the Dragon Awards.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/goteborg-film-festival-nordic-talent-godland-empire-1235504316/|title=Göteborg Film Fest Champions New Nordic Talent, Addresses Colonialism With Screenings of 'Godland' and 'Empire'|work=Variety|date=27 January 2023|accessdate=12 July 2024|first=Marta|last=Balaga|archive-date=3 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003214238/https://variety.com/2023/film/global/goteborg-film-festival-nordic-talent-godland-empire-1235504316/|url-status=live}} REinvent acquired the film's international sales shortly after the world premiere.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/reinvent-international-lands-empire-by-frederikke-aspock-anna-neye-efm-1235253167/|title='Empire': Danish Satire From 'The Wife' Producer Gets Sales Deal After Goteborg Debut — EFM|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=9 February 2023|accessdate=12 July 2024|first=Zac|last=Ntim}}
The film was released in Danish theatres on 20 April 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.billedbladet.dk/kendte/se-billederne-kendte-gaester-til-premiere-paa-filmen-viften|title=Se billederne: Kendte gæster til premiere på filmen Viften|work=Billed Bladet|date=18 April 2023|accessdate=12 July 2024|first=Laura Dalgård|last=Hansen}} Netflix acquired its distribution rights, releasing it on 23 October 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.flixfilm.dk/den-danske-film-viften-faar-premiere-paa-netflix/|title=Den danske film 'Viften' får premiere på Netflix|work=Flixfilm|date=12 October 2023|accessdate=12 July 2024}}
Accolades
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|26242228}}
{{The Nordic Council Film Prize}}
Category:Danish historical drama films
Category:Danish satirical films