Canadian Premiere
Signe (Kristine Kujath Thorp) and Thomas’ (Eirik Sæther) relationship is so toxic that they should probably don hazmat suits. (Sorry, Joachim Trier: these are the worst people in the world.) And when he becomes a cause célèbre in conceptual art circles thanks to his inane installations of stolen chairs, Signe is suddenly starved for attention. What’s a self-aggrandizing narcissist to do but order black market meds from Russia that have been banned for hideous side effects that would leave Cronenberg averting his eyes? As her skin becomes a science experiment gone wrong and she starts coming apart at the seams, social media sympathy is fast to follow.
Taking cues from Tom Waits’ adage, “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things,” Kristoffer Borgli helms an immaculately shot and utterly merciless takedown of fame culture. As Signe gorges her pathological need for validation, Borgli’s transgressive satire serves as a wickedly comic reminder of how cringe-inducing the concept of “going viral” should be.
Media Partner
Community Partner
Kristine Kujath Thorp, Eirik Sæther, Fanny Vaager, Fredrik Stenberg Ditlev-Simonsen, Sarah Francesca Brænne, Ingrid Vollan
Norway
2022
In Norwegian with English subtitles
At VIFF Centre — Vancity Theatre
At The Rio
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
How to Divorce During the War
Screenwriter Vytus is left reeling when on successive days his wife demands a divorce and Russia invades Ukraine. Blazevicius' masterful feature emerges as an engrossing satire about virtue signaling, nationalism, good intentions, and survival modes.
Kindergarten
In this charming Quebecois documentary, we are invited to look closely at the interactions of children between the ages of 1 and 5, a period in which they are just beginning to learn about social interactions. And yet how much they resemble ourselves!
Chronovisor
A device so sensitive it can pick up emanations from history, the Chronovisor caused a ripple in scientific circles in the latter half of the 20th century, although most dismissed it as a hoax. But why would anyone want to suppress a hoax?
A Sad and Beautiful World
This Lebanese love story chronicles the romance between a level-headed businesswoman and a romantic restauranteur across several decades in wartorn Beirut. It's funny, charming, melancholy and you'll feel it all.
Credits
Producer
Andrea Berentsen Ottmar, Dyveke Bjørkly Graver
Screenwriter
Kristoffer Borgli
Cinematography
Benjamin Loeb
Production Design
Henrik Svensson
Original Music
Turns
Art Director
Mette Haukeland
Director
Photo by Bjarne Bare
Kristoffer Borgli
Kristoffer Borgli is a Los Angeles-based Norwegian writer and director. His numerous works of short and long format films have screened at festivals like Sundance and SXSW.
Filmography: Drib (2017)