Hasse Ekman showcased at MoMA September 09 – September 18, 2015
Thursday 10th September 2015 sees the centenary of the birth of Hasse Ekman. To mark the occasion, ten of the films he wrote and directed will be screened at one of the world’s most famous museums, New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Behind this initiative, named The Other Swede in the Room, is Swedish film scholar Fredrik Gustafsson, who also selected the ten films.
Hasse Ekman in Changing Trains (1943). He both directed and starred in the film. Photo: Terra Film / Telepicture Marketing
Hasse Ekman (1915-2004) was a multi-facetted filmmaker, a true auteur, active from 1940 and 1965 and best known for his dramas and intelligent comedies in which he often played a leading role. With autobiographical elements in many of his films, his heyday was from 1943-1953 when film critics regarded him as the leading Swedish filmmaker. Gradually, however, he became overshadowed in competition with Ingmar Bergman. His last film was Niklasons (1965), Sweden’s first-ever sitcom.
“Naturally it’s very exciting that MoMA is hosting this major focus on Hasse Ekman, the first ever in the US. When I contacted them to sound out their interest they jumped at the opportunity, and the project has progressed very smoothly indeed. Interest in Ekman as an artist has grown in Sweden in recent years, and I’m hoping this may mark his (rather belated) major international breakthrough,” says the Swedish Film Institute’s Fredrik Gustafsson, author Hasse Ekman – a Question of Authorship in a National Context (University of St Andrews).
Fredrik Gustafsson’s study of Hasse Ekman will be published in English in autumn 2016.
The selection of films aims to showcase Ekman’s scope and depth. The ten works are The First Division (Första divisionen), Flames in the Dark (Lågor i dunklet), Changing Trains (Ombyte av tåg), Wandering with the Moon (Vandring med månen), Royal Rabble (Kungliga patrasket), The Banquet (Banketten), The Girl from the Third Row (Flickan från tredje raden), Girl with Hyacinths (Flicka och hyacinter), Gabrielle and The Halo Is Slipping (Med glorian på sned). All the films come from The Swedish Film Institute.
The showcase is organized by Dave Kehr, Adjunct Curator, Department of Film, MoMA. Special thanks to Jon Wengström and Johan Ericsson, The Swedish Film Institute; and Charlotta Bjuvman, Telepicture Marketing, Ltd.
Another Swedish event at MoMA right now is Ingrid Bergman- A Centennial Celebration, which marks Ingrid Bergman’s own 100th anniversary and runs until 10th September. Ingrid Bergman and Hasse Ekman starred together in the original Swedish version of Intermezzo (1936).
Contacts
Fredrik Gustafsson: fredrik.gustafsson@filminstitutet.se
Head of press: Jan Göransson jan.goransson@filminstitutet.se
Published 09 September 2015