| Jag
är nyfiken film by Stig Björkman
Stig Björkman's film is part of a major project where 15 directors have been commissioned to make their own documentary about film, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the medium. Björkman's is about Nordic film, though by no means in a linear or conventional way, rather in a personal and affec- tionate. The audience is guided by Lena Nyman through a number of film sequences and interviews with leading figures in Nordic film. These conversations are extremely varied, both in appearance and content. Their common quality is that they are reflexive, they not only refer to film by talking about it, but each conversation is constructed in such a way that we be-come aware of the film process. The choice of Lena Nyman as guide was obvious considering the title of the film - Nyman features as the frank and easy-going interviewer in the film I Am Curious: Yellow (1967) by Vilgot Sjöman. Most of Björkman's film contains re-ferences to Nordic film history in one way or another. Apart from Nyman herself, who talks about cinematic close ups, we get to meet the Danish director Lars von Trier who in his easy-going, yet thoughtful manner talks about the art of the actor, and his fellow countryman Carl Th. Dreyer. Layered with quotes and sequences from various films, we see Nyman in conversation with the master cameraman Sven Nykvist, who talks about the importance of lighting. He mostly talks about Bergman. Bergman's presence in the film, as in Nordic film history, is very tangible. Liv Ullman speaks of another Bergman, Ingrid, and her impressions of her. We also get to meet the silent film director Georg af Klercker, played by the actor Björn Granath, a role he has previously acted in a play based on a script by Ingmar Bergman... The metafilm reference continues. Erland Josephson talks about the art of the actor and Bergman. The Icelandic director Fridrik Thór Fridriksson talks of Icelandic film and nature. The view of Nordic film is wide and extensive. During a walk through the centre of Stockholm, Stefan Jarl and Nyman discuss the explosive potential of the documentary and about documentary filmmaker Arne Sucksdorff. Astrid Henning-Jensen and Eva Isaksen talk about their experiences as women directors, and about the role of women in Nordic film. The most inspiring and exhaustive conversation Nyman has is with the Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki. In a bar in Helsinki, as if taken from one of his own films, he talks of inspiration and impulses. His advice to the audience is "Keep your eyes open. There are stories everywhere!" |