Interview: Alumna Mika Gustafson, director of Venice Orizzonti-selected "Paradiset Brinner"
In 2020, Mika was selected for Berlinale Talents Script Station, to develop the script for her first fiction feature with her co-writer Alexander Öhrstrand. It revolved around three sisters growing up in a working-class area of Sweden, left to their own devices by an absent mother, and the challenges they must overcome in order to stay together.
Three years later, that script has evolved into her debut feature Paradiset Brinner (Paradise is Burning), which won her the Best Director prize at Venice's Orizzonti Competition. We caught up with the Swedish filmmaker to hear all about the film which, according to Mika, is a "declaration of love to sisterhood, to those who know your story and made you who you are. A bond that’s stronger than everything else. A blessing and a curse all at the same time."
How was "Paradise is Burning" first conceived? What was your inspiration for the story of young sisters left to their own devices and defences?
I wanted to make a film that I myself longed to see: Young girls that are complex characters, both strong and vulnerable, good and bad people, hilariously quirky and funny, and at the same time have a complex, and interesting ‘inner life’ too. I wanted to manage to make a film that was both punk and poetic at the same time.
After graduating from Valand Film Academy, I got a chance to participate in the Nordic Talents pitch. I knew it was about these sisters, but not much more, so my co-writer Alexander Öhrstrand and I sat down at an internet cafe in Albania, chain-smoking cigarettes, and took turns writing a synopsis. We sent it in, got accepted and then won a prize actually. And that's how it started.
Can you tell us a bit about the trajectory of the script? From the initial idea, your time developing it at the Berlinale Talents Script Station in 2020, to production?
The Nordic Talent pitch prize gave us some funds for developing the script, so we began writing, focusing on scenes, cinematic tone and characters. We eventually got accepted to a talent programme called Stockholm Debut and there we wrote the first draft. After that we got development funds from the Swedish film institute to keep on writing. We knew what we wanted to do in the end, but were a bit stuck and that is when Berlinale Talents Script Station really helped us. It was so important for the project and we love the festival, so THANK YOU! We were coached by the great Anita Voorham, who carried on as script consultant for us after Berlinale Talents. Eventually after many drafts, many days and nights of working hard, I finally feel I got the script where it should be. The finishing touches were done while visiting friends in the countryside. We were supposed to have a relaxed weekend and work outside in the garden together, but Alex and I just sat inside in a dark room writing the whole weekend!
When you were at Berlinale Talents, the working title of the project was "Sisters". What inspired the change to "Paradise is Burning?"
Because the film is a mix of punk and poetry, a soundtrack of freedom and despair, I also wanted the title to have that clash of opposites.
The actors who play the three sisters are amateurs. Can you tell us a little about the process of finding and working with them?
I knew quite early that my debut should be from a kid's perspective and therefore have been particularly focused on working with young amateur actors since I started making film. I adore actors, professionals and amateurs equally. Directing actors is something spiritual. At the same time, my directing method is easy - always put the actor first. It is all about creating trust and daring to challenge. Prepare - and then always be open to the unexpected to happen. It was a long casting process, ten months, or even more. Eventually Alex found Bianca [Delbravo] (Laura) outside a supermarket. Safira [Mossberg] (Steffi) was at the subway station, she had just missed her train and needed to wait for the next one when the casting director Elin Ström noticed her. And Elin found Dilvin [Asaad] (Mira) while scouting at her school. First time I met Dilvin, she looked me in the eyes and told me she was made to play Mira. I took her in for lots more call-backs, but I was actually quite convinced already.
Congratulations on your selection for Venice. How does it feel to have the film premiere in Orizzonti?
Totally amazing! For a film to be shown there is an honour in itself, but to now also be selected for the competition section Orizzonti. It is incredibly exciting!
Mika was born in Linköping, Sweden on April 25th, 1988.
In 2016 she graduated from Valand Film Academy. The same year, she received the Nordic Talents prize in Copenhagen.
Her graduation film Mephobia, won Iconoclastic prize at the Torino film festival and Best Actor at Premiere Plans.
Her documentary Silvana was awarded at the National film awards for best documentary in 2017. She was granted her own exhibition at Centre d’Art Contemporain de Genève. She was part of the Dragon Award Jury at Gothenburg International Film Festival (2019) and was selected to Berlinale Script Station in 2020 with her fellow scriptwriter Alexander Öhrstrand. Paradise is Burning is her first fiction feature.