Bestselling Book "Jävla karlar" Adapted into Film with Unique Cast

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Bestselling Book "Jävla karlar" Adapted into Film with Unique Cast
Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

Andrev Walden's book has become a sales success. Now the film version of "Jävla karlar” is being filmed – with three different boys in the lead role. The children are absolutely fantastic, says Aliette Opheim, who plays the mother.

Eight-year-old Vilgot Avenäs Thorslund, in a blue velour jacket and worn-out flared pants, receives some last instructions before the rehearsal. Shortly thereafter, he sits in Aliette Opheim's lap and talks to "the artist" (David Book) – the stepfather who is in his mother's life at that time.

A little later, director Jens Sjögren tests another version of the scene before it's time for filming.

A lot of it is about bringing life to the characters and the scene, which may require a certain type of improvisation, says Aliette Opheim.

There, Jens is a bit rock'n'roll when he's filming, but it's just fun.

"Rumbling" adult world

"Jävla karlar" is based on Andrev Walden's acclaimed novel of the same name.

The main character is only seven years old when he finds out that the man he thinks is his father is not. Instead, stepfathers with nicknames like "the plant magician", "the artist" and "the murderer" pass by during his upbringing.

In the film – where three different boys play Andrev during his upbringing – the number of fathers has been reduced from seven to five. But it's still the boy's perspective that's in focus.

The mother is probably the only one who has a little perspective of her own. But even there, almost everything is told from Andrev's eyes, says Aliette Opheim.

One is in Andrev's world, while the adult world is going on and rumbling in the background. I think that's been very fun with this project.

"Like a time travel"

The filming has been going on since the end of August. For the day, the team has taken over the restaurant Krakow in central Gothenburg.

It's crowded in the venue from the start. Then it's filled with film workers – and extras in typical 1980s clothing and hairstyles.

The clothes and props are spot on as they should be. It's a bit like making a time travel to your own childhood, says "the murderer" Jakob Öhrman.

"Personal pressure"

The book was awarded the August Prize in 2023 and has become a big reader favorite. The expectations for the film – with a planned premiere next autumn – will therefore be quite high, notes "the artist" David Book.

However, it doesn't mean any greater pressure from the outside, he thinks.

I put some personal pressure on myself, since I have a fairly similar upbringing myself, with stepfathers who have come and gone, says David Book.

It's close to my heart that it becomes genuine, complicated and warm and tender from all perspectives. But the film is absolutely its own work.

Andrev Walden's novel debut "Jävla karlar" was awarded the August Prize in 2023 and became the same year the best-selling Swedish book.

The film version, directed by Jens Sjögren (previously among other things "I am Zlatan"), premieres in the autumn of 2026.

The main character Andrev is played by Vilgot Avenäs Thorslund, Felix Östergren and Ludvig Eriksson, while the mother is played by Aliette Opheim and her friend "Little Cloud" by Ulrika Nilsson.

The "jävla karlarna" are played by David Book, Jakob Öhrman, Filip Berg, Joel Spira and Viktor Norén.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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