— Everyone is very happy. The job is done, now we just have to go to the gala. Win or not, I don't think so much about it, says Magnus von Horn.
He receives us at the hotel Sunset Marquis on a hot day in Hollywood, seemingly relaxed and unaffected by jetlag. This despite it being Oscar week and his film "The Girl with the Needle" (Denmark) competing against "Emilia Pérez" (France), "I'm still here" (Brazil) and "The Fruits of the Holy Tree" (Germany).
"Others have a larger PR machinery"
— It's a high level and super fun to be together with that group of films. I think our film deserves to win. But others have a much larger PR machinery. That also plays a big role in the Oscar campaigns, he says.
"The Girl with the Needle" takes place in Denmark after World War I and is loosely based on the life of angel maker Dagmar Overbye. The story revolves around seamstress Karoline who meets Dagmar in connection with an unwanted pregnancy.
— Karoline lives at the bottom of society but refuses to accept that she has no choices. At the same time, no one helps her. To achieve something in her life, she must take desperate measures, says Magnus von Horn.
"Humans are complicated"
He is drawn to complex outsiders who oscillate between being good and evil.
— Humans are complicated, they wake up and regret what they did yesterday. Humans change their ideas about the world. But in film, there are always expectations that people should be either good or evil, says Magnus von Horn.
"The Girl with the Needle" nods to film history's German expressionism and the Lumière brothers. It also highlights a society in 1920 without free abortion rights. Abortion rights are threatened in today's USA and were abolished in Poland in 2020, where von Horn has lived for several years. This has given him a personal connection to the film.
We have fought for it not to happen and continue to fight for it to become a free choice for women again. I have a wife, we have a family, and all our friends are affected by these laws, says von Horn.
"The Girl with the Needle" has been praised by critics and audiences. Magnus von Horn hopes it will open the industry's wallets for more similar projects.
— The film had many odds against it. It's black and white and has a very dark theme. Financing it was not entirely easy. Now it's selling more movie tickets in Denmark than anyone thought possible. It's worth investing money in such films too, says Magnus von Horn.
Kristoffer Viita/TT
Facts: Magnus von Horn
TT
Born: 1983, Gothenburg.
Lives: In Warsaw, Poland
Previous films: "Efterskalv" (2015), about a teenage murderer who returns to his hometown after serving his sentence.
"Sweat" (2020) about a fitness influencer who is pressured by her thousands of followers and sponsors and becomes the target of a stalker.
Currently with: Oscar-nominated for Denmark for "The Girl with the Needle" in the category of best international film. Other nominees are "The Fruits of the Holy Tree" (Germany), "Emilia Pérez" (France), "Flow" (Latvia) and "I'm still here" (Brazil).
"The Girl with the Needle" had its Swedish premiere on February 21. On Sunday night, it competes for an Oscar.
Winner in the category of best international film:
1. "I'm still here" – Brazil
2. "Emilia Pérez" – France
3. "The Fruits of the Holy Tree" – Germany
4. "Flow" – Latvia
5. "The Girl with the Needle" – Denmark
Source: Fan Duel and Oddschecker.
