Filmmaker Peter Grönlund has previously, in films such as "Tjuvheder" and in the TV series "Björnstad", depicted stories of exclusion, class and social tensions in a mining town - with its own morals.
In “Sin” he returns to a similar theme.
I'm fascinated by themes like exclusion and alienation. Where patriarchal structures and a weakened state allow their own rules and norms to arise and displace an entire society. I'm really interested in that.
Family conflicts in Skåne
In "Sin", police officer Dani (Krista Kosonen) investigates the death of a 16-year-old foster boy and a world of strong conflicts emerges, going back through the generations of a family in rural Skåne.
It's about parenting, what we are prepared to do for our children, Peter Grönlund explains.
The title “Sin” refers - among other things - to original sin. Do you believe in original sin?
I think you need to take a stand on it. And make a choice. Should you break free from these shackles or move on? And that's what the series is very much about.
Peter Grönlund is also known for working a lot with amateurs and unknown actors. For the main role of the patriarch of the family, Grönlund and his cast found the completely unknown Peter Gantman, a truck driver in Karlshamn.
Through contacts you reach various people and somewhere along the way he was there. We worked really hard to make sure he would feel comfortable in front of the camera and grow as an actor. And he was absolutely enormous. Incredible, says Peter Grönlund.
And he has no background as an actor?
No, none at all.
The dog bite
Grönlund thinks it can be more dynamic when actors and amateurs are mixed.
When amateurs bring their life experience and meet actors who perhaps offer them security in front of the camera, it becomes a very good marriage and a formula where they feed off each other.
But Peter Gantman had an unfortunate incident that delayed filming.
He was attacked by a fighting dog at his home and nearly lost his arm. He had ten days of filming left. So we had to shut down.
The rest of Peter Gantman's filming days had to be postponed for four months.
First of all, I was really worried about him because it was such a serious injury. That was the most important thing. But then I just had to accept it. It was really nice to see that he came out of it so well.
The five-part miniseries "Sin" will be released on Netflix on January 2.
