They are called "ultras", the most dedicated football fans who put their soul and time into their team. Those who do not just cheer on the team at home matches, but travel with the club everywhere and create spectacular "tifos", perfectly choreographed small performances with banners, confetti, and pyrotechnics before kick-off to support.
They fascinate Ragnhild Ekner, who has followed them with her camera for several years.
In Sweden, too, the ultra culture has grown significantly. Some supporters spend hours and days on their tifos.
I think it feels deeply human in some way to see and fiddle with something. And it's not to make a career or for me as an individual to shine. But just for the joy of doing something together. And the kick when it's performed, says Ragnhild Ekner.
"Sense of meaning"
The idea is to portray the supporters as a collective, which is why no one being interviewed appears on camera.
I wanted to be consistent and I wanted the most important thing to be this culture and not these individuals in that way.
Ragnhild Ekner portrays the supporter culture at IFK Göteborg in Sweden, but also in England, Italy, Argentina, Morocco, and Indonesia.
Received criticism
"Ultras" was shown earlier this year at the Göteborg Film Festival and received criticism, among other things, in a review in Göteborgs-Posten for being a tribute to football fans and not addressing the dark sides – the violence, the illegal pyrotechnics, and the criminal forces that have gained increasing influence among supporters.
The basis is that I'm not a journalist, but an artist. And this is a love letter to the supporter culture from my perspective. So it's not my task to do a journalistic review, simply. But there are others who do that.
But there are those who think you're not telling the whole picture.
Exactly, but I don't think it's my responsibility to make everyone happy. This is my film and my view of the phenomenon, simply.
"Ultras" will have its cinema premiere on March 28.
42 years old. Made her feature film debut in 2017 with "Trafic Lights Will Turn Blue Tomorrow". "Ultras" is her second feature film.
Ragnhild Ekner lives in Göteborg and supports IFK Göteborg.
So which team will win the Allsvenskan?
"I hope for a stable mid-table position for Blåvitt. It would feel incredibly nice. I don't even want to try to guess who will win. But I hope Malmö won't win. It's so boring that they always have to win."
The Allsvenskan for men starts on March 29.
