Nilsson & Simonsson

Today, Sweden is among the countries most acclaimed with regard to short films. Of the numerous works produced there, amounting to dozens of superb titles each year, the work of the filmmaking duo Johannes Stjärne Nilsson and Ola Simonsson indisputably stand out. They have been churning out short films – both scripted and documentary – together since 1990. Some are known by the whole world. The most famous, Music for One Apartment and Six Drummers, has been shown at dozens of international festivals from which their makers have walked away with over thirty prizes. These two are not, however, contemporary Bergmans; rather, they are following in the footsteps of another distinctive Swede, Roy Anderson. Their films are likewise resplendent with black humor, and marked by the large dose of stylization and unparalleled precision with which they – like Swedish ball-bearings – are made. As for their themes, you will see a rather atypical Sweden, replete with appropriated offices and people involved in ridiculous, repetitive activities… The two filmmakers take to task the grotesqueness of bureaucracy, the absurdity of the modern world, and the mechanical nature of our modern-day lives.

In our cross-section of work by this exceptional filmmaking pair, we also included You Were There with Your Friend Frank, even though its makers consider it a documentary. In a certain way, they are right, but this little “exercise” also happens to be a perfect example of just how thoroughly and creatively this duo constantly stylizes its work, as the film is a documentary that also parodies – or highlights – the documentary style of a certain period. We can also say with confidence that Johannes Stjärne Nilsson and Ola Simonsson have an interesting future ahead of them. The question “What will tomorrow bring?” may well be answered in their first feature-length film, on which they are currently working. Remember these two Scandinavians well: one day, when they accept a Golden Palm in Cannes for the best feature-length film, you could be among the select few who aren’t surprised.

Bakom mahognybordet (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden /1996 / 8min. )
Henry arrives at the office early on an ordinary Monday morning. He starts his day, as always, with coffee and a cigarette. But when he reaches for the cup, he is shocked to see his hand is no longer there. Henry realizes he is slowly disappearing, a little bit at a time.

Sverige (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden / 2000 / 8min.)
On Sweden’s southern coast, a man gazes out to sea. He then pulls out a compass and finds north. And he starts to run. Three days later he reaches Treriksröset, the end of Sweden.

Herr Pendel (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden / 1999 / 5min.)
Mr. Pendel, a perfect gentleman, walks to the station for his train. He arrives early, buys a ticket and goes to the platform to wait. Mr. Pendel doesn’t yet know he will miss the train. Three 5-minute parts of a 12-part series.

Du var där med din polare Frank (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden / 2004 / 10min.)
In the personals of a 1980s teen magazine, Annelie is looking for Jörgen, a boy she met at a concert in Karlshamn. He was there with his friend Frank. What happens to Jörgen and Annelie?

Hotel Rienne (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden / 2002 / 27min.)
Like on any other day, Henry Dahlberg arrives at his office. But when he gets on the elevator, he realizes something is terribly wrong. Slowly it dawns on him: linear time has collapsed, and the moments of his working day are unfolding in the wrong order.

Music For One Apartment and Six Drummers (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden / 2001 / 10min.)
Six drummers participate in a well-planned musical attack in the suburbs. As an elderly couple leaves their apartment, the drummers take over.

Spättans väg (Johannes Stjärne Nilsson - Ola Simonsson / Sweden / 2005 / 10min.)
A flounder's journey starts in the North Sea and continues beyond its death.