– It is very fun to think that we have come this far, says Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim (9) from Kolbotn. The nine-year-old is in place on the French Riviera, together with the rest of the gang behind the film “The Innocents”.
She finds it difficult to highlight what was most fun about playing the lead role in the film.
– Actually, everything was very cool
Together with the other actors, she stands on a balcony on the seventh floor, while we film the main characters and director Eskil Vogt with a drone.
They overlook some of the world’s largest yachts located on the bright blue Mediterranean Sea, just a stone’s throw away from the Festival Palace. Far down on the Croisette, the seafront in Cannes, they can see people in sequin dresses on their way to various film premieres.
Flat sports cars float across the asphalt. In front of the luxury hotels, people gather to catch a glimpse of the stars. The sky is bright blue and the heat is shaking.
– SELECTED: After an audition, Alva, Mina and Rakel were chosen to play the main roles in Eskil Vogt’s new film. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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Alva Brynsmo Ramstad (13) and Rakel Leonor Fløttum (11) are also in Cannes’ entourage. Together with Sam Ashraf, they play the lead roles in Eskil Vogt’s second feature film «The Innocents». Parts of the actors’ families are also in place.
– It was not so scary to record it, at least not for me, says Rakel.
The young actors were trained for over a year to play the roles. For Rakel, one of the most difficult things was to cry on command.
– When we got rehearsed, it became easier and easier to get into the role, says Alva, who comes from Røyken outside Oslo. She plays an autistic girl, and prepared for the role by, among other things, watching videos of autistics. It is actually two years since they shot the film, when they were only from 7 to 11 years old.
Children and evil
“The Innocents” is about children, evil and morality, and is a thriller for adults. It was only when director Eskil Vogt had children of his own that he rediscovered children’s secret world. In the movie, it’s a pretty scary and shocking universe. Vogt did not let anything limit ideas and creativity when he created the film.
– So then I ended up with a film where there are four children in the most important roles. And a cat. Working with children and animals is one of the most difficult things to do, says Eskil Vogt.
It has gone well, because the film is the first Norwegian in ten years to be selected for the side program “Un certain regard” in Cannes.
– In a way, children are born as narcissistic sociopaths. Then it is we who will shape them and help them find their inner moral compass, and become good people who fit into society.
On Sunday, the girls were styled and decorated by one of the large French fashion houses before the premiere in the festival palace. They pose professionally on the red carpet with family and filmmakers. Before the film, they are applauded on stage and allowed to wish everyone in the hall; god film, in Norwegian.
After twenty minutes of the film, the protagonists have to leave, because they are too young to watch it. Still, they are happy.
– It was very fun, because we have never seen how it turned out properly. I’m glad we at least got to see twenty minutes, says Rakel. She is the only one of the girls who is from Oslo, but right now she lives in Son.
In the film, she plays her mother, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, who played the lead role in Eskil Vogt’s first film, «Blind».
She says that the children were sometimes perceived as more vulnerable than adult actors, naturally enough, but that they eventually got the tools to deal with it.
– AGAINST MOTHER: In the film, Rakel plays her mother Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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– You had no objections to letting your daughter play in such a violent film?
She laughs at the question, and says that now it is important to appear as a good mother.
– But no, not when it is Eskil who directs.
The other two girls also think it was great to see at least a small part of the film.
– It was a very nice experience, which I know many do not get to experience. It was great, says Alva.
– Was it awkward to have to go out?
– Yes, that was it. But I know it was scary, so it was probably the best, says Mina.
– ON STAGE: In Norwegian, the actors wished the audience a good movie experience; in Norwegian, before they got to see twenty minutes of the film and then leave the hall. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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After a hectic day on the red carpet and viewing in the festival palace in Cannes, the three actors are looking forward to throwing themselves into the Mediterranean. A reception for the film was added to one of the exclusive beach restaurants in Cannes, with its own beach. And there will also be a very special pool party in the evening for the young actors in Cannes.
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