AVALON

"An assured, darkly humorous portrait of an affluent class in hedonistic self-denial, Avalon marks the arrival of a promising new voice in Swedish filmmaking." - FIPRESCI jury, Toronto International Film Festival

With characters inspired by the director's parents and their friends, this impressive debut feature from Axel Petersén centres on Janne, an 80s party-boy still indulging his youthful hedonism, who is preparing to open a nightclub - named after the Roxy Music hit - in a Swedish summer resort. Mostly in the company of his equally self-absorbed, boozing sister Jackie (a masterful performance by Petersén's own aunt), Janne is derailed by an unfortunate incident, forcing this adult “who never grew up” to finally face the consequences of his actions.

Winner of the Discovery FIPRESCI prize at Toronto, Avalon is part-thriller, part-character study, with a nice line in repulsive hilarity and a style influenced by the Dogme school.

“Petersén is a talent to watch… a film that echoes some of the best of recent Scandinavian art cinema.” - Variety

Axel Petersén is a guest of the festival.

D/S Axel Petersén P Erika Wasserman, Jesper Kurlandsky WS Autlook Film Sales L Swedish w/English subtitles TD 35mm/2011