– debut feature sold to multiple countries
Norwegian artist Girl in Red is now taking a major step into the world of cinema. Following the premiere of her debut film Low Expectations at the Cannes Film Festival, the movie has already been sold to a number of international markets.
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According to the American film magazine Variety, the French sales company Salaud Morisset has secured several distribution deals following the screening in the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight program at Cannes. The film has been sold to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Greece, while negotiations are still ongoing with buyers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Brazil.
Girl in Red – whose real name is Marie Ulven Ringheim – broke through internationally with songs like “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend,” “We Fell in Love in October,” and “Serotonin.” In recent years, she has become a global pop icon, especially among younger fans and LGBTQ+ communities. She has also served as an opening act for Taylor Swift during parts of The Eras Tour.
Now she is making her acting debut in the feature film Low Expectations – directed by Eivind Landsvik.
In the film, Marie Ulven plays the character Maja, a successful artist who collapses after several intense years in the music industry. Forced to put her career on hold, she moves back home to her mother and starts working part-time at a high school while trying to find her way back to herself.
Director Eivind Landsvik has emphasized that the film is not about Girl in Red personally, even though several of its themes – such as pressure, identity, and mental health – have led to comparisons with the artist’s own life.
The film’s selection for Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes is considered a major international recognition. The program is known for highlighting emerging filmmakers and original voices in international cinema.
International industry media have particularly praised Girl in Red’s acting performance. Variety described her performance as marked by “vulnerability and honesty,” and several critics have noted that she brings an authenticity to the film that makes the story especially believable.
The film is produced by Maipo Film and will be released in Norwegian cinemas later this year. Following its strong reception in Cannes, the project could mark a breakthrough for Marie Ulven as an actress as well.
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