It's a mystery how Peter Schonau Fog manages to combine child abuse, a study of a rural community, affecting tragedy and black comedy into a satisfying whole, but in "The Art of Crying" he pulls it off. A gently offbeat study of a Jutland family in the early 1970s as seen through the merciless, innocent gaze of an 11 year-old boy, this refreshingly unconventional pic tackles its taboos with
compassion, grace and wit. Jonathan Holland, Variety
Emotionally devastating and astonishingly mature, this is a unique feature debut. Steve Gravestock, Toronto International Filmfestival
A young Scandinavian genius tackles Bergmanesque themes of family taboos and relationships with pathos, humor, and a loving eye. Chiseko Tanaka, Tokyo International Film Festival
11-year-old Allan’s life is dictated by his father’s tears. Mom oversleeps, so the only one who can truly comfort dad is Allan’s sister Sanne. Director Peter Schønau Fog ably strafes the horror/humor divide, and with irony and ample respect brings to the forefront the tabooed horror of child abuse. The Art of Crying is a beautifully shot film by a very capable new filmmaker.
Read Jon's interview here!
The Art of Crying/Kunsten at Græde i Kor has been invited to:
New Directors/New Films
March 21–April 1, 2007
Now in its thirty-sixth year, the renowned New Directors/New Films festival, presented jointly by The Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art, introduces New York audiences to the work of emerging or not-yet-established filmmakers from around the world. All of the films in New Directors/New Films are having either their New York, United States, or North American premieres, and many of the screenings are introduced by the filmmakers. Films selected for the 2007 edition include Andrea Arnold’s Red Road (Great Britain/Denmark), Jean-Pascal Hattu’s 7 Years (France), Julia Loktev’s Day Night Day Night (USA) and Peter Schønau Fog’s The Art of Crying (Denmark). See
www.moma.org or
www.filmlinc.com for details and a complete listing of titles and screening times. A schedule is also available in MoMA’s main and theater lobbies, and in the lobby of the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. New Directors/New Films is sponsored by Stella Artois and HBO Films. The festival is made possible through the generosity of the Irene Diamond Fund. Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Junior Associates of The Museum of Modern Art, and public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.
