The first thing that struck me when I saw Alena was the very 'un-Swedish' cinematography of the film. The colours and the style of the film was a far cry from the usual grey melancholic haze which tends to surround every Swedish film. And it was pretty darn refreshing.The fairy tale-like horror film is based on Kim W. Anderssons popular comic book Alena and is about a young girl named with the same name who, after a mysterious and tragic event, is transferred to an-all-girl upperclass boarding school. The elite boarding school is run by the popular bully Filippa and her entourage. We see Alena's attempts to fit in and starting a new life, in order to forget her traumatising past. But Filippa wont let her do that – as the newcomer, Alena needs to be put in her place, especially after trying to join the lacrosse team. Yes, the preppiness of the film is overbearing. But it works. Because among all the bitchy looks, glossed lips and teen angst, there's something uncharacteristically sinister lurking in the corners of the school.
Annons
I sat down with the director and writer Daniel Di Grado to talk about murderous school girls and why sexual preferences isn't that much of a big deal anymore.VICE: How was it to make a screen version of a comic? Was it difficult?
Daniel Di Grado: The comic format is very visual and the advantage is that I got inspiration in how I portray scenes. When working with a graphic novel, you are responsible for the script, the scenes, and doing everything yourself basically. In a movie, there are so many components thats need to run smoothly, with script writers, photographers, the costume designer etc. I feel that there were only advantages apart from the lack of dialogue in the graphic novel; we had to create the voices of the characters in a completely different way than if you were to adapt a traditional novel.Did you make any changes from the original story?
Yeah I made some major changes, for example: I've changed all the genders in the comic book into females. The only character played by a male is the kind but geeky lacrosse trainer who's having a hard time controlling the team of strong and independent young women.Sounds pretty amaze.
Yeah, well in the original story, Alena gets picked on because of her previous sexual relationship with her now deceased friend Josefin. I wanted to defuse this by making all the characters girls so that their sexual preferences became uninteresting. It's 2015 and the sexual preferences of the girls shouldn't not be the main thing to focus on.
Daniel Di Grado: The comic format is very visual and the advantage is that I got inspiration in how I portray scenes. When working with a graphic novel, you are responsible for the script, the scenes, and doing everything yourself basically. In a movie, there are so many components thats need to run smoothly, with script writers, photographers, the costume designer etc. I feel that there were only advantages apart from the lack of dialogue in the graphic novel; we had to create the voices of the characters in a completely different way than if you were to adapt a traditional novel.Did you make any changes from the original story?
Yeah I made some major changes, for example: I've changed all the genders in the comic book into females. The only character played by a male is the kind but geeky lacrosse trainer who's having a hard time controlling the team of strong and independent young women.Sounds pretty amaze.
Yeah, well in the original story, Alena gets picked on because of her previous sexual relationship with her now deceased friend Josefin. I wanted to defuse this by making all the characters girls so that their sexual preferences became uninteresting. It's 2015 and the sexual preferences of the girls shouldn't not be the main thing to focus on.
Annons
Daniel on set
Who do you think the target audience is?
My ambition is that the film should target young girls because they are the biggest fans of the original comic book and I wanted them to keep enjoying the story. But even though it's a movie with and for young girls I still think others might like it.I did. Even though it's about young teenage girls I really enjoyed the film.
Well, we wanted to make a film that appeals to people who do not usually watch horror movies, reach out to the masses.The environments in the film are pretty stunning. Was it hard to find the right locations to film on?
Yes it was, it's a movie made on a small budget. I had a clear image of how I wanted to Alena's house to look like, and it ended up being largely filmed where I grew up, in Spånga. The world we enter in Alena is this part of Sweden where you can find a refined boarding school and on the other side of the train tracks you find the more shabby part where Alena is from. A clear contrast.
My ambition is that the film should target young girls because they are the biggest fans of the original comic book and I wanted them to keep enjoying the story. But even though it's a movie with and for young girls I still think others might like it.I did. Even though it's about young teenage girls I really enjoyed the film.
Well, we wanted to make a film that appeals to people who do not usually watch horror movies, reach out to the masses.The environments in the film are pretty stunning. Was it hard to find the right locations to film on?
Yes it was, it's a movie made on a small budget. I had a clear image of how I wanted to Alena's house to look like, and it ended up being largely filmed where I grew up, in Spånga. The world we enter in Alena is this part of Sweden where you can find a refined boarding school and on the other side of the train tracks you find the more shabby part where Alena is from. A clear contrast.
As a man, did you face any difficulties making a movie about teenage girls along with the themes of bullying and sexual curiosity?
When I read the original story I strongly felt that I could make a good film out of it. I work very instinctively and I listened very much to the actresses and their thoughts. I tried to make a film that I would want to see and pay for. When making a film it's important to trust yourself and have a good dialogue with the crew.Alena is premiering at Stockholm's International Film Festival this week. Are you looking forward to watching any special films this year?
Yes I'm looking forward to see Lisa Aschan´s film Det Vita Folket, Carol by Todd Haynes and Karyn Kusama´s The Invitation.Thanks Daniel!This article was updated on the 9th of September 2016.
When I read the original story I strongly felt that I could make a good film out of it. I work very instinctively and I listened very much to the actresses and their thoughts. I tried to make a film that I would want to see and pay for. When making a film it's important to trust yourself and have a good dialogue with the crew.Alena is premiering at Stockholm's International Film Festival this week. Are you looking forward to watching any special films this year?
Yes I'm looking forward to see Lisa Aschan´s film Det Vita Folket, Carol by Todd Haynes and Karyn Kusama´s The Invitation.Thanks Daniel!This article was updated on the 9th of September 2016.