Comedy Queen

“Mom, you always cried. And then you died. Now everyone else cries. But not me. I refuse to cry. I don’t want to be like you. I don’t want to be depressed and die.”

Sasha doesn’t want to cry. She’s deeply angry at her mother for taking her own life. To escape a similar fate, the 13-year-old compiles a survival list. First up: cut off her long hair. Second: don’t read any more books. Third: never take care of something that's alive. And fourth: become a stand-up comedian to make her papa laugh again. On her way, Sasha can count on the support from friends and family, even if they can’t always follow her moves, like when she tells one of her bad jokes. Sanna Lenken once again demonstrates a sensitive feeling for the emotional life of her protagonist and allows grief and anger to be transformed by real humour, and an old earworm.
by Sanna Lenken
with Sigrid Johnson, Ellen Taure, Oscar Töringe, Iggy Malmborg, Adam Daho
Sweden 2022 Swedish 93’ Colour recommendation: 10 years and up

With

  • Sigrid Johnson (Sasha)
  • Ellen Taure (Märta)
  • Oscar Töringe (Abbe)
  • Iggy Malmborg (Ossie)
  • Adam Daho (John)

Crew

Director Sanna Lenken
Screenplay Linn Gottfridsson based on the novel “Comedy Queen” by Jenny Jägerfeld
Cinematography Simon Pramsten
Editing Andreas Nilsson
Music Irya Gmeyner, Martin Hederos
Sound Design Andreas Franck
Sound Jesper Miller
Production Design Marika Åkerblom
Costumes Emelie Henriksson
Make-Up Daniela Megarelli
Casting Catrin Wideryd
Assistant Director Ted Jönsson
Production Manager Denise Carlford
Producers Rebecka Lafrenz, Anna Anthony
Co-Producers Peter Possne, Yaba Holst, Charlotta Denward, Anna Croneman
Co-Production Film i Väst Trollhättan
SF Studios Stockholm
Sveriges Television Stockholm

World Sales

Sanna Lenken

Born in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1978, she studied at the Dramatiska Institutet in Stockholm and the European Film College in Denmark. After making several successful short films, including Eating Lunch, and the series Double Life, she directed My Skinny Sister, her debut feature which won the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale and the Audience Award at the Göteborg Film Festival. A Berlinale Talents alumna, her most recent works are the popular series Thin Blue Line for Swedish television and the Viaplay series Thunder in My Heart.

Filmography

2004 Skallgång (Search Party); short film 2008 Valborg; short film · Travemunde Trelleborg; short film 2010 Yoghurt · Dubbelliv (Double Life); TV series, 23 episodes 2013 Äta lunch (Eating Lunch); short film 2015 Min lilla syster (My Skinny Sister) 2017 Nattbarn (Night Children); short film 2019 Tunna Blå Linjen (Thin Blue Line); TV series 2020 Thunder in My Heart; TV series 2022 Comedy Queen

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022