Filming of the movie "The Lion Girl" based on the successful novel of the same name by Erik Fosnes Hansen is currently underway at MMC Studios in Cologne, directed by Vibeke Idsøe. On July 1, the production was presented to the press at a set date.
Present on set at MMC Studio 38, in addition to the director and the novelist, were producers Reza Bahar (Gifted Films West), John M. Jacobsen and Markus Broderson (Filmkameratene), Philip Borbély and Bastie Griese (MMC Movies), as well as the managing director of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Petra Müller.
The Norwegian author Erik Fosnes Hansen was very happy at the press event about the quality of the cinematic adaptation of his novel: "Something like this happens perhaps only once in a lifetime."
About the shooting the actors reported Rolf Lassgård, Ken Duken and Burghart Klaußner.
Ken Duken, who appeared on set in impressive makeup as "The Lizard Man," explained to the press not only his role, but also the elaborate makeup. In the course of this, the press was also shown Connor O'Sullivan who is considered one of the best SFX makeup artists in Hollywood.
Short Content:
In a small provincial town in Norway in the winter of 1912, a girl is born with her entire body covered with fine blond hairs. For the science of that time a curious, an interesting case. Eva's mother dies in childbirth and her father, the stationmaster Arctander, initially wants nothing to do with the "lion girl".
But little Eva grows up. Isolated and hidden from the curiosity of the outside world, she creates her own world until one day she finds the courage to escape the confines of her life.
Production Notes:
"The Lion Girl" tells of the extraordinary life of Eva Arctander, who has hair all over her body due to a genetic defect, giving her the appearance of a young lioness.
The Swedish actor Rolf Lassgård (Wallander) plays the taciturn and introverted stationmaster Gustav Arctander. Ken Duken (Frau Müller Must Go, Two Ears Chicks) plays Andrej Bòr, the "Lizard Man," who, like Eva, also suffers from a genetic defect.
Through him, Eva meets Johannes Joachim, played by Burghart Klaußner (Elser, The White Ribbon), get to know. The extravagant director is touring Europe with a "human curiosity cabinet" and will give Eva's life a completely new direction.
No less important for Eva is her encounter with Mrs. Grjothornet, played by Danish actress Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Nymphomaniac: Vol. 1), a woman of the world who, while submitting herself to the dictates of the beauty craze, teaches Eva that beauty can have many facets.
Eva Arctander herself is portrayed by Aurora Lindseth Løkka (as a 7-year-old), Mathilde Thomine Storm (as a 14-year-old) and Ida Ursin-Holm (as a young woman).
An enormous challenge during the filming of "The Lion Girl" is the make-up. As SFX make-up artist, the production was able to hire Conor O'Sullivan (Last Samurai, The Hours, The Dark Knight, X-Men, The Counselor, Game of Thrones), who is considered one of the best in his field in Hollywood.
For the camera Dan Laustsen (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Pact of the Wolves, Headhunter, The Icy Death), for the costume Frauke Firl (Antichrist, The Lost World, 300 Words German, Hannah Arendt) responsible.
The production design is by Icelandic production designer Karl Júlíusson (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, The Hurt Locker). The film buildings and various sets in three studios on the MMC production site were created by MMC Ausstattung (Construction Manager MMC: Hendrik Labuhn), including the apartment of station master Arctander and the community hall of the Norwegian provincial town.
"The Lion Girl" is a production of Norwegian Filmkameratene and Cologne-based Gifted Films West in co-production with Tre Vänner (SE), Zentopa (DK), MMC Movies Cologne and The Post Republic. The film is supported by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, FFA, FFHSH, DFFF, Eurimages and The Norwegian Film Institute.
NFP marketing & distribution will release the film in theaters in 2016.
Photo: f.t.l.r. The actors Burghart Klaußner, Ken Duken and Rolf Lassgård on the set of "The Lion Girl" at MMC Studio 38 in Cologne. © MMC Studios / Guido Ohlenbostel
