“The story of Net” is a new feature film from the acclaimed danish filmmaker Lasse Nielsen. His name is guaranteed to ring a ball in most coming of age buffs out there – as he is the one who wrote and produced back in 1978. The new film of Nielsen is filmed in Thailand with local unprofessional cast and co-director Bancha Khemngeun who also have no previous film experience. Despite the lack of huge budget and fancy the film must have turned out quite well – judging from its trailer ( which you can also seen below ) . The camera work and the directing remind me a bit of the productions of Ivan Noel ( such as En Tu Ausensia ) and after reading the plot summery of ” The story of Net – I am myself quite excited and impatient to see this film. ( It will be released on DVD in 2010 )
“Orphaned by the death of his mother, 12-year-old Net arrives in a rural Thai village with a letter introducing him to his father – a father he never knew (and who never knew he had a son). Embarrassed in front of his new family, the father at first rejects Net, but gradually grows closer to the boy. Being deaf-mute does not hinder Net from other relationships in the village – both positive and negative. Thai boxing, gambling, first love, and a brief career with the local mafia all contribute to Net’s coming-of-age.” quote from the official trailer description
Admittingly my opinion of the new film of Lasse Nielsen is a bit biased as I am a huge fan of “Du Er Ikke Alene” . I know that there are at least 2 films directed by Lasse Nielsen – La os være ( a Danish Lord of the Flies ) and Måske ku vi – but have not been fortuned enough of see either one of them . Both have trailers on YouTube and I only hope that they will be released on DVD sometime in the near feature.
More information about the filming process can be seen on the official film page at Living Films
Lasse Nielsen official web page