Lasse & Geir

Filmmaker Svend Wam, who passed away in May this year, was an institution in Norwegian cinema. Alone and in company with fellow director and producer Petter Vennerød he produced an oeuvre that stands out for its singular energy, its blend of the realistic and the carnevalesque, and its moral, political and aesthetic criticism of the Norwegian establishment. We would like to honour and remember Svend Wam with this special screening of Lasse & Geir, which marks the start of his collaboration with Petter Vennerød. Set in Bogerud in a southern suburban area of Oslo, the film chronicles three days in the lives of youngsters Lasse and Geir and their attempts to channel the rage and frustration they harbour against society. It does so with great care and empathy, and not without humour. To this day, Lasse & Geir remains a striking depiction of alienation, and something far more than a cult classic. CF

Svend Wam (1946–2017) was a Norwegian director, scriptwriter and producer. He made his first feature Fem døgn i august in 1973. Together with Petter Vennerød, he directed and produced 14 feature films that made a lasting impact on Norwegian cinema and attracted large audiences. Wam was awarded the Norwegian Film Critics' Award for Lasse & Geir, as well as several other awards.