In this poignant true story of a character-defining period in the life of Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren, Becoming Astrid follows a teenage Astrid living in rural Sweden when, eager to break free of her conservative upbringing, she accepts an internship at a local newspaper. After she attracts the attention of its married editor and becomes pregnant, she must leave her newborn son in the care of a foster mother, Marie, and goes into self-imposed exile in Stockholm, where she struggles to save money to visit her child.
When Marie then falls ill, Astrid must use her imagination and flair for storytelling to reconnect with her son Lassi. And over the course of her struggles, Astrid emerges with a newfound courage that will later form the foundation of a vast and beloved body of work.
Directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen, Becoming Astrid celebrates this acclaimed Swedish author, and is screened in honor of International Women’s Day (Denmark, 2018).
About the Director
Danish director Pernille Fischer Christensen has received the Cinéfondations 3rd Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her short film India (1999), which she made during her training at the National Film School of Denmark. In 2003, she received the Best Short Film Award at the Danish Film Academy for Habibti My Love. Her debut feature film A Soap (2006), had its world premiere at Berlinale and was awarded the Silver Bear (the Jury Grand Prize) and Best Debut Film Award.
A Soap also received Best Script at San Sebastian and won the Danish Film Critics Award (Bodil) for Best Film in 2007. Fischer Christensen is also known for Someone You Love (2014) and A Family (2010), both honored at Berlinale.
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Alba August in BECOMING ASTRID, Courtesy of Music Box Films.
WED—March 6—7 PM & FRI—March 8—6:30 PM
$12 ($7 ASF Members)
. In Danish and Swedish with English subtitles.