*This event is now sold out* “Spirited and sensuous” (Hollywood Reporter) — on April 5, see the first film exploring the enigmatic life of Hilma af Klint! Director Lasse Hallström and actresses Lena Olin and Tora Hallström will be present for a Q&A moderated by Griffin Dunne following the film.

Lasse Hallström’s Hilma (Sweden, 2022) brings to life the story of a woman who posthumously revolutionized the art world as one of the first abstract artists. In this immersive biopic starring Tora Hallström as the young Hilma, and Lena Olin as the mature Hilma, we follow the artist from her early life through her rising artistic career and spiritual awakening after the loss of her beloved younger sister Hermina. Hilma explores af Klint’s spiritualism, her unconventional love life, and the impetus behind her work — from the writings of Rudolph Steiner to the strong influence of the Theosophic Movement, and her belief in its mystical philosophy — in a portrait of a woman well ahead of her time.

Having remained unknown and unrecognized as the woman who invented abstract painting after her death in 1944, a 2019 Guggenheim Museum exhibition devoted to Hilma af Klint’s work became her first major solo exhibition in the U.S., revolutionizing the art world and art history while displacing Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian as the fathers of Modernism.

This event has been supported by Consulate General Sweden, Juno Films and Viaplay.

“Hallström delves into the fiery and sometimes messy personal story as well as celebrating, in fittingly enthralled, immersive fashion, the singular fusion of nature and spiritual mystery that drove her…Hilma embraces the nitty-gritty along with the rapture”—THR

Lars Sven “Lasse” Hallström is a Swedish film director who first gained recognition for directing nearly all of world-renowned Swedish pop group Abba’s music videos. He later went on to direct acclaimed feature films like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape; Chocolate; Hachi: A Dog’s Tale; and many more. He has been nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Directing and Best Adapted Screenplay for My Life as a Dog (1988), as well as Best Director for The Cider House Rules (2000).

Hallström’s statement on the film: “I’ve spent several years trying to understand the mystery of Hilma af Klint. This is a story about an unwavering search for the truth about humanity and the universe, at a time when men set all the rules. Despite so many obstacles, Hilma created art that influences our lives today. My ambition is for the audience to experience these struggles with all their senses.”

This event has been supported by the Consulate General of Sweden, Juno Films and Viaplay.