Montagna con Forza is a music film out of the ordinary

The experienced and well-known Norwegian filmmaker Petter Vennerød leaves no doubt when he states that Berg's Montagna con Forza is a music film out of the ordinary. - I was struck by the immensity in the music and the pictures, he says.

Magnificent

Petter Vennerød is appreciated as one of the most experienced film creators in Norway. Through his company Merkur Film AS, he has contributed to a lot of large-scale productions as the TV seriesBeck, Fox Grønland, Hamsun, Mongoland and Kosmonaut, just to mention a few. In the latter, he has kept a low profile, and is perhaps more renowned from his productions of Norwegian movies in the 70- 80 and 90 s-making half of the duo Wam & Vennerød. Vennrøds company, Merkur Film AS, is co-producing Montagna con Forza, together with Symbiophonic AS. Although working geographically remote from the set (located in Saltdal), Vennerød has played an active part in the making of this movie, but he feels that he cannot make an unbiased statement about the movie and the music.

– The music is magnificent, and with the pictures added, a powerful combination is created. Saltdal can be proud of this product, as it will be shown nation-wide. Later, an international promotion is conceivable, the film-creator states. Vennerød imagines that the next step in this project will be to insert shots of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra into the film. That would be absolutely majestic, he adds.

Naturalistic dogma

In this unique film, we follow a wooden boat's venture across a lake. In the course of its journey, we are exposed to the vast array of temperate sensations and beautiful harmonies present in this unique landscape. Also, the brutality and mercilessness of life are central elements as the story unfolds into what can be seen as nature's own death mass.

– Because of Petter Vennerøds suggestion to use both helicopter and a sub water camera, we felt like drawing on the natural elements: the air, the earth, under and above water, Berg says. - I feel that all of these elements create a combination of surrealism, aesthetics and music. I think we are moving within the art-film genre; only, we have developed a new set of naturalistic dogmas. We have not removed anything of what the nature has to offer, and we have stayed clear of using effects for the effects' sake, Berg states.

Photos: Stein Inge Pedersen, Tomas Evjen and Terje Olsen

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