“Golden Swan,” which has its world premiere in the International Competition section of the 28th Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival, has debuted its trailer.
The film, directed by Anette Ostrø, looks back to 1995, when her brother, Hans Christian Ostrø, travelled to India in search of meaning and artistic growth. Months later, he is kidnapped in Kashmir and held hostage by the militant group al-Faran.
During five weeks in captivity, he secretly writes poems and letters to his sister. Found on his body after his execution, these texts become the foundation of an intimate reconstruction of his final months.
Anette Ostrø said in a statement, “I was 25 when my only brother was brutally killed. The trauma changed my life completely. I am not sure I would have become a filmmaker if not for this event. The desire to tell my brother’s story has followed me throughout my career.
“British journalists Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark contacted me while researching their book ‘The Meadow – Kashmir 1995,’ where the terror began. Sharing with them the information and memories surrounding what happened to my brother made me realize that telling his story had become necessary – and urgent – now.
“As both sister and filmmaker, I approach this story personally while placing it in the wider context of global terrorism. In a polarized world defined by fear, Hans Christian’s choice to recognize humanity in his enemy rather than give in to hate feels urgently relevant.
“Through this film, I want to share the legacy he left behind – one that I believe can inspire many.”
The producers are Beathe Hofseth and Siri Natvik of Fri Film in Norway; the co-producers are Helle Faber of Made in Copenhagen in Denmark, Olivia Sophie van Leeuwen of 100% Film in Netherlands, and Erika Malmgren of Cinenic Film of Sweden.