DAY NINE  November 11, 2005
KISSED BY WINTER Examines Weight of Unresolved Guilt
by Quentin Dunne
Sara Johnsen's debut feature KISSED BY WINTER (Norwegian title: VINTERKYSS) is a low-key yet ultimately moving story, a film that one viewer has described as ¡°a chillingly warm story of loss.¡± But if loss is a key theme, so too is how loss is dealt with and perhaps even overcome. After the death of her young son, an emotionally grieving doctor (Annika Hallin) moves to a small and perpetually snowy community in an attempt to forget her pain. Once there, however, she is unexpectedly forced to deal with her feelings in a more profound way than she could have imagined, when she becomes entangled in the mystery of a local teenager who's been found dead in the snow.
In advance of its US Premiere November 11 at 6:45 p.m. in ArcLight Theatre 11, director Johnsen and star Annika Hallin both share their thoughts on the film with AFI FEST.
AFI: KISSED BY WINTER rather poignantly deals with issues of unresolved guilt and the way mistaken perceptions can contribute to this guilt. What was it about these themes that made you want to make this film?
Johnsen: I think guilt is one of the strongest feelings we have to deal with in our lives, and the way we handle that feeling shapes us as human beings. It's a feeling connected to shame, and shame makes us lonely. To find a way out of the loneliness, I think that is partly what Victoria, the main character, has to do. And I find this travel away from shame and guilt¡ªand toward forgiveness and love¡ªdramatic and interesting.
AFI: What was it like working with Sara Johnsen?
Hallin: Wonderful. She is very open to alternative ideas without compromising her own beliefs. We had a lot of discussions and tried many different solutions. I very much appreciate being involved in the material in such a profound way, especially since I had to go to some dark and vulnerable places for the character. Sara is focused on finding the best ideas, rather than on personal prestige.
AFI: Were there any particular films or directors that were influential to you while you were writing or shooting KISSED BY WINTER?
Johnsen: Atom Egoyan's THE SWEET HEREAFTER and Ang Lee's THE ICE STORM. I liked the actors and the way they expressed their feelings; it's a sort of sadness mixed with beauty. I guess I tried to create some of the same feeling in my own film.
AFI: How did a title as evocative as KISSED BY WINTER come about?
Johnsen: The working title was THE BOY IN THE SNOW. Being Norwegian, however, I know the feeling of kissing someone when snow falls¡ªromantic, but, at the same time, cold. I felt that the film was also a love story that was surrounded by coldness, and from that came the title. To me, it means kissed by something cold¡ªdeath¡ªyet at the same time there is a kiss, love.
AFI: What do you hope the viewer takes away from your film?
Johnsen: A good feeling inside, a feeling that love and forgiveness is possible¡ªthat it is important to see and take care of our loved ones. That even great pain can be dealt with, and that sometimes you can give someone something without demanding anything back.
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