She Monkeys
She Monkeys is a modern western about control, sex and creatures, directed by Lisa Aschan.
When Emma meets Cassandra, they initiate a relationship filled with physical and psychological challenges. Emma does whatever it takes to master the rules of the game. Lines are crossed and the stakes get higher and higher. Despite this, Emma can’t resist the intoxicating feeling of total control.
She Monkeys had its domestic premier at the Gothenburg International Film Festival (Dragon Award 2011 nominee) and world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation 14plus.
AWARDS
Swedish Academy Awards Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Sound (Guldbaggen).
World Narrative Competition Award Winner at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival.
Haunting, resonant, but never posed. Conventional shots become dangerous. With balanced storytelling that moves between danger and innocence, this film speaks of sex, adolescence, power, and ambition. It is original and authentic.
From the jury’s statement
Dragon Award Best Nordic Film at the 2011 Göteborg International Film Festival, GIFF. The prize is one millionSEK.
This was a film we loved unconditionally. It stayed with us all the time, and finally we felt that we must give this award to support a new, very special talent.
From the jury’s statement
The FIPRESCI Critics Award at GIFF
... Beautifully crafted, She Monkeys has a rythm as spellbinding as the sound of horses’ hooves that punctuates the film. Lisa Aschan plays quietly with the codes of thriller, western and a very delicate eroticism. She preserved elements of mystery which gives us only one desire: to see her make a new movie.
From the jury’s statement
Special Mention from the jury at the Berlinale (Berlin Film Festival)
... A film that is confusing and disturbing, chilling and startling, it triggers an avalanche of thoughts and questions…
From the jury’s statement
Best Cinematography Award at Transilvania International Film Festival, Cluj.
REVIEWS
Delivering one of the most intense and complex feature debuts to come from Sweden since Lukas Moodyson’s Show Me Love, helmer Lisa Aschan thrillingly subverts the coming-of-age genre, political correctness, gender roles and (without ever becoming graphic) just about everything to do with the depiction of developing sexuality in the taboo-breaking She Monkeys.
FESTIVALS & SCREENINGS 2011
