If storytelling has taught us anything, it’s that even if a protagonist doesn’t complete their hero’s journey, there is, at the very least, the attempt of a redemption arc. On a search for redemption is where we find Dimman in Axel Petersén’s most recent film, “Shame on Dry Land.”
While the Toronto International Festival may be a bit odd this year due to the ongoing SAG and WGA strikes, there are still plenty of films to look forward to, “Shame on Dry Land” being one of them. The film, which is Petersén’s fourth feature, sees Dimman enlisted in a shady business and struggling to stay on top of the ever-evolving situation. Much like most of Petersén’s work, this film has relatable themes such as naturalism and hedonism that he blends with drama, action, and moments that are often overlooked in our lives, which audiences are drawn to. The film stars Joel Spira, Christopher Wagelin, Julia Sporre, Jacqueline Ramel, Michal Axel Piotrowski, Tommy Nilsson, Erica Muscat, and Owen Sciriha.
The Swedish director hasn’t been at TIFF since 2011, when he released his first feature “Avalon.” During that time, he stated that the production process of his first film didn’t exactly go smoothly; he “got some grey hairs but didn’t make any enemies, so it worked out.” When we asked him how the process has changed over the years or if there have been any more grey hairs, Petersén said, “Way more gray hairs! I guess becoming a silver fox would be some sort of goal, and I’m still not there. So I guess I need to make more films. Have more fun, more gray hairs.”
He continued, “Looking back, I think the process has been pretty much the same even though the films have had very different budgets, set-ups, and levels of smoothness. But smooth isn’t necessarily a good thing. It can be boring. ‘Shame on Dry Land’ was semi-smooth, with a good portion of friction and a lot of fun. So, so far, so good.”
Petersén has made a variety of feature and short films which have been seen in cinemas and at festivals worldwide. “Shame on Dry Land” is premiering at TIFF on September 8. Check out the exclusive poster and trailer for the film below.
