Hot Docs - Every Other Couple
Every Other Couple is a film about separation. Three couples - three separations - six ways to remember.
Interview with Writer/Director Mia Halme
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I saw separations everywhere around me and heard many people tell about the moments of separation. Some of those moments were of course catastrophic but some also bright and clear seconds or minutes when people realise that their lives are going to change for ever, and maybe for the better.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because it concerns you! I'm sure you know someone who is separated and you have listened to his or her stories, maybe said something empathetic, or maybe you are separated yourself, or your parents are. If you live in a relationship, you should watch this film because you could notice very many familiar, and also funny, scenes. This is a film that can change the stereotypes you maybe have about women and men in intimate relationship and in the middle of separation.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The theme is universal, but the stories are individual, so, the universal theme is told through private stories. Statistically everywhere in the Western world around every other couple separates. It is universal.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I searched for three ex-couples. As main characters I wanted to have both ex-husbands and ex-wives and in the end this came true in the film. I made many background interviews and chose the characters from these people. I wanted them to have children to film how they continue life together after the separation. Through children and a couple of grannies I wanted to show that separation concerns many more people than just those two who actually separate.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
That the film is for everyone; if separated or not, married or single, man or woman. And it's not offering any point of view that separation should be avoided or looked for. Some in the audience have watched the film seeing through glasses of a child they once were in a divorce-family, some have said they want to bring their mothers to watch it, or their ex. We have managed to forward the idea of life goes on after crisis.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Not actually. I knew already beforehand that some viewers will ask, why do all the couples in the film have children (because then they still have to deal with each other), or why are they about the same age (they are because it's the statistical peak in divorce rates and I wanted to film them as part of the crowd, not as representatives of a smaller group). Some have said that these separations are too clean, there aren't enough arguments and no court-cases. I didn't want to film those cases we all know from the Yellow papers...and then I wouldn't have been sure about the motives of the characters to take part in the film.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
More viewers! More invitations to interesting festivals! Good discussions!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Film festival directors, journalists, distributors. Our sales agent is Journeyman Pictures.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Both cinematic reception and content reception via discussion.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What did you feel when watching the film? Which scenes were familiar to you? In which scenes did you laugh? Did you recognise yourself in the characters?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm developing an idea for my next film about youth around 18, the age between childhood and adulthood, and teaching at the Film School Helsinki Finland. Producer Aleksi Salmenperä is working as a director on his next feature 'The Void'. Cinematographer Peter Flinckenberg works as a cinny in LA and Heikki Färm in Finland. Editor Antony Bentley and sound designer Micke Nyström are working on their next films.
Interview: April 2017
_______________________________________________________________________________
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
_______________________________________________________________________________
Every Other Couple
Every Other Couple' is a film about separation. Three couples - three separations - six ways to remember.
Length: 77 min
Director: Mia Halme
Producer: Aleksi Salmenperä, Mia Halme
Writer: Mia Halme
About the writer, director and producer:
Mia Halme’s previous film FOREVER YOURS (2011) was awarded as the best Finnish documentary film of the year and Best Direction prize in Visions du Réel.
Aleksi Salmenperä is an awarded director. His films have been twice Finnish Oscar-nominees and twice EFA ́s nominees for best European film.
Key cast: three ex-couples, their children and grannies.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Film festival directors, journalists, distributors
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Jokatoinenpari/events/?ref=page_internal
Other: http://www.sahadok.fi
Funders: The Finnish Film Foundation, YLE - Finnish Broadcasting Company, AVEK Finland
Made in association with:
Where can I see it in the next month? Hot Docs, Toronto Kanada. Docs Against Gravity, Warsaw Poland.