It is only three weeks since Margreth Olin was with both parents at home in Oldedalen. They were at the premiere of the critically acclaimed documentary “Fedrelandet”, a film in which Olin pays tribute to both nature and his parents Magnhild and Jørgen. After the film screening, they received a standing ovation on stage. – Mum was beaming. She was so proud of dad, says Margreth Olin. When the film now has its Norwegian premiere this week, there is one person missing. – It was a shock, because mum died so suddenly, says Olin. Magnhild Kongsjord Mykløen and Jørgen Mykløen at home in Oldedalen, where the film was shot. Photo: Private Became seriously ill suddenly In Oldedalen, 600 people gathered to see the film at an outdoor cinema. It was a great experience, the filmmaker tells news. But just hours after the screening, the mother was suddenly and unexpectedly stricken with a serious illness, and had to be picked up by the air ambulance. – I was there with her, and we flew over the same mountains that are in the film, says Olin. Two days later, the mother died with those closest to her in the hospital. DANCING IN NATURE: The parents were married for 56 years. – She was so proud of dad, says Margreth Olin. Jørgen Mykløen with a view of the fjord. The wife thought this was the finest film poster from the nature documentary. In “Fedrelandet”, Olin follows in his father’s footsteps for a year. – We have not created these images, we have collected them, says Margreth Olin. Margreth describes her relationship with her mother as close. – Mum was my first audience, she always asked me to read my lyrics aloud to her. Went home to follow in her father’s footsteps In the film, Margreth Olin follows in the footsteps of her then 85-year-old father Jørgen. He has invited her to accompany him for a year in the natural surroundings around Oldedalen in Nordfjord, the place the family originates from. On the trips with their father, they have captured spectacular images of Norwegian nature. Bergens Tidenes reviewer writes that this is a nature photograph that takes one’s breath away: “An ode to life, nature, love and history”. The film is made to get more people to seek nature experiences, says the filmmaker. At the same time, it is also about searching for one’s own roots, and the fear of losing those closest to you. Olin follows in his father’s footsteps in his home area in Oldedalen in Nordfjord. Photo: Javier Auris / news The fact that the parents will one day die is a fear Olin himself talks about in the film. – Mum says she’d rather pass away first, because she can’t bear the thought of living without dad – her baby, says Margreth. Wanted to stop the film When his mother died, Olin considered stopping the launch of the personal film. The father thought it would not be any easier later. – I advised her to implement it. Her mother had wanted the film to be shown, says Jørgen Mykløen (87) to news. Thus it became like that. In recent weeks, the film has had pre-premieres all over Norway, but without Margreth, who had to take a break. Together, however, she and her father chose to travel to the pre-premiere in Oslo. This week, father and daughter went into the cinema together in Oslo. Photo: Javier Auris / news – Life is greater than death One of the film’s executive producers, Liv Ullmann, has accompanied father and daughter to screenings after their mother’s death. She was also present during the screening of “Fedrelandet” in Oslo. – The first time I saw it, I noticed the nature and the danger. Now I see the mother and father walking together in front of Margreth, so that she has footsteps to follow, says Liv Ullmann. – Margreth Olin is a filmmaker who shows that vulnerability has a dignity, and she has shown that in film after film. For Jørgen Mykløen, it was important that he was able to walk with his daughter for a whole year. For Margreth Olin, the trips with her father through all seasons taught her that life surpasses death. – Right now it is winter in our lives, because we have lost mum. But dad has taught me that a new spring will come, and that the traces of mom will never disappear. Liv Ullmann is executive producer for the film, and present at the cinema screening in Oslo. Photo: Javier Auris / news Margreth Olin Filmmaker Margreth Olin has made several award-winning documentary films. Among other things, she has films such as “Mannen fra Snåsa”, “Childhood” and “Self-Portrait” on her CV. She is known for making personal films, and says herself that the nature documentary “Fedrelandet” is the most personal film to date. The film had its world premiere in Copenhagen in March, at the film festival CPH: DOX. This autumn it will be shown at the Toronto Film Festival. Hear Margreth Olin in the ninth hour. Interested in more cultural material? Check out these cases:
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Film director Margreth Olin lost her mother just before the premiere – news Culture and entertainment
