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Gabriela Pichler, Johan Lundborg Talk ‘Painkiller,’ Family, Class and ‘Humor as a Survival Mechanism’


Sweden’s Gabriela Pichler and Johan Lundborg talk ‘Painkiller,’ vying for best screenplay awardof a Nordic drama series in Göteborg.

At this year’s 47 th festival, she makes her comeback with “Painkiller,” her first foray into long-form scripted format, co-written with her life partner Johan Lundborg, who also serves as DP and editor. The six-part series is a feisty socially-anchored comedy, which delves into complex mother-daughter dynamics and gentrification in Göteborg, driving class divides.As explained by the writing duo, the starting point for the story was Pichler’s personal experience of juggling between her work as a celebrated rising Swedish filmmaker, and the reality of her own mother’s struggle with chronic pain. My casting team put a lot of work and effort into finding individuals who haven’t followed the typical paths into acting, but still have the talent and charisma that shines straight through the camera.

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