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THE HOAXRelease:April 6 (lim.) April 13 (wide) Status: Completed Trailer Official Site |
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NEW AMSTERDAMTV-Drama: PilotStatus: Pre-Production |
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SAMMYRelease:NA Status: Pre-Production |
Name: Lasse (Lars) Hallström
Date of Birth: June 2, 1946
Family: Wife: Lena Olin (1994-present) daughter Tora (1995), adopted Lena's son August (1986) son Johan (1976) from previous marriage to Malou Hallström
In 1946, internationally acclaimed director, Lasse Hallström (born Lars Hallström) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, a dentist was also anamateur filmmaker who shot 8mm color documentaries, Lasse says, "It was not spoke aloud, but it was implied in our home that I might someday pick up on what my father had not the chance to pick up: that is a life devoted to movie making." Lasse embarked on that life at the age of ten when he shot "a three minute documentary about Gotland Island and the ten minute thriller, 'The Ghost Thief'".
While in high school, Lasse made a documentary about a group of friends who formed a rock band. Later that year (1967) the documentary was aired on Swedish television. In 1970, Lasse began to train as a television producer. In 1974, the Swedish pop group ABBA asked Lasse to make promo clips of their songs (the forerunners of music videos) that the group could send to radio stations that they couldn't personally visit. The official ABBA website boasts, "When the 1975 films for "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia" were shown in Australia, they kick-started a nationwide ABBA fever."
Lasse's first feature film was "En Kille och en Tjej" (A Guy and a Gal), in 1975. ABBA: The Movie followed in 1977, but it wasn't until 1985 with the film "My Life as a Dog" did Lasse gain international attention. "My Life as a Dog" earned Lasse a nomination for Best Director and a co-nomination for Best Adapted Screen Play at the Academy Awards.
In 1991, Lasse stepped onto the American film scene as writer and director of Once Around. Two years later he directed Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" a touching story about Gilbert, a young man who has to care for his mentally challenged younger brother and his obese mother.
A year later in 1994, Lasse remarried, marrying fellow Swede, actress Lena Olin. Lena has describe their relationship by saying, "I am in love with my best friend." According to Lena, Lasse introduced himself by saying 'hello', several times… "But I knew that he had his eyes on me a little bit because he kept saying hello when I was shooting another movie. He kept saying hello, and I would say hello to him, and then he said hello again. It's like, hello, he's saying hello so many times. And then when I went back to Sweden, where I still lived then, he called me up and asked me out."
Not only did Lasse direct Julia Robets in 1995 in the film, "Something To Talk About". His and Lena's daughter Tora was born that same year.
Lasse and Lena both have children from previous relationships, Johan from Lasse's first wife, Malou Hallström, and Lena's son August whom Lasse later adopted.
Lasse was nominated Best Picture in 1999 with his film, "The Cider House Rules", and adaption of John Irving's novel. It was followed the next year with a Best Picture Nomination for the movie "Chocolat", which also featured his wife, Lena. About directing his wife for the first time, Lasse says, "It was a new dimension to our relationship. I thought there was going to be some weird thing, uncomfortable or awkward. It sounds silly, but it was truly inspirational. And so not forced. I thought it was going to be forced or awkward to suddenly talk about performance with her. But it was a natural continuation of our relation."
His newest films include "An Unfinished Life" (in Release), "The Hoax" (filming) and "Casanova". The last being his second collaboration with Lena, is Lasse's biggest production so far and will be released on December 25 2005.
About his films, Lasse says, "If you look at my films, you will see some moments where I have been moderately successful. But I am always struggling to find stories that are free of stylization and portray human behavior as it unfolds. There's a coded shorthand of expression many actors use to convey feelings today, and I ask why do we have to use these codes to portray truth? Why can't we give actors the freedom to surprise us with choices that more honestly reflect real life as it plays out?"
Sources: IMDb, hollywood.com, ABBA site, NY Times, Tribute.ca
Date of Birth: June 2, 1946
Family: Wife: Lena Olin (1994-present) daughter Tora (1995), adopted Lena's son August (1986) son Johan (1976) from previous marriage to Malou Hallström
In 1946, internationally acclaimed director, Lasse Hallström (born Lars Hallström) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, a dentist was also anamateur filmmaker who shot 8mm color documentaries, Lasse says, "It was not spoke aloud, but it was implied in our home that I might someday pick up on what my father had not the chance to pick up: that is a life devoted to movie making." Lasse embarked on that life at the age of ten when he shot "a three minute documentary about Gotland Island and the ten minute thriller, 'The Ghost Thief'".
While in high school, Lasse made a documentary about a group of friends who formed a rock band. Later that year (1967) the documentary was aired on Swedish television. In 1970, Lasse began to train as a television producer. In 1974, the Swedish pop group ABBA asked Lasse to make promo clips of their songs (the forerunners of music videos) that the group could send to radio stations that they couldn't personally visit. The official ABBA website boasts, "When the 1975 films for "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia" were shown in Australia, they kick-started a nationwide ABBA fever."
Lasse's first feature film was "En Kille och en Tjej" (A Guy and a Gal), in 1975. ABBA: The Movie followed in 1977, but it wasn't until 1985 with the film "My Life as a Dog" did Lasse gain international attention. "My Life as a Dog" earned Lasse a nomination for Best Director and a co-nomination for Best Adapted Screen Play at the Academy Awards.
In 1991, Lasse stepped onto the American film scene as writer and director of Once Around. Two years later he directed Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" a touching story about Gilbert, a young man who has to care for his mentally challenged younger brother and his obese mother.
A year later in 1994, Lasse remarried, marrying fellow Swede, actress Lena Olin. Lena has describe their relationship by saying, "I am in love with my best friend." According to Lena, Lasse introduced himself by saying 'hello', several times… "But I knew that he had his eyes on me a little bit because he kept saying hello when I was shooting another movie. He kept saying hello, and I would say hello to him, and then he said hello again. It's like, hello, he's saying hello so many times. And then when I went back to Sweden, where I still lived then, he called me up and asked me out."
Not only did Lasse direct Julia Robets in 1995 in the film, "Something To Talk About". His and Lena's daughter Tora was born that same year.
Lasse and Lena both have children from previous relationships, Johan from Lasse's first wife, Malou Hallström, and Lena's son August whom Lasse later adopted.
Lasse was nominated Best Picture in 1999 with his film, "The Cider House Rules", and adaption of John Irving's novel. It was followed the next year with a Best Picture Nomination for the movie "Chocolat", which also featured his wife, Lena. About directing his wife for the first time, Lasse says, "It was a new dimension to our relationship. I thought there was going to be some weird thing, uncomfortable or awkward. It sounds silly, but it was truly inspirational. And so not forced. I thought it was going to be forced or awkward to suddenly talk about performance with her. But it was a natural continuation of our relation."
His newest films include "An Unfinished Life" (in Release), "The Hoax" (filming) and "Casanova". The last being his second collaboration with Lena, is Lasse's biggest production so far and will be released on December 25 2005.
About his films, Lasse says, "If you look at my films, you will see some moments where I have been moderately successful. But I am always struggling to find stories that are free of stylization and portray human behavior as it unfolds. There's a coded shorthand of expression many actors use to convey feelings today, and I ask why do we have to use these codes to portray truth? Why can't we give actors the freedom to surprise us with choices that more honestly reflect real life as it plays out?"
Sources: IMDb, hollywood.com, ABBA site, NY Times, Tribute.ca