Deodar - prelude to a documentary film

• In this short video – a prospective opening sequence to the theatrical documentary film "Deodar" – the researcher explores how the public screening of conceptual scenes from a work-in-progress film can help inform a film editor's still-evolving process of crafting a film's emotional tone, character introductions and themes. BACKGROUNDIn the documentary film "Deodar", filmmaker Axel Grigor delves into the captivating story of Thomas Hellström, a Swedish boatbuilder who has spent over five decades restoring the historic sailing trawler, Deodar.Constructed in 1911 in Brixham, England, Deodar has been meticulously revived by Hellström, transforming it into a familiar and beloved sight in the Stockholm archipelago.Hellström's commitment to manifest the enduring beauty and sailing prowess of traditional English sailling trawlers through his efforts with Deodar, has seen him become one of Sweden's foremost wooden boatbuilders. However, his dogged dedication has come at a cost, straining personal relationships and causing financial hardship. At the age of 73 and faced with diminishing strength, Hellström grapples with the inevitable decision to part ways with the vessel that has defined his life.Drawing inspiration from maritime documentary films, such as "The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail" (1984) and "The Sailor" (2021), this documentary uses observational filmmaking techniques and archive-based storytelling to skillfully explore the confluence of Swedish and English maritime history in the early 20th century through the lens of one man's extraordinary devotion to a vessel that has become both his masterpiece and his burden.This conceptual opening sequence screened publically at the 2023 Dalarna Film Festival, Sweden, as part of a masterclass in film editing. The creative practice research project has received development funding from the regional film fund Film i Dalarna and Dalarna University.

• Conceptual opening sequence to the feature documentary "Deodar"

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Bildkonst (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Visual Arts (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Deodar

documentary film

maritime films

maritime heritage

maritime history

cultural heritage

Sweden

England

Brixham

Stockholm

Audiovisuella seminariet

Audiovisuella seminariet

Publication and Content Type

kfu (subject category)