NEWS
🎬 A look back at the unforgettable premiere of The Swedish Torpedo
A moving opening for the 20th edition of the Festival Europe by Europe
📍 Cinema Les 7 Parnassiens – Paris
📅 Wednesday, April 15, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday evening, the Europe Around Europe Festival kicked off its 20th edition with a memorable opening ceremony, featuring the premiere of Frida Kempff‘s film The Swedish Torpedo. A highlight, the Swedish director, producer Erik Andersson, and distributor Nour Films attended, before a curious and deeply moved audience.
💬 A rich exchange between the audience and the film crew After the screening, a generous dialogue took place between Frida Kempff and the audience, moderated by festival founder Irena Bilic. It was an opportunity to revisit the film’s genesis, the forgotten legacy of Sally Bauer, and the powerful artistic choices that guided this poignant story.
“Frida discovered Sally Bauer only eight years ago. Since then, she has lived with this woman, immersed in her story and her archives.” – Irena Bilic
Frida shared her initial astonishment: “ I didn’t know Sally Bauer. She wasn’t in the history books. And yet, she accomplished so much. It was this absence that compelled me to tell her story. ”
She continues:
“I deeply identified with her. This film is my way of giving her a voice, but also of talking about myself, and so many other women. Sally Bauer is a metaphor for the dream we carry within us, and the challenge of not letting that flame go out. “
The role of motherhood occupied a central place in her speech:
“This film also addresses the way mothers are viewed. Being a mother means being subjected to the gaze of others and having a role that demands perfection. And yet, we also have other dreams, a life to lead. How can we make all of this coexist? “
A sincere testimony, praised by the public.
🎞️ A film between truth and fiction The film is based on a solid historical foundation, enriched by a personal artistic interpretation. One of the most touching moments recalled by Frida Kempff was her encounter with Sally Bauer’s son:
“He gave me his permission to tell his mother’s story in my own way. He read all the scripts and even acted in the film, in the final scene on the boat. He’s the old man sitting next to the child. It was a very powerful moment for both of us.”
The film thus weaves a unique link between real memory and fiction, between past and present, between generations.
👏 A growing recognition The film’s impact extends beyond the theater:
“Today, thanks to the film, the Swedish Swimming Association has created a Sally Bauer Award for young female swimmers in the 50m events. Every time a girl wins this award, someone will wonder who Sally Bauer was. And so the story continues. “
🎭 The actress’s choice Asked about the casting, Frida shared a memorable anecdote:
“We auditioned over 50 actresses… But I came back to Josefin Neldén, whom I had met on a previous project. As soon as she performed the scene, it was obvious. She is stubborn, determined, and that’s exactly what was needed to play Sally.”
She adds with humor:
“On the sea shoot, the hardest thing was saying no to her. She was ready for anything. Even Sally’s son said, ‘You’re like my mother.'”
🎉 A memorable evening, full of hope The screening concluded with a shared feeling: that of having restored her rightful place to a woman forgotten by history. One viewer thanked Frida with emotion:
“Maybe Olympic athletes will one day remember Sally Bauer because of you.“
💡 About Frida Kempff and Erik Andersson Frida Kempff is a Swedish director who has won awards at Cannes, Toronto, and Chicago. Her films combine formal precision with a deeply human perspective, often centering on strong female figures.
Erik Andersson, the film’s producer, has been working with unique works in Nordic cinema for several years. Together, they have convincingly carried out this ambitious project, a blend of homage and creation.
