Body Armor

After being indicted in the four-year-old case for his daughter's disappearance but acquitted, John now lives in an isolated and secluded solitary life. However, he is often reminded of his daughter's disappearance when the city's citizens confront him in fights and harassment. But one day, John finds a traumatized Lithuanian girl lying unconscious in his garden. He tries to help her on his own. But not without consequences.

  • Simon Mølvig
    Director
  • Simon Mølvig
    Writer
  • Gabriela Uweis
    Co-Writer
    Helium, Hide Your Eyes, Out of Bounds
  • Gabriela Uweis
    Producer
    Helium, Hide Your Eyes, Out of Bounds
  • Joey Moe
    Key Cast
    "John"
  • Coco Hjardemaal Laybourne
    Key Cast
    "Milla"
  • Michael Worthman
    Key Cast
    "Henry"
  • Sebastian Bull Sarning
    Key Cast
    "Carl"
  • Jon Lange
    Key Cast
    "Martin"
  • Jens-Jakob Thorsen
    DoP
  • Inger Hohlweg
    Production Design
  • Mikkel Bentzen
    Gaffer
  • Mads Løkkegaard and Mats Madestam
    Composer
  • Rune Klausen
    Sound Design
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Body Armor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Denmark
  • Country of Filming:
    Denmark
  • Language:
    Danish, English, Lithuanian
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Monstro
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Simon Mølvig

Simon Mølvig, born in 1985.
From a very young age, Simon Mølvig loved and was drawn to captivating stories. Like other kids, Simon’s passion for film started when he was introduced to Star Wars and the epic stories of good and bad, Jedi Knights and Sith Lords in a galaxy far away.
Creating films himself seemed like an idea far, far away from his reality. Nevertheless, Simon began writing and directing short films during his Master of Arts studies in Danish Literature, Film, and Media from Copenhagen University in 2014.
A passion that grew for every short film he wrote and directed. He was fascinated by the idea of “the big drama in a small package.”

Simon is a child of the Danish Dogma tradition, letting the obstructions behind small budgets and time pressure motivate better and more honest storytelling.

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Director Statement

Most people remember trafficking and kidnapping cases with a name like Josef Fritzl involved. Terrible cases of children being molested and the scars they are left to carry for the rest of their lives.
For example, I read about a specific case from 2011, about a 19-year-old Lithuanian girl held hostage in a shed close to Copenhagen (Denmark) by a 37-year-old Lithuanian man. Men were invited to have sex with the young girl in the shed for the money, around 100-200 Danish kroner (15-25 USD). The girl was finally rescued with help from a tiny scrap of paper. In broken English, it was written:" Help me .. I sex slave".

Based on real-life cases like this, I have written this story, Body Armor, about a man experiencing an existential crisis and a traumatized girl.
While the girl just managed to escape her kidnapper, who has held her and other girls hostage as sex slaves, the man is living alone, secluded from civil society, trying to forget his own daughter's disappearance. A case of crime that he may/may not be involved in.
When the man and the girl cross paths, something happens. She becomes his catalyst, and during a rescue of the other girls being held hostage, he finally comes to terms with his past and his long-lost daughter.

My vision is to make the film authentic and honest, allowing the audience to get close to the characters and their surroundings. I wish to describe an isolated community where vigilantism and double standards thrive.

Also, I intend that the anti-hero himself, in the shape of the main character, is a victim of rumors and" fake news." However, this victimization turns out to be precisely what motivates him to take matters into his own hands one day.
- Writer and Director Simon Mølvig