Experiencing Interruptions?

Surprise

The successful actress and unconventional mother Ingrid decides to fly out and surprise her daughter on her birthday. The trip does not turn out as planned and Ingrid is confronted by the consequences of her life choices.

  • Laerke Herthoni
    Director
    Alba (2020)
  • Laerke Herthoni
    Writer
    Alba (2020)
  • Sissela Nelander
    Writer
  • Erik Torell
    Producer
    En dag ska du få veta (2020), Alba (2020), Juck (2018)
  • Sara Börje Ramberg
    Producer
    Vernissage (2023)
  • Sofia Björkman
    Producer
  • Gustav Johansson
    Producer
    En dag ska du få veta (2020), Ali & Nina (2020)
  • Pernilla August
    Key Cast
    "Ingrid"
    Star Wars, Fanny and Alexander, Call girl
  • Rolf Lassgård
    Key Cast
    "Tom"
    A man called Ove, My father Marianne, Downsizing
  • Aliette Opheim
    Key Cast
    "Linn"
    Caliphate, Black Crab, Beartown
  • Robin Nazari
    Key Cast
    "Daniel "
    Clark, Snabba Cash
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 5, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Country of Filming:
    Sweden
  • Language:
    Swedish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Göteborg Film Fesitval
    Göteborg
    Sweden
    January 29, 2023
    National premiere
    Startsladden
  • Palm Springs International ShortFest
    Palm Springs
    United States
    June 25, 2023
    North America Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Sao Paulo International Short Film Festival
    Sao Paulo
    Brazil
    August 24, 2023
    South America Premiere
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Swedish Television
    Distributor
    Country: Sweden
    Rights: Video on Demand, Free TV
  • The Swedish Film Institute
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Laerke Herthoni

Laerke Herthoni (b.1988) is a Danish director and screenwriter based in Stockholm, Sweden. She started out directing music videos at the early age of twenty-three and later on became one of Sweden's most awarded directors in advertising. Her work has been prized with many international prestigious awards such as Cannes Lions and Eurobest.

In 2020 she directed her first short Alba starring actress Aliette Opheim, which was selected and premiered at the Gothenburg film festival. In the year that followed Herthoni was chosen for Film Stockholm's debutant program, where she was one of three selected directors given the opportunity to develop their first feature film. In 2023 Herthoni's short film Surprise starring Cannes Best Actress Award-winner Pernilla August and Rolf Lassgård was nominated for Best Swedish Short at the Gothenburg film festival.

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Director Statement

Choosing yourself, and your professional life before your family is still seen as more controversial for women than men. By making Surprise I wanted to examine the multilayered consequences of a difficult and irreversible life choice between motherhood and having a successful career. Ingrid unexpectedly returns to her grown daughter with hopes of mending a broken relationship, realizing she might be too late. With this film, I want to shed light on every “bad” mother and the arduous reality of being a woman.