Experiencing Interruptions?

The Cock-Swan

When a piece of art drives you crazy.

Anna hates the Cock-Swan - a phallic sculpture placed outside of Oslo’s two biggest clubs. In one of these club’s Anna is sexually harassed on the dance floor. The sculpture is now an even bigger symbol of the fucked-up patriarchy we live in, and she decides to destroy it.

  • Jenny Heradstveit
    Director
  • Anna Ladegaard
    Writer
  • Jenny Heradstveit
    Writer
  • Nina M. Barbosa Blad
    Producer
    The Manila Lover (2019), Daddy's Girl (2020), Nudes (2019), My Sister (2017)
  • Anna Ladegaard
    Key Cast
    "Anna "
  • Sarah Francesca Brænne
    Key Cast
    "Yngvild "
  • Sulekha Ali Omar
    Key Cast
    "Siri"
  • Alvilde Naterstad
    Camera
  • Vegard Ronæss Soldal
    Sound
  • Geir Rolandesen
    Editer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Kuksvanen
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 12, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    77,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Norway
  • Country of Filming:
    Norway
  • Language:
    Norwegian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Norwegian Short Film Festival
    Grimstad
    Norway
    June 12, 2020
    Norwegian Premiere
    Official Selection Best Norwegian Film
Distribution Information
  • Barbosa Film
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Jenny Heradstveit

Jenny Heradstveit (b. 1994) is a norwegian film director. She has a BA in documentary directing from the Norwegian TV-school (2019). She has made political documentaries following personal stories at close that introduces complex scenarios. The Cock-Swan is her first short film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I have passed the Cock-swan countless times, on my way to work, from appointments with friends and from clubbing. The luminous penis sculpture in the river has become an institution and a tourist attraction. People that are passing it make jokes, point and laugh at it, others turn away in embarrassment. The script writer and main actress in the film Anna Ladegaard had for a long time been annoyed by the Cock-swan when I met her. Our conversation about the Cock-swan led to a discussion about sculptures in public space in general and about who takes - and who is given this space, the lack of evidence in sexual harassment, the patriarchy, purplewashing, white feminism, the cliché of the angry-feminist, intersectionality, rivalry between women and about how feminism can unite. We were bloody serious, but not without self-irony. It is absurd that we as white Norwegian women who are so privileged still feel unfairly treated and like we’re treated differently because of our gender. It would take several years a lot of will and passion before we finished our film Cock-swan. The finished film reflects these themes almost in the same way we discussed it at that time, with self-irony and curiosity. We believe we need to talk about these problems and we humbly hope the film The Cock-Swan creates a space for these conversations to take place.