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The Glassblower - A life in service of glass


"The Glassblower: A Life in Service of Glass" is a captivating documentary that tells the story of Öiwind Ohlsson, a retired glassblower from the Kingdom of Crystal in Sweden. The film takes viewers on a journey through time, back to an era when the glass furnaces still glowed in the Kingdom of Crystal.
As we follow Öiwind's story, we are given a rare glimpse into the life of a true craftsman, and we witness the passion and dedication that he brought to his work. Through interviews with Öiwind, as well as footage of his glassblowing process, we are able to appreciate the true beauty of this ancient art.
Throughout the film, we see Öiwind yearning to once again feel the magic of the glowing glass mass in his hands, and we are left wondering if he will ever get the chance to return to his craft. This touching and thought-provoking documentary is a testament to the power of art and the enduring legacy of a master craftsman.

  • Mattias Ohlsson
    Director
  • Matias Ohlsson
    Writer
  • Mattias Ohlsson
    Producer
  • Gärdsmygen Produktion
    Producer
  • Öiwind Ohlsson
    Key Cast
    "The Glassblower"
  • Carl Utbult
    Music
  • Erik Wikström
    Music
  • Indiara Sfair
    Music
  • Alan Spilijak
    Music
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Glasblåsaren - Ett liv i glasets tjänst
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 9 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Country of Filming:
    Sweden
  • Language:
    Swedish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Global Lift off Tokyo Film Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    June 1, 2021
  • Boden International Filmfestival
    Boden
    Sweden
    Semifinal - Bodens International Filmfestival April 2021
  • Luleå International Filmfestival
    Luleå
    Sweden
    Finalist - Luleå International Filmfestival April/May 2021
  • GAS Filmfestival 2024
    Online
    Online Official Selection
Director Biography - Mattias Ohlsson

Mattias Ohlsson is a Swedish documentary filmmaker who was born in southern Sweden in 1976. He graduated from the film school in Malmö in 2019. In 2021, he released his debut film, "The Glassblower," which explores a life dedicated to glassmaking.
He is also a podcast producer for the podcast "Originella Människor," with season one launching in December 2022. Currently, he is working on a new and exciting documentary project with the working title "Caribbean McGyver."
It centers around an elderly inventor with an exciting life story, whom Mattias has been following since 2019.
The documentary is set to be released in 2023.

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Director Statement

The film has been a long-term project that originated in the early 1990s when I used to work at a glass factory during my spare time from school. Encouraged by my father, I borrowed a video camera and recorded footage of the work at the factory on several occasions. Over two decades later, when I decided to create a cultural documentary about the glass kingdom and my father's life as a glassblower, that footage became a valuable resource. Today, it is a unique documentation since many of the glass factories in the county of Småland have been closed and demolished for a long time.

Collaborating with my dad on this project has been a wonderful experience, and it has taught me a lot about filmmaking. I am grateful to the music composers whose beautiful pieces of music have contributed greatly to the film's impact and emotion

Carl Utbult, Alan Spiljak, Indiara Sfair, Adam Hurst, Erik Wikström