Private Project

RO

Isolated in the depths of winter, a new mother is struggling with sleep deprivation, delusion and detachment from her baby.
She descends into madness, the life of her baby now at her mercy.
Something is watching her from the forest, ever so slowly encroaching on her home.

  • Gustav Ekberg
    Director
  • Caitlin Royse
    Writer
  • Gustav Ekberg
    Writer
  • Caitlin Royse
    Producer
  • Ronja Svedmark
    Key Cast
    "The mother"
  • Vega Carlberg
    Key Cast
    "The baby"
  • Emma Christiansson
    Key Cast
    "The entity"
  • Caitlin Royse
    Cinematographer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    RO
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Thriller, Female Perspective
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 24, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Country of Filming:
    Sweden
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri Alexa Mini
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Gustav Ekberg

Gustav Ekberg is a first time director and screenwriter.
He has always been fascinated by cinema that makes the audience want to look away.

Gustav wrote this screenplay alongside his partner and cinematographer Caitlin Royse. His love of cinema has now become a creative reality.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The idea for RO was birthed from a nightmare I had years ago and evolved into the fear my partner and I have of not loving our future children.

The nightmare was just a figure without personality standing watching me, knowing all my dark shameful secrets, not moving, not talking. This feeling of being haunted I wanted to translate to cinema. Something void of personalty will become what the observer fear the most if done correctly.

The most despicable thing in society is a bad mother, there is so much pressure to sacrifice all. I have friends who suffered in silence, isolated and full of shame. This feels very common in Sweden.

It was interesting to explore the moments you are not supposed to talk about; the private moments when you hated your children or regretted becoming a parent.

I also wanted to tell this story without dialogue, as the only interaction of characters is the mother and the baby, as words mean nothing in that space.