Jan Troell's film repertoire is long.

"Utvandrarna", "Nybyggarna", "Maria Larsson's eternal moment", "Here you have your life" and "Sagolandet" are some of the titles that have been awarded with Golden Bears, Golden Rams and Oscar nominations.  

What exactly are you trying to capture in all your years of filmmaking?

- Yes, say it, life I guess?

But also life in dead things.

I am very fascinated by the small movement, the one that separates from the immobile, says Troell.

The cinema visits as a child 

Even as a child, film played an important role in Jan Troell's life.

Partly through films and home videos created by his parents, but also through cinema visits with his brothers.

He describes his first encounters with the white screen as the starting point for his interest in film.

- Three little pigs made a huge impression and eventually Snow White, which was an absolutely fantastic experience, he says.

When he reached his teenage years, he was able to see his first children's film, "Flying Tigers" (1942) with John Wayne.

- Then I was only thirteen years old and you were supposed to be 15. So I put on a tie for the first time in my life and entered.

The teacher who never stopped filming

- I never intended to become a director.

I dreamed of making some short films and nature films, but I hadn't thought of directing people, says Troell.

Before becoming a cinematographer and director, Troell worked as a primary school teacher.

There he started recording videos for teaching purposes which quickly gained a lot of attention.

Among others "City" (1958) and "Ole dole doff" (1968).

In the justification for the Gothenburg Film Festival's honorary prize, the so-called "Honorary Dragon award", Troell is described as "the public school teacher who never stopped filming".



Do you think that is an apt description?



- Yes, I hope I don't have to.

Now I'm editing old material that I filmed a long time ago, including my father's and mother's old narrow films, but also bits of new stuff.

Troell hopes that it can become some kind of memoir.

- For several years I have also tried to make films of Niklas Rådström's novel about HC Andersen, "The Guest" (2010).

It hasn't happened yet, but there is still some hope.