Viaplay Content Distribution has sold “A Life’s Worth” to Spain (EITB) and Greece (Vodafone) prior to his Mania Première series in his international panorama.
The drama with six episodes, directed by Ahmed Abdullahi, is inspired by the challenges that the first Swedish UN battalion is confronted to Bosnia sent in 1993.
Produced by Yellowbird in co -production with Viaplay and Arte France, “A Life’s Worth” has also given a license to Arte for France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria; Viaplay has other world rights.
“Swedish soldiers did not have to go there: they reported. Some needed a job, others hoped for an adventure. So many of them didn’t even know what that war was about. They got more than they asked,” said Mona Masri, who wrote the show with Oliver Dixon.
“The UN is a peace force. I read somewhere that many weapons did not function because they should not be used. Then they realized that people were slaughtered.”
Inspired by the book of UN soldier Magnus Erström-Die served in the same title as a consultant of the Show-feast it admits to those who have experienced war, she admits. And express their sense of helplessness.
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” [Jasmila Žbanić’s drama about the Srebrenica massacre] Determined this very well: people were not allowed to do anything. The Colonel in our show was inspired by a real person who was not allowed to use violence while protecting citizens. He argued that you cannot talk to someone holding a gun: you have to respond in the same language. ‘
Although Sweden has a large migrant community of the Balkans, it is crucial to remind people of the Bosnian war, Masri argued.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, some said,” It is the first war in Europe since the Second World War. ” But what about the Balkans? It’s a forgotten conflict.
Johan Rheborg, cast as the controversial colonel, remembered the events depicted in the show.
“I had a few friends who actually went there. But people didn’t talk about our participation and for politicians it was dangerous to admit that they were sending Sweden to the war. These children who came there as UN soldiers … I don’t know if they expected to end up in such serious situations. I really don’t think so.”
According to his co-star Erik Enge, young hunters wanted to ‘make a difference’.
“That’s why they were there. About how they can achieve it, well, that’s another question. They were not soldiers trained; they didn’t know how to deal with danger. In the series they look at each other, thinking:” What are we doing now “?”
Edvin Ryding, Maxwell Cunningham, Toni Prince, Sandra Stojilković and Johannes Bah Kuhnke finished the cast.
Although ‘A Life’s Worth’ can be seen at home as ‘provocative’, Rheborg said, the Swedish attitude towards war and military conflicts has changed. On March 7, 2024, NATO became the member.
“At the time, Sweden was very selfish and he held in on his own company. We did not think that we would ever be involved in another war. Now all the money is going to the army. It will be interesting to see how it is observed today.”
Scary agreed: “When this happened, Sweden was still very proud of neutral. It was a complex war. But one of the reasons to send UN soldiers [to Bosnia] Was because Sweden wanted to show that we can be part of this community that is Europe. It was the first step. “
For Enge, respecting real-life events was “more important than trying to entertain an audience.” Yet, as noted by Masri, stories about armed conflicts are not just about killing.
“It is also about trying to buy bread or want to get married. Life continues. It is amazing how quickly we adjust,” she said, eventually for a number of lighter scenes between the characters.
“The best way to treat trauma and all these cheeky things you see is through humor. We had to allow these characters and viewers to take a breath break,” said Enge, with Rheborg who remembered his own experiences.
“If you are under pressure and have a lot of fear, look for your normality. That was my experience in Thailand, during a tsunami. After it was over, we sat on a hotel deck. Everyone was quiet. Suddenly someone said:” Everyone provides a dive? ” We all started to laugh.
He added: “These characters are not the jury members of what is right and wrong. The only thing they know is that a crime against innocent people is a crime – who makes it. They try to find some decency in the chaos.”