The Diver (Finnish: Hyppääjä) is a 2001 Finnish short film directed by PV Lehtinen. It is an ode to diving and the aesthetics of movement. The film focuses on Helge Wasenius (born 1927), the grand old man of diving, who competed in two Olympic Games and performed clown dives.[1] Lehtinen has said that the protagonist, Helge Wasenius, was his neighbour and childhood hero. When he started planning the film, an image of Wasenius hanging by his feet from the ten-meter diving tower of Helsinki Swimming Stadium was embedded in his head. The diving sequences in the film have been compared to Leni Riefenstahl. Lehtinen has said he was inspired by Herb Ritts’ photographs of divers more than Riefensthal.[2]

The Diver
Directed byPV Lehtinen
Written byPV Lehtinen
Produced byPV Lehtinen
CinematographyJyri Hakala
Edited byPV Lehtinen
Music byMoby
Release date
  • March 2001 (2001-03)
Running time
21 minutes
CountryFinland
LanguageFinnish

Critical reviews

edit

Variety International Film Guide wrote following about the film: "A thoughtful voiceover and a skilful blend of archive and dramatised footage create a meditative mood, emphasised by touches of ambient music, giving the spectator space to reflect on his own emotions".[3]

Awards

edit

The Diver won the Grand Prix and other main prizes at the Tampere Film Festival 2001.[4][5]

Year Association Country Award Category Status
2001 Tampere Film Festival Finland Grand Prix, International Competition Won[6]
2001 Tampere Film Festival Finland Main Prize, Finnish Short Film Under 30 Minutes Won[6]
2001 Tampere Film Festival Finland Prize of the Youth Jury, Finnish Short Film Under 30 Minutes Won[6]
2001 Tampere Film Festival Finland Audience Award, International Competition Won[6]
2001 Tampere Film Festival Finland Risto Jarva Award Won[6]
2001 Festival du nouveau cinéma Canada Best Short Film, Loup Argenté Won[6][7]
2001 Corto Imola Film Festival Italy Best International Film, Special Mention Won[6]
2001 Brest European Short Film Festival France Best Short Film, Young Jury Award Won[6]
2001 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam The Netherlands Special Mention, Silver Wolf Won[6]
2002 Finland´s State Quality Award Finland Quality Award Won[6]
2002 Maremetraggio International Short Film Festival Italy Best Foreign Language Film Won[6]
2002 Montecatini Filmvideo - International Short Film Festival Italy Best Film, Heron - Youth Jury Award Won[8]
2002 Montecatini Filmvideo - International Short Film Festival Italy Silver Heron Won[8]
2002 Palermo International Sport Film Festival Italy Best Film, Paladino d'Oro Won[9]
2006 Sport Movies & TV – Milano International FICTS Fest Italy Best Movie, Guirlande d'Honneur Won[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tampere 49th International Short Film Festival, Programme catalogue" (PDF). Tampere Film Festival. 2019. p. 148 (pdf-page 75). Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. ^ Virtanen, Leena (11 March 2001). "Lyhyt oli kauneinta Tampereella". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  3. ^ Peter Cowie (15 March 2002). Variety International Film Guide 2002. Silman-James Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-879-50565-0.
  4. ^ "Archive, International Competition Winners: Hyppääjä". Tampere Film Festival. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Archive, National Competition Winners: Hyppääjä". Tampere Film Festival. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Hyppääjä (The Diver), Awards". National Audiovisual Institute. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. ^ "The Montreal International Festival of New Cinema and New Media (FCMM) 2001 Winners". Noema Journal website. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b Tinaglia, Fabiana (6 October 2003). "I corti alla Tiraboschi, Hyppääjä (Il tuffatore)". L'Eco di Bergamo (in Italian). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Paladino D'oro Sportfilmfestival Palmares". Palermo International Sport Film Festival. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
edit