Media Briefing for The Idealist

　　The Media Briefing of Danish film The Idealist, which is shortlisted to Tiantan Award, was held at 9:30 a.m. on April 21 in Beijing International Hotel. The crew, including Danish director Christina Rosendahl, producer Signa Lake Jensen and leading actor Peter Plaugborg, attended this conference and shared some back stories about the film with the press.

　　This film is adapted from real political event. The story begins on January 21, 1968 – An American B-52 bomber carrying nuclear warheads has just crashed on the polar ice near the US military Air Base in Danish controlled Thule, Greenland. A few days later, responsible governments classify the crash as a Broken Arrow scenario (nuclear accident) but proclaim the situation being under control. No cause for concern in relation to radioactive contamination, or violation of foreign power’s sovereignty or nuclear policy. Later, hundreds of Thule workers are set to work, helping in the gigantic clean-up operation. After eight months, all traces of the crashed aircraft and the plutonium-contaminated snow are gone. The case is closed.

　　18 years on, while covering a local workers compensation story, reporter Poul Brink, suddenly runs into suspicious circumstance linking back to the concealed nuclear accident in 1968. The deeper he goes the further he finds out that apparently the full and true story about the crash lays well-protected deep under the Thule Bay’s ice cap. Soon those people in charge are finding it hard to keep the truth about tragic accident under wraps, and will take any measure to suppress Brink.

　　“The reporter Poul Brink made great effort and fought hard to find out the truth of Thule Event. The reason why I chose this subject is that I want to test the dilemma of basic human rights and democracy.” While talking about her original intention of shooting this film, director Christina Rosendahl raised questions: Must the truth be known to the public? Whether a country or society has the courage to open its secret to the mass? Can a society remains stable without diplomacy like that? What is the advantage of lie? How far can people go alone the process of a lie becoming a crime? “I try to tell a story which is touching while also full of suspense in The Idealist. An idealist who never compromises starts finding out the truth hidden behind an event in political history; his dedication and professionalism lead him to unveil the biggest scandal in Danish history step by step.”

　　The director Christina Rosendahl was born in Denmark in 1971. She once studied History of Comparative Literature and Film and Media Studies in University of Copenhagen, and was a student in European Film Academy and New York Film Academy. In 2002, she graduated from non-traditional film academy Super16, and in the same year, her documentary Stargazer made a great breakthrough and received universal acclaim. This documentary records the daily life of “Swan Lee” Band, and the lead vocalist of the band is the director’s younger sister Pernille Rosendahl. Rosenthal’s short film “Cry Baby” (2008) won her awards in many international film festivals including Frankfurt Lucas International Children's Film Festival and Victoria Film Festival. Her film debut Supervoksen (2006) won her international recognition and was also a big success in domestic box office; moreover, it received awards in Trondheim Film Festival and child group as well as teenage group (2007) of Czech Zlin Film Festival.

　　The leading actor Peter Plaugborg, who acted as Poul Brink in the film, is the most gifted young actor in Denmark. He graduated from the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts in the southern part of Denmark in 2007, and starred in two films later. Peter Plaugborg acted as Johannes in Promise, which is directed by Kaj Munk, and Koester in Two People Met with Child Prodigy, which is directed by Howard Buck; and he was nominated for Best Actor in the most famous Danish Rumohr Award for twice. In 2010, he won the Best Supporting Actor of MacRobert Award for his wonderful performance in the film Submarino which is directed by Thomas Vinterberg. In 2012, he was nominated in the famous Danish Laurie Cen Award.