A special gala presentation at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival, Becoming Astrid tells the inspiring true story of Astrid Lindgren, author of the beloved Pippi Longstocking series. As the film opens, teenage Astrid (Alba August) leads a carefree life with her family in the forests and fields of rural Sweden. Restless and eager to break free from the confines of her conservative upbringing, she accepts an internship at a local newspaper where she attracts the attention of its married editor, Blomberg (Henrik Rafaelsen). After Astrid becomes pregnant, she leaves her childhood home and goes to Copenhagen to secretly give birth to a son, Lasse, whom she reluctantly leaves in the care of a foster mother, Marie (Trine Dyrholm). When Marie falls ill, Astrid uses her imagination and flair for storytelling to reconnect with her son. In spite of her struggles, Astrid emerges with a newfound courage that will later form the foundation of a vast and influential body of work.
Director Pernille Fischer Christensen | 2018 | In Swedish and Danish with English subtitles | 123 minutes | NR (may not be suitable for children; viewer discretion advised) | DCP
