Globalisation, infidelity, pornography, riots, sex trafficking: these are the subjects that have occupied Lukas Moodysson's mind in recent years. It seems, however, that he's up for having some fun now, since his next project is set to be the feelgood punk project VI ÄR BÄST! Or, in English, **We Are The Best! **
Based on the comic Never Goodnight by Lukas' wife Coco, the film, as currently described, revolves around three girls in their early teens who decide to rock out and form a band. Coco's book is autobiographical, and also deals with being the middle child of estranged parents in stifling early 80s Stockholm.
She and her friends Clara and Matilda got into The Clash and the punk scene to stave off the boredom, and continued to play together for a few years; their career highlight was a support slot for Sator. The humour can be dark - Coco says people's reactions are divided between "How sad!" and "What fun!" - but the book is fundamentally about friendship.
Lukas says his intent is to "make a happy film full of hope and vitality." This from the man that made Lilya 4Ever, which is about as excoriatingly bleak a film as you can imagine. But lest we forget, he was also the brains behind Show Me Love and Together, so it sounds as if **VI ÄR BÄST! **will be seeking to re-bottle that earlier warm, fuzzy glow.
Moodysson's frequent collaborator Lars Jonsson will produce, and the film will be offered to international buyers at Cannes next month. Shooting will start in Sweden in the autumn
