The Diver (2001 film)

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

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

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

YearAssociationCountryAward CategoryStatus
2001Tampere Film FestivalFinlandGrand Prix, International CompetitionWon[6]
2001Tampere Film FestivalFinlandMain Prize, Finnish Short Film Under 30 MinutesWon[6]
2001Tampere Film FestivalFinlandPrize of the Youth Jury, Finnish Short Film Under 30 MinutesWon[6]
2001Tampere Film FestivalFinlandAudience Award, International CompetitionWon[6]
2001Tampere Film FestivalFinlandRisto Jarva AwardWon[6]
2001Festival du nouveau cinémaCanadaBest Short Film, Loup ArgentéWon[6][7]
2001Corto Imola Film FestivalItalyBest International Film, Special MentionWon[6]
2001Brest European Short Film FestivalFranceBest Short Film, Young Jury AwardWon[6]
2001International Documentary Film Festival AmsterdamThe NetherlandsSpecial Mention, Silver WolfWon[6]
2002Finland´s State Quality AwardFinlandQuality AwardWon[6]
2002Maremetraggio International Short Film FestivalItalyBest Foreign Language FilmWon[6]
2002Montecatini Filmvideo - International Short Film FestivalItalyBest Film, Heron - Youth Jury AwardWon[8]
2002Montecatini Filmvideo - International Short Film FestivalItalySilver HeronWon[8]
2002Palermo International Sport Film FestivalItalyBest Film, Paladino d'OroWon[9]
2006Sport Movies & TV – Milano International FICTS FestItalyBest Movie, Guirlande d'HonneurWon[6]

References
  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. "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. 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.


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