Uncle Egg
Hauk (12), from Norway, is searching for his biological father in Germany.
Hauk (12), a boy from Northern Norway, embarks on a journey to Germany with his
eccentric uncle, Uncle Egg, in the hope of finding his unknown biological father, Martin
Müller. However, their mission becomes far more complicated when Hauk realizes that
there are 25,000 men in Germany with the same name. The journey puts his relationship
with Uncle Egg to the test.
Director's note
Uncle Egg is based on an idea I began developing about ten years ago, about a boy who longs for a more ordinary family and sets out on a journey to Germany to find his father. Hauk grows up with a single mother and an uncle who functions as a substitute father, but he feels like an outsider because of his family’s differences. The desire to fit in, the shame that troubles him, and the longing for an origin he does not know drive Hauk to set out on a journey to find his father. The journey ends with him learning to appreciate and acknowledge the chaotic yet loving family he already has.
I have worked from the belief that children need love and care above anything else. Beyond that, it matters less whether this care comes from the child’s biological parents or not. Developing a close, parent-like relationship with one’s uncle is perhaps not typical, but if both child and adult experience that such an arrangement provides the love they need, there is no reason it cannot be the best solution. In the modern world, family constellations can be far more than mother, father and child, and they do not necessarily revolve around biology. There are homosexual partnerships, children are adopted, and children of divorce often gain new stepparents. The classic nuclear family is not a prerequisite for children to thrive; what matters is that they receive care and love.
Producer's note
When I was introduced to Uncle Egg in 2019, screenwriter and director Torfinn Iversen had already been working on the project for a while. I felt there was something very unique about the universe, and I really liked the emotional impact and the originality of the story. And the fact that it was inspired by his own upbringing. The story deals with belonging, exclusion, shame, and family relationships, topics that both children and adults will relate to.
Uncle Egg is written for the big screen and is designed first and foremost for theatrical release, as it will consist of elements that require cinematic scale, sound, and immersion to resonate fully.
Uncle Egg is a film that combines an Arctic landscape and nature, such as fjords and mountains, with German cities and landscape, with a playful, humorous and adventurous tone for the whole family.
Profile
Fjordic Film is an independent production company based in Tromsø, Norway, that primarily focuses in original written films for children and young adults. Several of the company’s productions have received major awards, most notably «The Kicksled Choir», which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2021. Fjordic Film is jointly owned by producer Julia Andersen, CEO Jannik Dam Kehlet, and director Torfinn Iversen.