Danish Mads Matthiesen's 'The Model'

The Model is the latest project from Denmark's Mads Matthiesen. Starring Maria Palm in her feature debut as Emma, the eponymous model, who leaves her home in Denmark to become a model in Paris. The film affords a glimpse into the world of professional modelling, and the drama that lies beneath the glamorous facade.

When Emma leaves her home she dreams of fame and status. Her foray into the modelling world does not proceed as smoothly as her dreams, however. When she becomes romantically involved with worldly photographer Shane White, events transpire to bring her to rapid maturity. The relationship becomes unhealthy as Emma develops an obsession with White.

Maria Palm's personal acting inexperience plays perfectly into the rawness of her character, while her experience as a model informs her performance as well, resulting in a blend of naiveté and worldliness.

Starring alongside her is Ed Skrein, who plays Shane White. Skrein is a British actor best known for his appearance as Daario Naharis in season of the TV extravaganza Game of Thrones. This role was taken over by Michiel Huisman in the fourth season when Skrein was cast in a Transporter movie.

Other cast members include Yvonnick Muller, Dominic Allburn, Virgile Bramly, and Theirry Hancisse.

Directed by Mads Matthiesen, a Danish director best known for his 2012 debut film Teddy Bear, which made him won Best Director Category – World Dramatic Arts Award during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The Model is his first English language film.

The movie explores themes of exploitation and maturity, and shows a detailed behind-the-scenes view of the world of international modelling. Emma is thrust into a world well beyond her emotional scope, and is expected to quickly become a hardened professional who can survive the rigours of a gruelling industry.

The Model premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it was one of five selected to be shown at 40 cinemas worldwide as part the IFFR Live initiative. The films were displayed to international audiences at the same time that they appeared at the festival in Rotterdam.

The Model played at the Nordic Film Market at the Goteborg Film Festival between 4 and 7 February 2016. Petrus Sjövik won the Sven Nykvist Cinematography Award at the festival for his work on The Model. The jury said of the film: "(it) radically reverses the roles of model and photographer. Without using the seductive visual language of the French fashion scene, the cinematography persistently presents an everyday life.”

The Model was also nominated for the prestigious Nordic Dragon award for Best Nordic Film 2016 at the Goteborg Film Festival, alongside 7 other titles.

The Model is produced by Zentropa Entertainments, and is distributed by Nordisk Film Distribution in Denmark and worldwide by TrustNordisk. Although the film was released in Denmark on 11 February 2016, as yet there is no international release date set. It has, however, been sold toto France (AB Groupe), also Poland (Kino Swiat), not to forget Korea (Scene & Sound),also Bulgaria (Pro Films) and the Middle East (Gulf Film).

Check out the official movie trailer below.