The Norwegian series Power (Makta) will focus on Norway’s former Prime Minister and prominent leader of the Labour Party, Gro Harlem Brundtland.

The series just received NOK10 million from the Norwegian Film Institute towards its NOK 136 million budget.

According to the NFI, Power will follow the internal power struggle in the Norwegian Labour Party in the late 70s, as Brundtland navigates her path to become Labour leader and eventually Norway’s first female Prime Minister.

Brundtland has been an influential figure in Norwegian politics, leading the Labour Party three times to victory (1981, 1986 to 1989, 1990 to 1996). Trained as a physician, she is also a former director general of the World Health Organisation, and a leading advocate of environmental sustainability.

According to the media outlet ‘Dagsavisen’, Power will be the first TV drama about Brundtland and the Norwegian Labour Party’s recent history.

The 12-part series is created by seasoned writer Johan Fasting (Home Ground) together with actors Silje Storstein (Witch Hunt, Young & Promising) and Kristin Grue (Beforeigners, The Machinery) who both came up with the idea.

Director Yngve Sve Flikke (Home Ground, Ninjababy) serves as concept director. Motlys’ Kathrine Hagen and November Film’s Camilla Brusdal are producing for NRK. Details about the ambitious TV show will be unveiled closer to the start of principal photography, in the fall 2021.

Two other TV series received support from the Norwegian Film Institute: 

  • Jonas is produced by The Oslo Company for Discovery Networks Norway. The series centres on Sara and Jonas who meet by chance when a subway has to be evacuated in Oslo. Emotions flare up again between the former lovers, but Sara soon discovers that Jonas has a dark secret-a close link with the far-right movement.

    The show is created by Marie Hafting (Young & Promising), who also serves as co-writer with Erika Calmeyer (Nudes) and seasoned writer Nikolaj Frobenius (Insomnia, Pioneer). Stian Kristiansen (Witch Hunt, Home Ground) is concept director. 
  • Klasse VIS is an animated series for children, created and directed by Marianne Müller and Trond Jacobsen for Bivrost Film & TV. 

The NFI also supported two feature films: 

  • A Happy Day by Hisham Zaman (See separate story)
  • The Nightmare, feature film debut of genre specialist writer Kjersti Helen Rasmussen (The Tunnel, Villmark 2). The film is about Mona and Robby who move into their first apartment. Mona has trouble sleeping and when the baby next door dies, her nightmares intensify. The Tunnel’s producers Einar Loftesnes of Handmade Films in Norwegian Woods, and John Einar Hagen of Nordisk Film Production are teaming up again on this film, set to start filming in Bergen before summer 2021.