Jon Blåhed found a timely story in 1930s period drama “Raptures.” “Some of these things happen today as well,” he says. Inspired by the so-called “Korpela Movement” – a controversial religious sect that first emerged in Northern Sweden and was later known for its apocalyptic beliefs and unorthodox rituals, as well as sexual practices – he wasn’t looking to spread gossip.
“It wasn’t just about taking the juiciest stories, but staying true to what I thought was important. I grew up in that region. I’m a son of the village preacher and I’ve heard whispers about this movement when I was a kid.
It always felt a bit wrong, like something you weren’t supposed to discuss.” Later in life, Blåhed found himself questioning religious dogmas. “I was forced to go to church as a kid, and I didn’t like it.
It was weird, hearing your own dad talk about death and the afterlife,” he admits. But he hasn’t forgotten about the Korpela Movement. “I remember talking to a colleague of mine 10 years ago, and this subject came up again.
I found myself refuting their claims: ‘It wasn’t like that!’ I realized: ‘Well, maybe I should be the one telling this story.’” “Raptures,” produced by Andreas Emanuelsson and Tony Österholm for Iris Film AB and co-produced by Tiina Pesonen for Rabbit Films, is not just about religion. Things get personal not just for Blåhed, but his female protagonist as well.
Rakel (Jessica Grabowsky, soon to be seen in s.