Singer Marie Ulven, known to her millions of fans and followers as girl in red, plays a musician in Eivind Landsvik’s drama “Low Expectations.” But she’s not playing herself.
“It has been a little frustrating because I’m very different from Maja, and I put a lot of work into this role. But just because I’m an artist as well, some people assume: ‘I guess that’s her.’ It annoys me, which is why I was hesitant when Eivind said he wanted me to play the part,” she tells Variety.
In “Low Expectations” – shown at this week’s Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund following its premiere at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight – Maja breaks down after years of international success. She returns home and starts working at a local high school.
Unlike Ulven, Maja decides to give up her artistry. Or rather, she puts it on pause.
This doesn’t mean Ulven is opposed to taking time off as a creator.
“I think it’s necessary. I met an incredible person in L.A. and he told me: ‘Marie, you’re in a period of incubation.’ As an artist, it’s important to allow yourself those moments when you immerse yourself in books or other people’s art,” she states.
“It’s different for everyone, but as an artist, you have to stay potent. You can also be very prolific, but if your motive is stress and the need to stay relevant, that’s not truthful.”
Her character transitions from someone who commanded massive stages to someone who just wants to disappear.
“In the end, it’s about finding balance in life. Maja tipped the scale over to something that became toxic for her. But she’s still passionate about making music, so maybe she can figure it out? That’s the big question, I think.”
Ulven isn’t quite done with acting, she states.
“In some ways, I also don’t care because I know the truth. It’s the same when some people tell me my music is shit. You can’t stop because of that.”
“I definitely want to try more acting, but I agree: it’s a really hard transition because people know your face. Also, just because you can make music doesn’t mean you should be an actor. But if that’s what you want to do, you should do it.”
According to director Eivind Landsvik, different generations have been going forward ever since the premiere, calling the film “honest and true.”
“And they appreciate that,” he says.
“With Marie, we talked a lot about the character and how she’s very distant and introverted at first, but she slowly opens up through small gestures from the people around her. There are scenes where she almost doesn’t respond to people talking, and this was a challenging thing for Marie. It’s so far from who she is as a person. At the same time, I guess it’s what intrigued her. Neither of us intended for her to play herself.”
