Latest news with #Filip
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Europe's 'Ant and Dec but with brains' produce feel-good film of the summer
Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson are a Swedish television duo who have scored a big hit in the Nordic country with their film The Last Journey, which is now coming to the UK "We are the Swedish Ant and Dec, but with soul and brains. They would never be able to pull anything off like this." So claims Filip Hammar, who makes up half of the Nordic TV duo with his long-term pal Fredrik Wikingsson. It's likely that every European country has its own version of the comedy sidekick partnership - a trusted duo that can be airdropped onto Saturday night shiny floor shows at a moment's notice to deliver an evening of safe laughs. The reason Filip and Fredrik are making waves in the UK, or at least attempting to, is that they've recently broken out of their televisual moulds onto the silver screen. The Last Journey is their first feature film, which tells the story of Filip's relationship with his father Lars, a retired secondary school teacher who is struggling to throw himself into post-work life. Filip worries his father has lost the lust for life that burned so brightly during his younger years, and so decides to scoop him up out of his home in Köping (widely known as the most boring town in Sweden) and take him on a road trip. With light relief coming from the backseat in the form of Fredrik, the father and son head out of middle Sweden towards southern France - the destination of cherished family holidays of Filip's youth, and where Lars was in his anecdote-sharing, joke cracking pomp. The film proved a huge hit with the Swedish public, quickly becoming the most-watched documentary in the country's history and being chosen as Sweden's official submission for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. On its surface, the film is a classic road trip caper, filled with the kind of comic relief you'd expect from a caustic duo stuffed into an orange Renault 4 to cheer up an 80-year-old who seems a little lost in life. They employ their whole box of comedic tricks to do so, including staging an empassioned traffic spat for the benefit of Lars, whose steady Swedish heart has long loved the spiritedness of French road ragers. By the film also goes deeper. It is, at its core, an exploration of how one has to reinvent oneself post-retirement, and how relationships between adult children and their parents become more complicated as life goes on. For Filip, who goes to great, quite absurd lengths to carve out spaces in which his dad can relive his younger years and flourish, the journey taught him a powerful lesson. "It made me realise there is a value in just hanging out with him, even if he is sitting in a Belgian armchair at home. That is one of the important messages in the film. Now, I try to avoid talking to him in a certain way. We have more meaningful conversations now," Filip tells the Mirror from his home in America. Fredrik, who is talking on loudspeaker while, appropriately, on a long drive, adds: "We told ourselves, maybe this is going to work. Maybe he will get his zest for life back. Then we realised it would be more about his acceptance of a new life." Even though Fredrik has been on this journey with Lars and Filip, he is not prepared for his own version. He is not referring to the journey from Sweden to the Mediterranean, but to seeing his parents change in their later years. "I'm not prepared for it. You can think you are, but when it hits, it will, it will be devastating," he opines a little mournfully. The soulfulness of the duo, and how inappropriate the Ant and Dec comparison might be, comes through the more time you spend with Filip and Fredrik. "You cannot be prepared for it. It is the death before death. When you see your parents slipping away. It is quite common that you lie to yourself," Filip says. The Last Journey has connected with viewers in Sweden because of its exploration of this uncomfortable and universal truth, which is as funny and unflinching as it is tender and earnest. They hope that when it arrives in British cinemas on June 20, it will connect with viewers in the UK. "I am trying not to be cynical for once, and to embrace some real feelings. We are humbled about it, but our expectations are not that high," Filip admits ahead of the film's UK launch. Their big hope is that a significant chunk of the 45,000 Swedes living in the country turn up. If they don't, then perhaps Brits will find some joy in a particularly unusual but thoroughly uplifting road trip flick. Or at least some use in their top travel tip. "Wherever you go, try to experience the gas station culture of the country. In Italy, they are incredible," Filip advises.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chelsea's Maresca fumes at Real Betis having 48 hours longer to prepare for final
Enzo Maresca has hit out at Real Betis being given an extra two days to prepare for the Uefa Conference League final against Chelsea. Maresca, whose immediate focus is on ensuring that his side seal Champions League qualification when they visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, did not hide his displeasure at the scheduling around next Wednesday's clash with Betis in Wroclaw. Chelsea's head coach claimed it is unfair for the Spanish club to be playing on Friday night when they end their La Liga campaign by hosting Valencia. Advertisement Betis have nothing to play for in the league and will have more time to rest before the final, whereas Chelsea will have little time to recover from their daunting trip to the City Ground on the final day of the Premier League season. The Stamford Bridge club must beat Forest to guarantee their place in the top five but Maresca is also looking to claim silverware in his first year in charge. ''I am not happy, 100%,' the Italian said. 'You cannot allow a team 48 hours more time when they are playing a European final. 'I don't know if it's [down to] the Premier League, La Liga or Uefa but it is not normal to play a team who has had 48 hours more time than you. Maresca was asked if Uefa should have intervened and made Betis play on Sunday. 'It is not correct,' he said. 'I don't know who it is but there should be rules, absolutely yes.' Nicolas Jackson is missing through suspension against Forest, leaving Chelsea without their main striker. Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu have returned to training but Maresca said that neither forward is at full fitness yet. He added that Chelsea's reserve goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, who has played throughout the Conference League, will not step aside for Robert Sánchez against Betis. 'Filip is going to play in the final,' he said. 'He's played all competition, it would be unfair to take him out now. It will be Filip plus 10 players, I'm not sure who else will play. He deserves to play in the final.'
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Maresca fumes as Betis get 48-hour Conference League final advantage
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said on Tuesday that he was unhappy after LaLiga accepted a request from Real Betis to move their final league game forward two days to Friday, giving the club more time to prepare for the Conference League final. Chelsea visit fellow Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest for their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday, two days after Conference League final opponents Betis play Valencia. "I'm not happy, 100%, you cannot allow another team 48 hours more when you play a European final," Maresca told reporters. "(Either we play Friday) or they play Sunday like us. I don't know if it is from LaLiga, the Premier League or UEFA, but if you ask people in this room if it is normal to play a final where another team has 48 hours more to prepare, it is not normal." Maresca also confirmed that Filip Jorgensen would start in goal for Chelsea in the Conference League final. The 23-year-old Swedish-Danish keeper has started all but one game in the competition. Spaniard Robert Sanchez has been Chelsea's first-choice keeper in the Premier League, playing 31 games this season. "Filip is going to play the final because he played all the competition. It will be unfair now if he doesn't play the final. For sure, Filip is going to play because he deserves to play," Maresca said. Strikers Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu remain doubtful for the showdown in the Polish city of Wroclaw on May 28 due to injury. "Guiu and Nkunku are in the sessions but are still not 100%," Maresca said. "For each game, we try to play our strongest XI. In the Conference League, we have played with different players and we will see for the final," he added. Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League with 66 points, are chasing their first trophy under Maresca. The West London club appointed the Italian in June after he guided Leicester City to the English Championship title in his first season in charge. The final is also a chance for Chelsea to add another major European trophy to their collection, having won the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup all twice each. "The main target is to win a European competition with Chelsea. It's important for the club at this moment, for the fans, for everyone, because it means we are going in the right direction," Maresca said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Enzo Maresca 'not happy' at Chelsea having limited time to prep for Conference League final
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his unhappiness at his team getting two fewer days to prepare for the Conference League final compared to Spanish opponent Real Betis. While Betis plays its final La Liga match on Friday against Valencia, Chelsea closes its Premier League campaign on Sunday – three days before the Conference League final in Wroclaw, Poland – against Nottingham Forest. It's a huge game for Chelsea, too, with Champions League qualification on the line for both teams at the City Ground. 'I'm not happy, 100%,' Maresca said on Tuesday at a news conference. 'You cannot allow a team 48 hours more than the other team when you play a European competition final.' ALSO READ | Europa League final: A chance for Man United, Tottenham to salvage season, win silverware and grab UCL spot UEFA, which organizes the Conference League, has no say on when domestic league competitions hold their matches. Chelsea will be unable to bring forward its match against Forest to Friday because the Premier League wants all of its fixtures in the final round to be held at the same time. So Maresca has another idea. 'Or they (Betis) play Sunday like us,' he said with a smile. Maresca also added that Filip Jorgensen will start in goal for Chelsea. The 23-year-old Swedish-Danish keeper has started all but one game in the competition. Spaniard Robert Sanchez has been Chelsea's first-choice keeper in the Premier League, playing 31 games this season. 'Filip is going to play the final because he played throughout the competition. It will be unfair now if he doesn't play the final. For sure, Filip is going to play because he deserves to play,' Maresca told reporters. Meanwhile, strikers Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu remain doubtful for the showdown on May 28 due to injury. (With inputs from Reuters)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea's Maresca fumes at Real Betis having 48 hours longer to prepare for final
Enzo Maresca has hit out at Real Betis being given an extra two days to prepare for the Uefa Conference League final against Chelsea. Maresca, whose immediate focus is on ensuring that his side seal Champions League qualification when they visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, did not hide his displeasure at the scheduling around next Wednesday's clash with Betis in Wroclaw. Chelsea's head coach claimed it is unfair for the Spanish club to be playing on Friday night when they end their La Liga campaign by hosting Valencia. Betis have nothing to play for in the league and will have more time to rest before the final, whereas Chelsea will have little time to recover from their daunting trip to the City Ground on the final day of the Premier League season. The Stamford Bridge club must beat Forest to guarantee their place in the top five but Maresca is also looking to claim silverware in his first year in charge. ''I am not happy, 100%,' the Italian said. 'You cannot allow a team 48 hours more time when they are playing a European final. 'I don't know if it's [down to] the Premier League, La Liga or Uefa but it is not normal to play a team who has had 48 hours more time than you. Maresca was asked if Uefa should have intervened and made Betis play on Sunday. 'It is not correct,' he said. 'I don't know who it is but there should be rules, absolutely yes.' Nicolas Jackson is missing through suspension against Forest, leaving Chelsea without their main striker. Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu have returned to training but Maresca said that neither forward is at full fitness yet. He added that Chelsea's reserve goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen, who has played throughout the Conference League, will not step aside for Robert Sánchez against Betis. 'Filip is going to play in the final,' he said. 'He's played all competition, it would be unfair to take him out now. It will be Filip plus 10 players, I'm not sure who else will play. He deserves to play in the final.'
