CAT&Docs Catalog





FESTIVALS:
* Sundance World Documentary Competition
* Berlinale Generation 14+ (Germany)
* ZagrebDox (Croatia)
* Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival (Greece)
* One World International Film Festival (Czech Republic)
* True/False Film Fest (USA)
* CPH:DOX (Denmark)
* Cleveland International Film Festival (USA)
* Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (USA)
* Hot Docs (Canada)
* Cleveland International Film Festival (USA)
* Dok.Fest Münich (Germany)
* Northern Lights Nordic Baltic Film Festival (Belarus)
* Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival (Poland)
* Krakow Film Festival (Poland)
* Beat Film Festival (Moscow, Russia)
* Sheffield Doc/Fest
* Biografilm
* Midnight Film Festival
* Shanghai
* Stronger than Fiction
* Dokufest
* EIDF
* Flahertiana IDFF
* Cinemagic
* Inconvenient Films

AWARDS:
* Best Documentary at Sofia International Film Festival


The Magic Life of V

Category |Human Interest, Social Issues, Women, Youth
Year | 2019
Country | Finland, Denmark, Bulgaria
Running time | 82’
Format | HD
Production | Making Movies Oy, Kirstine Barfod Film, Soul Food Ltd
Director | Tonislav Hristov


A creative documentary about a young lady using the magic of LARPing (live-role-playing) in order to cope with her family problems. Haunted by her childhood traumas she is trying to help her mentally disabled brother to become more independent through live-role-playing. As she guides the brother through the world of multiple roles and identities, witches and wizards and medieval knights, she finally finds the courage to face the demons of her own past; namely their abusive father.

At the core of the film is Veera, 25, a young lady who’s trying to find the courage to face the demons of her past. She has not been able to face her abusive father for 14 years. The father was a heavy drinker who abused his wife and children both mentally and physically until his wife kicked him out. Veera has a brother Ville, 29, who's mentally disabled. Ville does meet the father occasionally and they have started to drink together. Ville also gets bullied by people who do not understand that he's disabled.

Veera decides to help her brother by introducing him to LARPing. Most of all, she decides to use the magic of live-role-playing and find the courage to vanquish her demons; to meet and confront their father.

REVIEWS:
'The Magic Life of V' confronts emotional trauma through a creative outlet. This moving film encourages a young woman to cope with her childhood traumas with live-action role playing
    - by Ashley SKOKAN, Vox Magazine

"What may seem as just a movie about LARPING is so much more. It is about learning to deal with your issues head-on and having the courage to do so. Sometimes, in order to do this we have to become someone else first, which may require a velvet cape and a styrofoam sword."
    - by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport, Moviejawn

The Magic Life of V  examines a unique therapy ... as the film follows Lapinkoski, a Finnish 20-something, over the course of five years as she addresses her trauma via traditional therapy and LARPing (live-action role-playing)
    - by Court Mann, Deseret News

"The Magic Life of V  beautifully explores LARP as a tool for healing childhood trauma"
   - by Sezín Koehler, BLACKGIRLNERDS

"An intimate and affecting account of overcoming trauma,The Magic Life of V steps into the realm of live action role-playing, or LARPing, where participants play fictional characters in organised events conducted in real-world settings."
    - Sarah Ward, Screendaily

"LARPing can make for an interesting and enriching experience much like that found in video games."
    - Brittany Vincent, Variety

"In LARPing, Veera transforms into her alter ego “V”, a character capable of achieving goals that Veera seemingly cannot. It’s through this sword-swinging metamorphosis that Veera (and V) is able to find reprieve from the turmoil of real life through newly formed friendships and camaraderie.
    - Daniele Alcinii, Realscreen

PRESS IMAGES: (click to preview)

         


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