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PAAVO, A LIFE IN FIVE COURSES

PAAVO, FEM RÄTTER OCH ETT LIV

By Hanna HEMILA

HANDLE PRODUCTIONS - as PROD

Documentary - Completed 2010

A documentary feature about Ingrid Bergman's former butler.
“A film about friendship, loyalty and bonds. Touching, but also full of funny moments.” Isabella Rossellini
"A warm, witty, astonishing and moving work, which we can savour again and again.”Donald Spoto, biographer of Ingrid Bergman

- Year of production
- 2010
- Genres
- Documentary, Biography
- Countries
- FINLAND, USA
- Languages
- ENGLISH, SWEDISH
- Duration
- 71 mn
- Director(s)
- Hanna HEMILA
- Writer(s)
- Hanna HEMILA
- Cast
- Paavo TURTIAINEN, Isabella ROSSELLINI, Pia LINDSTRÖM, Lars SCHMIDT, Yanne SCHMIDT, Kristian SCHMIDT, Ingrid BERGMAN, Jason VAIL, Barbara GEORGESCU, Lars LUNDBERG, Peter GEORGESCU
- Producer(s)
- Hanna HEMILA (Handle Productions), Vesa HARJU (Handle Productions)
- Synopsis
- "I have four dogs, two donkeys and a wife in Paris and I need help with the household", theater producer Lars Schmidt said to Finnish farmer’s son Paavo Turtiainen at Helsinki airport in 1970. The wife was actress Ingrid Bergman. The couple “adopt” and train Paavo to navigate the rich and famous. Encouraged by Schmidt, Paavo moves to New York and becomes an acclaimed chef and event planner for high society.
  In the film Ingrid Bergman’s daughters, Isabella Rossellini and Pia Lindström, talk about their “brother”. During the portrayal Paavo receives an order to arrange a dinner in a high-end building in Manhattan. We cut back and forth between the interviews to the preparations and the dinner itself. In contrast to the front-of-house glamour, we see the servant’s quarters and cramped work spaces. As a contrast to the hectic New York pace, we spend time in the relaxing Swedish archipelago.
  Although Paavo has access to all areas, from the ‘stage’ door to the grand entrance, he has spent most of his life serving others and living by their rules. The film unveils which personality traits have lead to Paavo’s success and what he has given up to gain so much.