No distribution guarantee keeps On the Road off Norwegian roads
- Launched at the Cannes International Film Festival, now unspooling in Toronto, US director Walter Salles’ Jack Kerouac adaption will not be theatrically released in Norway
Two weeks before the scheduled (September 14) release of Brazilian-born, Oscar-winning director Walter Salles’ On the Road [+see also:
film review
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film profile], Norwegian distributor Star Media Entertainment cancelled the theatrical premiere, because Norwegian cinema association Film & Kino had declined a financial guarantee.
Film & Kino encourages the import of quality films by annually allocating €500,000 for around 40 international titles recommended by film consultants – the subsidy is paid if the film earns less from the theatrical release than covers the distributor's costs.
"This scheme is essentially aimed at art films with limited audiences, which would not otherwise be launched in Norway – a broad US production from a world famous director should be able to do without support," explained film consultant Håkon Skogrand, of Film & Kino.
Starring Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, Salles’ adaptation of Beat Generation author Jack Kerouac's cult novel was launched in competition at this year's Cannes International Film Festival.
The critics' reception was somewhat mixed, so while the Cannes contender was theatrically released in for example France, Salles returned to the editing room and made a 15-minute shorter version, which had a Special Presentation yesterday (September 6) at the Toronto International Film Festival. His Central Station (1998) won two Oscars, including Best Director.
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