Unveiling “Honeytrap”: An Unconventional Love Story by Lone Scherfig

Lone Scherfig, the renowned Danish writer-director, is all set to captivate audiences once again with her upcoming project, “Honeytrap”. This film promises to be a distinctive, slightly distorted version of the more romantic films she has previously created. This intriguing revelation was made at the inaugural session of Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market Discovery program, held on January 30, amidst a gathering of industry delegates.

In a riveting on-stage interview, Scherfig, who has been thrice nominated for the prestigious Oscar for her film “An Education,” announced that “Honeytrap” would be her first-ever project rooted in Sweden. The script for this anticipated film is penned by Pelle Rådström, the talented writer behind Netflix’s “Black Crab” and the popular Swedish show, “Pressure Point”. Notably, “Pressure Point” recently bagged the Nordic Series Script Award in Göteborg.

Scherfig, who also dons the hat of a co-writer for this project, expressed her excitement and confidence in the script, handed over to her by producer Rebecka Hamberger. The script, according to Scherfig, has all the elements that she loves – a thrilling storyline, romance, and humor. The narrative is set in the 60s, a period that Scherfig holds dear as it dates back to her early childhood. She has portrayed this era in a number of her works, including “An Education”.

“Honeytrap” is set in 1968 and revolves around Max, a 28-year-old man who participates in a Stasi ‘Romeo’ program. This program trains agents to charm secretaries at significant Western companies. Inger, a 25-year-old woman who works for a Stockholm-based weapon export firm, becomes an easy target for Max. The information he collects is vital for the Stasi. However, as Max starts falling for Inger, his secrets, and lies begin to weigh heavily on him.

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The crux of the story, as per Scherfig, is the love affair between Max and Inger and whether they can trust each other or not. She finds the historical backdrop of the story fascinating. The narrative takes place in 1968, a time marked by the Russian invasion in Prague. This historical event influences the storyline and the love story set against the backdrop of the Cold War. Scherfig is particularly intrigued by this aspect of the story and promises a surprising ending.

Scherfig shared some insights into the characters of the film. Max, who lives with his Swedish mother in Berlin, lands a job in Stockholm thanks to his fluency in Swedish. His mother’s husband was a Nazi officer, which prevents her from returning to Sweden. The storyline is also peppered with humor, courtesy of the absurdity of the Stasi agents who are sent to Stockholm to learn how Western women behave and their sexual habits. Scherfig assures that there’s a lot of humor and love weaved into the narrative of the film.

When asked about possible artistic challenges she might face, Scherfig stated that the aesthetics of the film wouldn’t pose a challenge. However, finding the right tone for the film might be a hurdle. She emphasized the need to balance the strong story with Pelle [Rådström]’s humor to create a film that has a unique tone and makes people laugh, cry, and feel engaged.

Producer Hamberger at Art & Bob, the producer of “Pressure Point,” revealed that the project, with an estimated budget of €6.4 million ($6.6 million), is in early development stages. The team is currently seeking co-financiers and distributors.

In 2017, Scherfig was honored with a Dragon Award at the Göteborg Film Festival for her body of work. She also received the Audience Dragon Award for her feature film, “Their Finest”. “Honeytrap” was the only project from the Discovery Co-Production Platform 15 title lineup that did not compete for the new €15,000 ($15,600) Film Finances Scandinavia Award, which was presented on January 30 in Göteborg.

FAQs

What is “Honeytrap” about?

“Honeytrap” is a love story set in 1968. It revolves around Max, a Stasi ‘Romeo’ agent who is trained to seduce secretaries at major Western companies. His target is Inger, who works for a Stockholm-based weapon export firm. As he starts falling for Inger, his secrets and lies become a burden.

Who is the director of “Honeytrap”?

“Honeytrap” is directed by Lone Scherfig, the renowned Danish writer-director who has been thrice nominated for the prestigious Oscar for her film “An Education.”

What is the estimated budget of “Honeytrap”?

The estimated budget of “Honeytrap” is €6.4 million ($6.6 million).

When was Lone Scherfig honored with a Dragon Award?

Lone Scherfig was honored with a Dragon Award at the Göteborg Film Festival in 2017 for her body of work. She also received the Audience Dragon Award for her feature film, “Their Finest”.

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