A Funny Man (Dirch)

A Funny Man (Dirch)

This biographical drama uncovers the perennial loneliness that comedian Dirch Passer has found himself in after a fast- tracked rise to fame. He struggles between his own desire to gain critical respect and servicing the audience’s needs. Costing his kindred friendship to on-stage partner Kjeld Petersen, Dirch takes on Steinbeck’s classic “Of Mice and Men”, only for the audience to break out in laughter at his first line. Dirch’s Lennie becomes a running joke, and so has, Dirch believes, his own life. Dirch Passer was second-to-none on the Danish scene, in revue theatre and on film. He was in the league of Dean Martin, Lenny Bruce, Andy Kaufman. But he was also blinded by his own success, and he let down his family, his children, his best friend and not least himself in his efforts to be seen, understood and loved.

About director:

Martin Pieter Zandvliet (b. 1971 in Fredericia, Denmark) took a film editing course at the European Film College in 1998 and worked as an editor of trailers, teasers, short films and documentaries. He is a self-taught director and screenwriter. His first film was the documentary "Angels of Brooklyn" (2002), which was not only screened at various festivals, but also won the Danish Robert national film prize for Best Documentary. His first fiction film "Applause" (2009) with leading actress Paprika Steen winning awards in Karlovy Vary, Mumbai, Pune and Nashville. "A Funny Man" (2011) is his second full-length feature.

Selected filmography: ""Applause" (2009), "A Funny Man” (2011, "Kino pavasaris").

Trailers: