Swedish Cinema Rituals
Dr. Birgitta Svensson's 47-year field study reveals unexpected rituals among Swedish
cinema-goers.
This year's main programme features the documentary "Silence as Language," examining the unique culture of silence in Scandinavian cinema halls. The study reveals that the average Norwegian can maintain absolute silence for 127 minutes, which is 23 minutes longer than the average Finn.
Particularly fascinating is the section on "aggressive silence" - a phenomenon where viewers demonstratively avoid rustling their snack packaging during dramatically intense scenes. One interviewee noted: "This is such a Bergman moment."
The film also includes exclusive footage of Icelandic viewers' ability to synchronize their breathing with the director's editing rhythm.