The story is adapted from a novel of the same name by Swedish filmmakerJerker Virdborg.
The book is very different from the film, Larsson said of his adaptation.
So thats thats what I did.
‘Mother, Couch’TIFF
The biggest change Larsson made on screen was moving the story from Sweden to the US.
DEADLINE:Niclas, this is your first feature.
Lets start with your story.
Taylor Russell in ‘Mother, Couch.’
How did you get here with Mother, Couch?
NICLAS LARSSON:Ive been making music videos and short films for quite a while.
Its a classic story.
I dropped out of film school and started making my own stuff.
I stumbled upon Jerker Virdborgs book and knew it was what I wanted to do.
What made Niclas an attractive proposition?
Thats what you are always trying to do.
Niclas script came to me through his agents.
I was excited to meet with him.
I had a little bit of familiarity with his previous work, and we had a great meeting.
It was a pleasure to meet somebody who was so self-assured, especially at such a young age.
DEADLINE:Niclas, Jerker Virdborgs novel wasnt set in America was it?
The book is very different from the film.
So thats thats what I did.
I added the locations and set it in America, but I feel its also very Swedish.
Its like IKEA, and everything is very Roy Anderson.
I hoped it was going to be more American than it turned out.
DEADLINE: When this film was first announced for San Sebastian, many people were surprised.
The film seems to have been made completely off the radar.
Was this by design?
MURPHY:We werent making it in secret.
Also, to free it from any sort of external forces.
So yes, we kept it very quiet despite many people wanting to do press releases.
I hope that makes people that much more excited to see it.
DEADLINE:Niclas, this cast is impressive, particularly for a debut filmmaker.
How did you land this ensemble?
LARSSON:There were two versions of this film that Sara and I mapped out.
The first featured only new actors and no stars.
The other version featured all superstars.
I was intrigued about having an all-star cast because of the stage-like vibe of the overall film.
Its like going to a good play on Broadway where you watch these huge stars in an intimate setting.
So, we started reaching out to who we had on the list.
The cast you see are all our first choices.
They all attached fairly easily except Ellen.
She needed a bit of convincing to play the part.
DEADLINE: Mother, Couch is an intimate story but visually its quite ambitious.
What was the production like?
What range of budget were you working with?
MURPHY:We did have a limited budget.
They did an incredible job squeezing every last drop out of our resources to put on the screen.
We shot it over 27 days in North Carolina, primarily on a stage, which was Niclass choice.
He said we should build it all out on a stage.
DEADLINE:Niclas, I see so many influences in this piece.
Theres Paul Thomas Andersons Punch Drunk Love, and parts feel like Lars Von Trier.
What exactly were you pulling from?
LARSSON:All of the above.
When it comes to cinema, I like old shit.
I wanted to make Billy Wilder comedy or something by Altman.
So I just watched loads of those theater-like comedies.
I wanted to make some like that.
DEADLINE: Sara, is this the first piece under yourFat Citylabel?
MURPHY:It is.
Its the first one that weve done under the banner.
DEADLINE: How does this film and a filmmaker like Niclas fit intowhatyoure buildingwith Fat City?
Audiences will have completely different responses across the spectrum, and thats exciting to see.
It demands an audience to show up for it.
LARSSON:Im a 90s kid.
I grew up with American culture more than Swedish culture.
I started watching Swedish films in my teens.
Im a Disney kid.
I was 13 years old when13 Going On 30was released and The Princess Diaries.
I love all those big, magical Hollywood films.
I can still go back to those films today.
I respect European cinema and Swedish cinema.
We have some great directors coming out of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
But it felt surprisingly natural to view this film in America.
I know American cinema way better than Swedish cinema, to be honest.
I just know how it sounds, the references.
Its been embedded in my bloodstream from a very young age.
And the films I have in my head for my next chapter are also all American.
DEADLINE:What will be a success for you both with this film?
LARSSON:$150 million.
Its a film for everybody.
I hope for the entire world to see it.
MURPHY:I agree.
I would also like to get $150 million for the next one.
DEADLINE:Next one?
Are you planning to sign Niclas up for the next one?
