Lightdox Boards Monica Stromdahl's ‘Flophouse America' Ahead of CPH:DOX World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Sales agency Lightdox has boarded Monica Strømdahl's 'Flophouse America,' which has its world premiere on Wednesday in the main competition section of Copenhagen's documentary festival CPH:DOX.
The film follows 12-year-old Mikal, who shares a small room in a cheap hotel, commonly known as a flophouse, with his parents and their cat, Smokey. Their home is marked by chaos and alcohol abuse, but also by love and the hope for a better future.
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Strømdahl spent years traveling across the U.S., documenting life in these hotels. Eight years ago, she met Mikal, one of many children growing up in this environment. This coming-of-age documentary follows him over three years, capturing the pain of a fractured childhood alongside the warmth and complexity of his family.
Lightdox's Anna Berthollet said: 'This extraordinary film unveils the raw and heartbreaking reality of a young boy's fight for hope amidst the chaos of poverty and addiction. Through Monica Strømdahl's compassionate yet unflinching lens, we witness the fragility of life on the margins and gain a powerful perspective on struggles too often overlooked.
'We are committed to defending this film and sharing Mikal's story with the world, as it has the potential to spark much-needed conversations about inequality and the vulnerable children facing these challenges every day.'
Siv Lamark is the co-writer and editor. The film is produced by Fri Film's Beathe Hofseth and Siri Natvik. Basalt Film's Eline van Wees is a co-producer. Exec producers are David Sutherland, and Joshua Seftel and Eric Nicols at Smartypants.
Norsk Filmdistribusjon is handling distribution in Norway; and Cinema Delicatessen is handling distribution in the Netherlands. Broadcasters on board include RBB/Arte.
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