Table of Contents
Some films arrive from a place of ambition. A-Men to That arrived from a place of dread — the good kind. When three ageing male models decide to form a MAN-BAND, what follows is a chaotic musical odyssey through vanity, vulnerability, and a question with genuine cultural resonance. Rafael Edholm, a Swedish actor, director, and former model whose own career carried him from Ingmar Bergman's stage to the fashion capitals of the world, built the film in stolen hours over nearly three years, writing the screenplay as he shot it.
The result is a film Edholm insists is not a mockumentary but "a real fiction," where all the jokes land on the people making them. It screens at Not Film Fest in the heart of Italy, and by Edholm's account, life has already imitated art: the band is now in demand as a genuine live act.
Key Takeaways
- A-Men to That was shot over almost three years with almost no money, the screenplay written on the fly, scene by scene.
- Edholm chased the painful and shameful on purpose, letting reality blur into fiction until the film bore witness to his own soul.
- The fictional MAN-BAND has become real, now booked as a live act, with a festival run, Swedish Television, GSA cinema distribution, and a US remake option ahead.
Here, Edholm talks about the bad idea he couldn't shake, the punk spirit that carried it, and why it's never too late.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
A really bad idea that gave me anguish and shivers down my spine — and therefore it had to be done.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process, and was there a moment that changed how you saw the story?
I was laying a puzzle in real time, and with basically no money we shot when we found the time and cash to do so — during almost three years. What was fun to see is that even though it was shot over such a long period, it all sort of matches and gives the grit and authenticity I wanted it to have. I worked with the problems all the time and was forced to be creative on my toes and take what was given at the time of filming. I wrote the screenplay as we filmed. I had a very basic outline in my head of a beginning, a middle and an end, and then scenes came to me and I tried to go where it was painful and shameful. I don't really see it as a mockumentary — it's like a real fiction, and all jokes are on us.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
I do think the whole film bears witness of my soul, sadly enough.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
Oh, there were so many. I had to tamper with it all the time, but that just pushed me even further into the abyss where reality turns into fiction.
What tool, technique, or mindset shift helped most during production?
Just really listen to your inner voice and let that guide you. Remember where, when and why you started the project. And listen to the gifts that life and the people you're working with give you.
What is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into it here?
THE PUNK!
What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
That it's never too late, and never give up on your dreams even if they seem a bit nightmarish at times.
What does it mean to have your film selected for Not Film Fest, and where does the film go next?
It's a great achievement. I heard so many great things about this festival and I'm so looking forward to hanging with other filmmakers and cinema lovers in the heart of Bella Italia. The film is doing a festival route now, then it's going to Swedish Television and GSA cinema distribution, and it's also been optioned for a US remake. And the band is actually in demand as a live act for real. At the core of all my work is a desire to say: don't give up. If I can do it, so can you. Follow that leading star.
Main Cast & Crew
- Rafael Edholm — director, writer, actor. Born in Stockholm in 1966, he began performing at 17 as an extra in Ingmar Bergman's production of King Lear at the Royal Dramatic Theatre before moving to New York to study acting and pursue an international modeling career. He appeared in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" video, and his directing and writing credits include Completely Mad, Baba's Cars (2006), and the horror film Dark Water (2012). He created and starred in the series Veni Vidi Vici, selected for the 2017 Cannes Official Selection before airing on Hulu.
- Knut Berggren — Stockholm-based actor and international model whose career spans more than three decades. Scouted as a teenager by Sixten Herrgård, founder of Stockholmsgruppen, he has been represented by agencies including METRO Models (Zurich) and Wiener Models. On screen he is known for the Swedish series Solsidan and Beck.
- Marcus Schenkenberg — born in Stockholm in 1968 and widely regarded as the world's first male supermodel. Discovered while rollerblading on Venice Beach in 1989, he rose to fame through his Calvin Klein campaigns and went on to work with Valentino, Versace, Giorgio Armani, and Donna Karan. His film credits include Prince Valiant (1997) and Dinner Rush (2000), and he is the author of Marcus Schenkenberg: New Rules (1997).
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