International Competition

One Day

Ditte Haarløv Johnsen

She’s attractive, 36 years old and comes from West Africa. She lives in a suburb of Copenhagen, believes in God, smokes more than she used to. Regularly every month she sends money home to her family and several times a week she has long phone conversations with her teenage daughter. Works as a prostitute and does not hesitate to fulfil even the most bizarre wishes of her customers. She keeps hoping that one day she will be able to live a normal life with her daughter. And outside it’s raining. In this formally elegant picture, the Danish director Ditte Johnsen gives us an insight into the life of one of the many African women who try to provide for their families by working as prostitutes in European countries. The unenviable situation of the main protagonist is faithfully captured in at times almost bewitching shots containing sophisticated play with details and light.

Ditte Haarløv Johnsen

Ditte Haarløv Johnsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1977, moved to Maputo, Mozambique at the age of five, and returned to Copenhagen in 2001. Her photographs have been exhibited in Denmark, Syria, Holland, Germany, South Africa and Canada. Johnson has studied Directing for Documentary Film at The National Film School of Denmark; her films include 'Sisters', 'Painting My Secret', and 'One Day', which won the Best Short Documentary award at the One World Film Festival in Prague.
 

General sponsor

One Day

Denmark
2007, 30', color, video

Directed by:
Ditte Haarløv Johnsen

Cinematography:
Minka Jakerson

Edited by:
Jeppe Bødskov

Music:
Mark Solborg

Producer:
Ditte Haarløv Johnsen

Produced by:
The National Film School of Denmark

Festivals & Awards:

2007 IDFA Student Competition - Special Mention; One World Film Festival in Prague - Best Short Documentary; Indielisboa - Short Film Grand Prize