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Letters to a serial killer (Brev till en seriemördare)

One of the highest attended Swedish films of 2017 has been Manal Masris’ documentary Letter to a serial killer. The film has been praised by both audiences and reviewers and in 2018 it was nominated for a Guldbagge (Sweden’s equivalent to the Oscars) in the best documentary class. “Magnus Jarlbo’s music always hits the right feeling” wrote Annika Gustafsson in her review in Sydsvenska Dagbladet March 24, 2017. “Intimate and essential” wrote the Gothenburg Post, “Heartbreaking” wrote the Svenska Dagbladet.

De Ensamma (2017) is a film by Osmond Karim, with music by Magnus Jarlbo, about the large group of children adopted in the 1970s from countries such as South Korea, Ethiopia, Colombia and India who are now adults and who describe what it is like to be adopted. Sweden, which in many ways was regarded as a safe country for adoptees, may not be so safe after all.

On New Year’s Day in 2014, the first season of the Danish TV series The Legacy (Arvingerne) premiered at DR1. Magnus Jarlbo, together with Sebastian Öberg (former member of “Fleshquartet”) wrote the music. The Legacy was a huge success, and the Danish critics competed with each other in praising the series. Regarding the Swedish premiere of the The Legacy on SVT 1, Johan Croneman wrote in his review in DN: “Magnus Jarlbo and Sebastian Öberg have created a beautiful soundtrack.” The series has been sold to many countries, and is screened all over the world, including the Benelux countries, Australia, USA and the United Kingdom, where it was shown by the BBC. In 2014, The Legacy received award for best drama series and best manuscript at the FIPA Festival – Festival International de Program Audiovisual in Biarritz. Listen on Spotify  Watch trailer

On April 7, 2016, Lisa Ohlin’s feature film Walk with me had its Danish premiere. It received a warm critical response. The film is about the encounter between a wounded Danish UN soldier and a dancer from the Royal Danish Ballet. It is based, in part, on real events. The film has been sold to several countries outside the Nordic region, such as France, Slovenia, Croatia, Brazil and China. Sebastian Öberg and Magnus Jarlbo created the soundtrack. Watch movie clips

Nur Tutal and Iván Blancos Documentary Transphobia is the story of Rashan, a transsexual Kurd who lives as a woman in a Muslim country, Turkey, where this is considered the worst sin. She is also herself a Muslim. Magnus Jarlbo wrote the music for the film. Transphobia was nominated for the Tempo Documentary Award in 2015 and Best New Nordic Voice Award, Nordic Panorama 2015.

Ballroom Dancer

Magnus Jarlbo wrote the music to Ballroom Dancer, a documentary by Christian Bonke and Andreas Koefoed, about the dancer Slavik Kryklyvyy and his struggle to reclaim the World Championship title in Latin Dance. The film was chosen to open the documentary film festival CPH: DOX in Copenhagen 2011. It was voted Best Nordic Documentary Film in 2012 at the Nordic Panorama Film Festival in Oulo, Finland. In addition Ballroom Dancer was honored with a special jury prize at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York 2012. 

Beyond (Svinalängorna) had its premiere in December 2010. It was a clear critical and audience success. At the Venice Film Festival, it attracted a lot of attention and was awarded the critic’s public award. Beyond was directed by Pernilla August, with Noomi Rapace in one of the lead roles. Magnus created the music in collaboration with Sebastian Öberg (former member of the Flesh Quartet). The film was also awarded the Nordic Council Film Prize 2011 and was Sweden’s nominee for the best non-English language film at the Oscars Gala 2012. Natasha Senjanovic wrote in her review in The Hollywood Reporter: “The music is unassumingly simple and haunting.”

Long Distance Love is a documentary by Magnus Gertten and Elin Jönsson. The film had its premiere in September, 2008. Among many other awards, it was nominated for Best Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival in New York in October 2009. “Exquisite, mood-laden compositions” Annika Gustafsson thought about Magnus Jarlbo’s original music, in her review in the Sydsvenskan newspaper, 20/11 2008.

A Soap, directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen, won both the debut prize and a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival 2006, and also received a Robert nomination for Best Film Music in 2006. Magnus Jarlbo wrote the music in collaboration with Sebastian Öberg. The actors included, amongst others, Trine Dyrholm and David Dencik.