Documentary on teen who died by suicide after bullying receives funding

A documentary exploring the life and tragic death of Peder Angel Langen, a young Norwegian who took his own life after enduring years of relentless bullying, has secured significant funding from the Norwegian Film Institute. The film, titled "Peder Angel," is directed by Sverre Kvamme, who seeks to comprehend the circumstances that led to the young man's despair.

Langen, who once reached the finals of "Norske Talenter" (Norway's Got Talent) at the age of 14, was subjected to severe verbal abuse, including taunts like "You are ugly, nobody likes you, go hang yourself." His story gained national attention following his death on February 13, 2024, sparking a widespread debate on bullying, mental health, and the school environment in Norway.

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I am confident that the director sees the people behind it and can bring out both the system-critical and interpersonal aspects.

Film consultant Charlotte Røhder Tvedt expressed confidence in Kvamme's ability to portray the human aspects and systemic issues involved. The documentary received 1.9 million kroner in production support, with a planned premiere in the third quarter of next year. Kvamme previously directed the Amanda Award-winning documentary "Nattebarn" and has spoken about the complexities of discussing suicide in the media, suggesting that increased openness might be beneficial.

In addition to "Peder Angel," the Norwegian Film Institute also provided funding for three other documentaries. "EatenFish" by Daniel Nils Roberts received 2 million kroner for a film about Iranian refugee and cartoonist Ali Dorani. Siavash Kheirkhah was granted 250,000 kroner for a short documentary titled "Repetition Of Our Tears For A Dear One Who Departed," focusing on the aftermath of the January uprisings in Iran. Mats Muris's documentary "Mandag hele året" (Monday All Year) about four young telemarketers received 1.6 million kroner.

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It is controversial whether one should talk about suicide in the media. But when more people die by suicide than in traffic, it seems that this strategy is not working. Maybe one should talk more about suicide? Openness dispels the darkness a little bit.