Kalaaleq Love

A musical story about loving and forgiving: those that went ahead, oneself and one’s country, watched over by angels and initiated by a suicide.

This website is a teaser and song preview for a yet unperformed / unproduced story of 105 pages and 23 songs, contact me if You wish to have the book/script (English or Danish) emailed for perusal.

A place on the edge of the world

Sisimiut is a small town in Greenland, where people make their living from fishing and industry. Most of them are practical: with their hands and in their outlook on life. They have to be, with the raging Atlantic ocean on one side, and the mountainous hinterland on the other. They’re ancient, and proud, but still have a feeling of being colonized by the Danish, who are only a small minority in the daily life, but still those with higher education and the jobs that follows. People mingle, intermarry and date, and move to or visit each other’s countries – but it’s no secret that it is two different cultures, two different ways of life.

Arrival

After a shocking incident, coming-of-age Nuka and his Mother arrive by plane. Mother was born and grew up here, but left when she was Nuka’s age, many years ago – she’d rather not talk about it. But now she HAD to come.

The FRIENDS

Good natured saviours

Agnes & Agnete could have been sisters - maybe they are? They finish each other’s sentences and know everyone and everything in the town, at least from hearsay. After having met her in the cafeteria at the Seaman’s hotel, they take the vulnerable Margrete (mother of Nuka) under their protective wings.

Church

A funeral is the reason for Nuka and Mother’s arrival. The priest holds a moving speech, and someone sets off a lamenting song, joined by the choir.
Afterwards, they all follow the hearse to the graveyard.

WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN, NO MORE WORRYING ANYWHERE, WHEN YOU REACH HEAVEN, I WILL BE WAITING STILL RIGHT HERE

Mother, grieving

Classroom

Now that they’ve arrived, they decide to stay for a year, so Nuka can finish the final year of High School, and get to know the land that his mother and ancestors come from. The teacher also came from Denmark, years ago, and is talked into telling about his reasons for moving to Greenland.

Nuka meets Nivi…

A classmate of his, is the strong but troubled Nivi. Nuka quickly gets a lot of friends, not least because of the guitar that he always lugs around everywhere – but he also notices that not all are friendly.

..and Hans

Hans is not a polite fella, but some come from hard places. Hans is obviously interested in Nivi, though unrequited. That takes it’s toll, in fact it consumes him.

After class, Hans tries to get Nivi’s attention, but is left emotionally crumbled.

He sings “All My Life Empty” as he moves out of the school, through the city, down to the workshop where he works in his spare time. They have some advice for heartaches.

WHO SHEDS A SINGLE TEARDROP WHERE THERE ARE HONEST FRIENDS? WE ALWAYS DRINK TOGETHER WHEN HEARTACHE OVERCOMES.

Boss + Workshop workers, carefree nihilists

The DRUNK

A bitter man, often seen on the corner of the Workshop.

He is very skilled, but these days he is a shadow of himself, making a bit of money selling his crafts to the tourists. ..who takes advantage of him.
Nivi tries to avoid him and his sarcastic commenting.
But he won’t let her be...

Dreams…. or none.

Nivi gigs as a tourist guide, and after having handed a group off, she spots Nuka, sitting playing guitar by himself. This is the first time they meet outside of school.
His song reveals that he dreams of travelling – and she offers to show him the hinterland and the mountains.

But when he asks what SHE dreams of, she gets a strange look on her face, stands up and walks away. Far away. Out of town. Out to the great psychologist.

WHY DO YOU PICK THE ROSE, BEAUTIFUL AND FRAIL, READY TO GROW? MAYBE IT KNOWS, OF THE HAPPINESS YOU LOST LONG AGO?

Nivi, human being

The SINGER

A song and a tip for everyone

Seasoned musician who has seen it all, and then some. He knows what’s what, and calmly dispenses his advice to young hopefuls. Like Nuka.
..too bad no one understands his meaning.

How to woo girls?

Nuka has begun to really like this strange Nivi girl, that mostly seems friendly but sometimes behaves erratically. How does one move further?
He decides to ask the wisest person he know – a musician! – and then he does what he knows best: he gathers his friends, finds her house, lines up in front of it, and sings her a song!

HOW DO I STAND BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES, WITHOUT BREAKING TO PIECES? CAN I LEARN TO EXIST, WITHOUT CAUSING A RIFT, WHEN I LOVE BOTH OF MY TWO COUNTRIES?

Nuka Andersen, High School Student

Where do i belong? Who am I?

Hans’s harsh teasing really gets to Nuka. he looks exactly like people here, but has lived all his life in another country. And he tries to fit in! Where DOES he “belong”?

Nivi finds him, and together they meet the teacher, who has some words of comfort.

THERE ARE THOUSAND ROADS TO HEAVEN BUT YOU TOOK YOUR OWN TOO SOON, LIKE YOU WERE MY SUN, YOU ARE MY MOON

Mother, remembering

Christmas

After having visited the cemetery and laid their plastic flowers, they walk down to the frozen lake, in center of town. Many people, of all ages, have already gathered here.
A little choir stands by and waits, while the mayor gives a short speech, summarizing the course of the year. The choir begins to sing, and everyone joins in.

CHRISTMAS TIME REMEMBERING, TIMES AND FRIENDS WE’VE HAD, UNDERNEATH THE STARS TONIGHT, CLOSE TO US

Everyone, celebrating being together

Remembering the past

In school, they are analysing song lyrics to learn about the country’s history and it’s influential people. In a place where everybody knows each other, secrets can be hard to hide. Apparently Nivi becomes very affected.
After class, Nivi relates a childhood memory to the teacher.

THROUGH THE PAIN, WE COMMIT, WE LEARN, TO BEHAVE, TO ACCEPT, EASING THE BURN, I’M REMINDED OF HOW I’VE BEEN, AND IT HURTS TO ACCEPT BUT I’M GLAD TO HAVE SEEN

Hans, troubled soul

Remainder of love

At the end he is almost about to empty the final glass, but looks at it and sets it down. Raises to his feet and staggers out the door, while the others, mightily drunk by now, half heartedly attempts to make him stay for the party.

As he exists the bar, the one that has kept an eye on him, gets up and follows, into the night.

Looking ahead

Exams over, and having faced her deepest demons, Nivi finds Nuka sitting at his favorite place, and tells him something that makes him happy. So he…. sings.
(She joins in)

The end of the Story is 10 minutes away, but the future has already begun: For Nuka and Nivi, for Hans, and all of the many others, in KALAALEQ LOVE.

BUT WAIT! I haven’t told You about…

..what Nivi tells Nuka that makes him joyous. And what is the demon that she finally confronts? Who is Angaju and why does he make Nuka cry with elation? Why does many of the students end up disliking the teacher? Who was it that Mother and Nuka came to Greenland to bury? What’s with the old man singing about stones? Why is Mother reluctant to come back? What happened to Nivi’s parents? What happens to Hans and will he ever become happy?
YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO READ THE SCRIPT.

And are those other songs that we haven’t heard yet, any good?
Absolutely – some will even make You cry.

Production notes

Characters, locations, props

Contact me if You wish to have the 105 page book/script emailed for perusal. Score (and for all 23 songs) can follow later.

If You decide to produce/perform Kalaaleq Love, I should VERY much like to be involved, alongside the director(s).

I can also assist with pre-recorded music, background images, guidance on props, knowledge, etc. However, i do not know how to sing (well), read music or (properly) play any instruments. Nor do i know any film og theatre people.

Characters (primary)

Unless marked “euro” (or adapted to another place in the world), the characters should look mostly or partially Inuit or East-Asian or such.

FEMALES:
Nivi, 20F, singing
Mother, 40-45F, singing
Agnes, 40-50F, singing
Agnete, 40-50F, singing
Tupaarnaq, 20F
Angaju’s girlfriend, 25F, singing
Sua, 20F

MALES:
Nuka, 20M, singing
Angaju, 25-30M, singing
Hans, euro (not blond), 20M, singing
Teacher, euro, 30-40m, singing
Grandfather, 50M, singing
Boss, euro, 40-50M singing
Singer, 40M, Singing
Juaat, 20M
Drunkard, 40M

Characters (continued)

ALSO:
1 Cafeteria worker
1 Censor, euro, 40-50M/F
1 Fishing Tourist, M
1 Kayak Builder, 20-40M/F
1 Man in underwear in window 30-50M
1 Mayor
1 Oli, 30-40M
1 Passerby 30-50M/F
1 Priest 30-50M/F
1 Receptionist
1 Scared woman 40F
1 Smiling lady in window 30-50F
1 Taxi Driver
2 Drunkards friends, 30-50M/F
2 Parental couple + baby, 20-30
3 Nuka’s friends, 20M, playing music, singing
3 Raaja Band members M/F, playing music
3-10 Church Choir, singing
2-3 Kayak Clubbers (8-40M/F)
3 Workshop workers, 20-30m, singing
5 Guests in Cafeteria 30-50M/F
5 Students, 20M/F
5-10 children, 8-12M/F, singing (church?)
5 Tourists, euro, 40-50M/F
10 Airport passengers M/F (part euro)
10 Christmas guests
10 Church guests
10 Raaja Guests

(Optional) 1 bus driver + 5-10 passengers.
(Optional) Santa Claus
(Optional) Montage Nivi’s Story: Old man + 5 Settlement people

Locations (film/pics on background?)

Ext. / Int. Airport+plane, summer
Int. Sailor’s home, reception, summer
Int. Sailor’s home, cafeteria, summer
Int. Raaja, Night, Summer (dim daylight)
Ext. Graveyard, Summer
Ext. Graveyard, winter
Ext. Taseralik, frozen lake in town, winter
Int. Kayak club, Summer (preferred spring)
Ext. Kayak club, Summer
Ext. Nivi’s house,Summer
Ext. Sisimiut (various), Summer
Ext. Nuka’s Favorite place (harbour? Point lookout?), Summer
Ext. Harbour square, Summer
Ext. Harbor boats/water, summer
Ext. Crafthouse, Summer
Ext. Drunkards House, Summer

Props (large)

Kayak (1 finished Greenlandic White, 1-3 semi-build skin-on-frame, Skirt of leather, Wooden paddle)
Special effects / mechanism, Ocean/kayak
Guitar, acoustic
Music equipment as needed for characters
Flowers, plastic and real.
Coffin
Clothing, character specific (priest, cafeteria worker, etc) and season specific.
Taxi
Laptops for school

(optional) Santa Claus on Dog sled with lights
(optional if montage is includedl) Clothing “old times” for Settlement Montage (1900? 1930?)
(Optional, taxi may be used instead) Bus.

Contact

Mikkel Larsen, Kolding, Denmark
Text message me at +45 42 67 65 55
emailtilmikkel@yahoo.dk