Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has agreed to do the English commentary for an Icelandic documentary on autism, The Sunshine Boy, directed by Fridrik Thór Fridriksson. The film premiers at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12.
“This is great news for our cause. Just like Björk and Sigur Rós, Kate Winslet decided to contribute. She saw the film and thought it was great because she believes in the cause,” the film’s producer Margrét Dagmar Ericsdóttir, told Morgunbladid.
The Sunshine Boy premiered in Iceland in January. It features the 11-year-old Keli, Ericsdóttir’s son, and his struggle with autism.
Ericsdóttir said it is thanks to Dorrit Moussaieff, the wife of the Icelandic president, that Winslet agreed to participate in the project.
“Dorrit is the patron of the film and she has stood like a rock beside me and Keli. Fridrik Thór and I mentioned it to her that if we could convince a well-known actress to do the English commentary it would support the cause and give the children a much stronger voice in their fight,” Ericsdóttir recited.
“She then called us shortly afterwards and said that Kate Winslet had agreed to participate,” Ericsdóttir said. “Dorrit convinced her to donate her work, like Björk, Sigur Rós, Fridrik Thór and other artists who participate in the film. People want to help these children and contribute.”
“After having seen the film [Winslet] said she must visit Iceland, that it is such beautiful country. She also thought the music was great,” Ericsdóttir stated. “The film is obviously good promotion for the country, although we never thought of it that way.”
Click here to read more about The Sunshine Boy.
