Viggo Mortensen to present film Falling at Panida Theater
SANDPOINT PRESS RELEASE – Actor and filmmaker Viggo Mortensen will host and provide insights for a showing of his 2020 film, Falling, on Friday, August 29, at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint.
The event, dubbed “An Evening with Viggo Mortensen,” is a fundraiser for the Panida and 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio – for which Mortensen has also served as a guest DJ for two shows this summer, with a third DJ stint upcoming in September.
The actor has been part-time local resident for more than 25 years and was active with community
theater at the Panida when Hollywood called. He subsequently embarked on major roles including that of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He’s received best actor Oscar nominations for roles in three movies: Eastern Promises (2007), Captain Fantastic (2016) and Green Book (2018).
Worlds collide in his family drama Falling, which Mortensen wrote and directed. He plays John, a gay man who is trying to care for his conservative father, Willis (acted by Lance Henriksen) as Willis’
dementia becomes more severe. Willis’ abrasiveness is both caustic and funny, bringing old wounds
from the past and years of mutual mistrust to the surface.
Although Mortensen’s script was fictional, he told UPI in a 2021 interview that he drew on events from his family’s life, including parents coping with dementia. He dedicated the film to his younger brothers, Charles and Walter Mortensen. “There are some elements that are reminiscent of things they would remember,” he said.
This will be the fourth appearance since 2012 by Mortensen at the Panida to introduce one of his recent films and host a Q&A session afterwards, with all proceeds donated to the Panida, KRFY or other charitable causes.
“We’re so appreciative of this wonderful contribution Viggo makes to KRFY and the Panida,” said
KRFY Station Manager Suzy Prez. “And beyond that, these kinds of community events bring people
together to build connection and understanding on thoughtful or even uncomfortable subjects we all
face. Falling is a great example of that.”
Doors open an hour before the 7 p.m. showtime. Tickets are $30, available online or at the door –
though Prez cautioned that the previous films hosted by Mortensen have sold out in advance. Tickets
are available now at http://www.panida.org.
For more information, contact:
Suzy Prez, KRFY station manager
Email: sprez@krfy.org
Phone: (208)265-2992