Director: Sine Plambech and Janus Metz
Denmark, 2018. Running time: 1 hr 30 mins
Languages: Danish and English
In rural Jutland, Denmark, more than 900 Thai women are married to Danish men. The documentary Heartbound: A Different Kind of Love Story offers an intimate portrait of love, migration and family life across cultures. At its centre is Sommai, a former sex worker from Thailand, who moved to Denmark to marry Niels. Since then, she has helped women from her home village connect with Danish men.
Filmed over a period of ten years, directors Janus Metz and Sine Plambech follow these relationships closely, revealing the hopes, everyday realities, cultural differences, longing and the lasting consequences of the choices made by the women, the men and their children. The film has received several international awards, including the Golden Eye for Best International Documentary at the Zurich Film Festival (2018), the Human Rights Film Award at the Dublin International Film Festival (2019), and the Jury Award for Best International Documentary at Docville (2019).
Following the screening, there will be a short Q&A with director Sine Plambech.
Sine Plambech is an anthropologist, author, filmmaker and researcher. Her books and films often explore migration, people smuggling, human trafficking and the sex industry.
This event is part of Kapittel – Stavanger International Festival of Literature and Freedom of Expression, taking place from 16–20 September 2026. More information, the full programme and tickets are available at www.kapittel.no.
Please note that photographs and video may be taken during selected events at Sølvberget and throughout the Kapittel Festival for documentation and use on social media.
