Leth's birthday celebrated in style

Today Leth's main publicist Gyldendal celebrated its successful author's 75th birthday with a generous yet intimate reception in their beautiful hall 'Trykkeriet'. Situated in the charming backyard off a crooked side street to the main shopping street, Strøget, in the old city center of Copenhagen, where the old esteemed publishing house has its headquarters, people from near and far joined together to celebrate Leth. Among the invited guests were many old friends and colleagues, fellow writers, favorite photographers and close family.

The atmosphere was light, hearty and warm as a great variety of people close to Leth took turns on stage to share their very own stories and experiences with Leth. Among the speakers were literary editor of many years, Simon Pasternak, Leth's faithful producer and friend Marianne Christensen, co-writer Morten Sabroe, Leth's physician-in-ordinary Bente Klarlund and many more. Danish celeb comedian duo 'Rytteriet', known from DR broadcasting for their harsh and witty satire, performed their very own Leth version of their popular bits to great amusement to all, not least Leth himself, who also took the stage with his two colleagues from 'Vi sidder bare her', performing the popular piece: First Love.

Chair Games

Leth's upcoming birthday spurs a number of interesting publications, including Stoleleg (Chair Games), a book about Leth's entire oeuvre: films, poetry, sport, journalism and not least about the man himself and the different worlds he inhabits. The book is written by dr.phil. and lecturer of Nordic Literature, Dan Ringgaard and will be published tomorrow in celebration of Leth's 75th birthday. For more about the publication, please visit Aarhus University Press.

Vi Sidder Bare Her - now as e-book

The combination of Toksvig, Simpson and Leth has already led to two successful albums combining Simpson's and Toksvig's intriguing music universe with Leth's captivating freestyle lyrics.

Now a brand new e-book offers a unique compilation of the entire work of the creative trio with the casual name Vi sidder bare her (We just sit here) - not only the two albums, but also video clips from live performances, the lyrics in writing, photos of the three artists and a new foreword from Leth himself contemplating the collaboration between the three.

For more about the publication, please visit iTunes where the compilation will be released for purchase tomorrow, June 14th.

A house is more than just a thing

In January 2010, an earthquake left most of Haiti in ruins. Leth was finishing his film 'Erotic Man' with his producer and two editors in his house in Jacmel, when the house suddenly disappeared underneath his feet. He and his devoted team got out in time, but all of his things, paintings and notebooks were destroyed. The town fell to pieces, and so did his life.

'A house is more than a thing' revolves around the years 2010 and 2011 - from the devasting earthquake till today. It deals with the disaster and the violent shock after the quake, with the process of trying to recover the bits and pieces from a long life - and not least, the book also deals with the well known usual Lethian routines: the women, Tour de France, the daily doings.

The book, which will be the third part of Leth's autobiographical work titled 'The Imperfect Human', will be published on the 14th of June 2012 - the day Leth turns 75 years old and simultaneously celebrates his 50th anniversary as a writer.

For a selection of reviews, please visit newspapers online: Politiken and Information

Researching trip to Bilbao

Leth and his photographer of many years, Dan Holmberg, are in Bilbao in the Basque country to research on a new documentary film about Pelota a mano in collaboration with the Basque anthropologist Olatz Gonzales. The film is produced by the local film production company, Basque Films, but might also join forces with a Danish production company and other co-producers later on in the process.

Leth and Holmberg already shot some material from Vergara, Eibar and Bilbao and are planning to record the film in June 2013 during the annual Pelota tournament. The film will offer an insight into Basque culture and not least a unique peek into the spectacular sport, previously depicted by Leth in his classic work, 'Pelota' (1983). This new project is not a remake of the old film. On the contrary, it will include plenty of new elements and a greater absorption with the rituals and mythology of the game.

Since Leth has insisted on working with his old dedicated team on this film, it is expected that his loyal editor of many years, Camilla Skousen, will eventually edit the film.