When I first spotted Janne in Västerhaninge, The Dude (From The Big Lebowski), came to mind. Janne turned out to be a man with an interesting and very different life. Over the years he has overcome a lot of problems with drugs and criminality. He lost his driving license (he used to work as a cab driver with Gisela's husband), because of the drugs. Eight years ago one of his daughters died and he crashed completely. He had some serious problems with the law, but somehow managed to stay out of prison and today he lives at a rehab centre and has been drug free for a few years. But for two years he actually lived in a bicycle shed! Today Janne works for Future Teens, an organisation based in Haninge that focuses on helping troubled teenagers. He told me a lot of facts about drug use among teenagers in Haninge today, and that scared me quite a bit. In his work he has meet the Queen of Sweden, and on his Facebook Site there are supposedly some photos of Janne and the Queen hugging! There are some photos from that event on the Future Teens website. For fun Janne works as an extra and has appeared in a few movies including Angel by Colin Nutley, and he can also be seen in the latest Beck movie, as well as in one episode of the next season of the TV show Oskyldigt Dömd,starring Mikael Persbrandt. Janne was a very open and positive person, and I wish him all the best in the future.
15 comments:
An interesting life indeed! I hope he continues to be drug-free.
Reminds me of a biker. It's good to hear of the work he is doing...he has my best wishes!
Happy he turned his life around and is helping others.
What a man ! great portrait shot
When my mind is occupied by small things it's good to be reminded of those having had a bumpier ride in life.
Well done, both of you.
A most interesting post. Beautifully photographed as well.
Such beautiful presentation!
Do give him my regards, also, next time you meet him, for having chosen the difficult road and manage to be under the sun today!
I hope he can really continue what has chosen to do and I wish him the best. Has he ever thought of changing his look? Anyway I can't figure him in tie and jacket!
Very good choice for an excellent portrait.
Thumbs up for staying clean despite difficult circumstances and best of luck. Great portrait, too.
Haninge seems to be a amazing place for beards, piercings and tattoos.
It seems that he's having another chance from life. Nice story. I definitely agree with Per Stromsjo.
My best wishes to Janne!
Thanks all. Janne invited me to visit the rehab centre so I will probably stop by there some day for a chat. They have a veranda where I have often seen a bunch of people sitting around chatting and laughing. I got an email from the photographer Kjelle whom you met here a while back. He was surprised to see my photo of Janne, turns out that one of Kjelle's sons were a good friend of Janne when they grew up. It's a small world.
He looks tough and beefy! Good portrait and you did dare!
I saw the UK premiere of the Big Lebowski, great film.
I always think best not to judge someone till you have been in their shoes, who can tell what they might have done in the same circumstances.
What an amazing portrait! He sounds like an interesting and troubled character.
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