Elling
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Movie Reviews of Elling
Movie Review: an engaging film dealing with serious issues in a classy and even humorous way
Summary: 5 Stars
Elling is an outstanding motion picture that showcases mentally ill persons as human beings with so much more to them than just their emotional problems. We get excellent portrayals of two mentally ill people thanks to a script and great acting that develop these characters with clarity, compassion and realism. The film doesn't pull any punches about mental illness; but it doesn't show that people have to be confined to their chains, either--and that's grand. The cinematography and the choreography work very well; and the acting is extremely convincing. The plot moves along at an excellent pace; I was never once bored.
When the action starts, we quickly meet two men undergoing rehab in a mental institution: Elling (Per Christian Ellefsen) and Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin). They share a room at the rehab center and they get along so well that when they are released the state decides to get them supervised housing as roommates once again. Of course, going out into the real world, even with the help of their new social worker Frank (Jørgen Langhelle) scares them; but we see that they are willing to at least give it a try.
At first giving it a try is a tough uphill battle in and of itself even though in their hearts they want to succeed. Going to the supermarket and answering the telephone create a huge amount of stress, especially for the shy and sensitive Elling. Kjell has his own emotional baggage; in particular he's obsessed with finding a girlfriend because he's never been alone with a woman. Kjell is remarkably shy around women; he never knows what to say.
Things gradually begin to change. Elling gradually confronts his fears about going out of their apartment, especially after his first attempts fail and social worker Frank begins to threaten to kick them out of the apartment and send them both back to the hospital if they don't confront their fears. Elling eventually goes to a poetry meeting and decides to become an emerging mysterious poet; and Kjell falls in love with a pregnant woman who lives in their apartment building. The woman, Reidun Nordsletten (Marit Pia Jacobsen), begins to fall for Kjell, too; and she invites him over for dinner.
Of course, the plot can go anywhere from here. As time goes by, Elling makes a new friend named Alfons Jørgensen (Per Christensen). Alfons helps Elling come out of his shell and encourages Elling to write more poetry after reading some of Elling's work. Meanwhile, Kjell drifts in his own direction as he becomes increasingly involved with Reidun. This could threaten the friendship between Elling and Kjell; how will they handle that? How might Reidun react if she finds out that Kjell is recently released from an institution--will she dump him or not? And what about Elling and his poetry work--will Elling turn his back on Kjell and focus on his new profession? Watch and find out!
The DVD would have been a bit nicer if there had been a bonus featurette; all we get is "scene selection" and three trailers for other films. However, the film is so well done this actually becomes a minor complaint.
Elling will move you and even educate some people about what the mentally ill can accomplish despite their problems. I highly recommend this film for fans of the actors in this movie; people interested in human dramas and psychology would do well to get this film on DVD.
Movie Review: Sure... go ahead, ask your buddy to remove his underwear for you to use right now
Summary: 5 Stars
This Norwegian film received a Academy Award nomination, but its competition was the feel good French movie Amelie. But the 2001 Oscar went to No Man's Land from Bosnia and Herzevogina. The casting for Elling, along with the acting and concept are brilliant. It is rare when so many oddball moments are packed into one film, but this sure has its fill. The pace moves along well.
Th premise of this entertaining and very humorous film is for two quirky roommates are released from an institution to now forge for themselves with help of government funding. Elling (Per Christian Ellefsen) is a 40ish anxiety filled mama's boy. He clearly lived under his mother's thumb, never doing anything on his own. Then, she dies and he is sent away to the institution where he meets Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin) who is sex-obsessed and rather a simpleton of a big guy.
It is from here with the help of social worker Frank Asli to guide and teach them a few things on life outside the institution. Elling is fearful of stepping into the world including using a phone. Kjell has experience with a phone sex business. The film is filled with so many escapades, it comprises of so many emotional moments, mainly being very funny. What we learn as the film goes along is that the men clearly have talent in their own right.
I have to reveal a most funny segment is when Kjell intends to have sex with the pregnant girl, but his state of cleanliness poses him to question. Kjell asks Elling if he could borrow his underwear. The underwear is removed, exchanges hands and Sven washes up in the lake and all is well! Another fun Norwegian film is Kitchen Stories ....Rizzo
Movie Review: One of the best true love stories I have ever seen ......
Summary: 5 Stars
I can not believe that this movie has been reviewed as a comedy! Just because there are laughs and uncomfortable moments that are funny does NOT make this a comedy, this is rather a film study of two disparate characters who truly have a relationship for each other, and, OK now hold on to your horses, it's NOT a gay relationship. Trust me that is a marvel in itself since if this film were made in the USA, for sure the director could not avoid the temptation of injecting that stupidity into the film.
Seems like all the movies of today on this side of the ocean can't have two men having any kind of relationship unless it's gay! I have been so CONDITIONED now to this that I actually waited for the whole movie to end before I realized what a wonderfull non gay movie it was.
In this film both young men are released into the community after spending four years or so rooming together at a mental institution. Elling has agrophobia giving him a total panic fear of leaving his own room never mind his apartment and his roomate is a bumbling quiet gentle giant that rarely speaks and is basically obsesses with sex and food. Both of them are moved by the state into a two bedroom apartment in Oslo in preparation for them to integrate back into society. Their individual struggles with their obsessions as they try to develop relationships outside of their circle of two are incredibly filmed, and the viewer is treated to what I believe is the main theme of this film, the incredibly deep and strong love and affection that the two of them have for each other as they just try to make it trough the day.
Finally, this movie is certainly not for the veiwer that just wants to sit back and BE ENTERTAINED it requires some thought, unless you speak Norwegian, and some empathy to the story as it is wonderfully developed by a super director.....
Movie Review: This Norwegian comedy surely deserved its 2002 nomination for Best Foreign Language Film
Summary: 5 Stars
This brilliant feel-good movie reminded me of my delight at the surprise sprung on me by Everybody's Famous!, in which I walked away telling people: wow, one of the best movies I've ever seen is in Flemish. Good movies can come from anywhere and this Norwegian export is example A-1. It surely deserved its 2002 Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
Co-leads Per Christian Ellefsen (as the title character) and Sven Nordin (as Kjell Bjarne) are long-time veterans of Oslo's New Theatre. To discover that these two are long-time friends and collaborators (a 20-year relationship at the time of the film) is not a surprise: their interactions on the screen are so life-like - filled with spontaneity, mood changes and subtle shifts that make up real relationships. Ostensibly playing 'simple' characters, their talents manifest themselves in the way they slowly reveal the depth and hidden reserves of Elling and Kjell Bjarne.
The movie also benefits from the regal presence of Per Christensen, portraying writer Alfons Jørgensen. Elling stumbles into a friendship with him. Ellefsen's portrayal of frenzied excitement at making his 'first real friend' is one of the movie's best moments, as is his initial fit of pique when Kjell Bjarne forms his own bonds with Jørgensen. That Elling connects over poetry and Kjell Bjarne over old American cars and a chance to rehab Jørgensen's 50s-era Buick speaks to the subtle nature of a winning script and understated direction by Petter Næss.
Movie Review: The Odd Couple meet Bennie and Joon
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those feel-good movies that must be shared with family and friends because we all know people like these two men.
These two men had spent two years together in a mental institution, sleeping in dorm-like rooms. When they are released and housed together in a welfare apartment (A very NICE welfare apartment!) both men continue to share a bedroom because they have never been left alone. They spend their time together talking about how to conquer the outside world.
At first the audience worries about Elling, the older man, the "Mama's Boy" because his life prior to being institutionalized was all about his mother. He didn't dare venture outside; he was quite content spending his time in his apartment and reading his books.
His roommate, a Prince Valliant sort of younger man who seems to have an aversion to showering and keeping clean, has his own issues to deal with. He ventures outside but in the persuit of food. He does very little talking.
So as these two slowly make it outside, we are left wondering who of the two will be the first to make it big, and the surprise is quite ironic. By meeting others around them, these two men realize that they aren't really all that crazy afterall. Everyone around them has issues.
The scenery of the Norwegian countryside, the city shots of Oslo and the overall quick dialogue of these two odd balls make for a wonderful 90 minutes of vicarious travel to a country I've never been. The soundtrack was also quite beautiful.