Recently Todd has speculated on the exciting prospects of a Norwegian mini-boom in film noir and horror. Meanwhile, two local films recently released theatrically have performed well, though neither is a genre piece.
Mannen som elsket Yngve (The Man Who Loved Yngve) looks like a teen rocker period drama. Tore Renberg adapted his own novel, set in 1989, in which 17-year-old Jarle Klepp plans to launch his town's "toughest punk band" with his girlfriend and "the world's coolest buddy." Then new boy Yngve appears in class, confusing Jarle who, before he knows it, is listening to Duran Duran and playing tennis. Stian Kristiansen directed. It opened at #1 the weekend before last, and held onto the #2 position at the box office this weekend. The trailer looks fairly kick-ass, though I have no idea if the picture gives into formula or manages to blaze a new path.
Just behind it is in the box office listings is SOS Svartskjær (SOS - Summer of Suspense), which looks like a standard-issue family film: girl finds large bag of cocaine, runs away, befriends friendly seal. The trailer has gorgeous photography. Family films tend to do well in Norway, so the film's success is no surprise.
Norway pours out with these silly Drama-Comedy-Romantic films. Seems these is the only genres they can do. It is just now they begin the make Horror films. They shouldn`t have made Fritt Vilt. I want action films and martial arts films.
After what I've read in the papers "Mannen som Elsket Yngve" got pretty good reviews. It’s in between the five and four (the classic six side dice judge), and as most of the young actors in the movie are having their big picture debut, I'd say that’s pretty good. I still haven’t gotten around to watching it, but it’s something I'd like to see. And I used to steer off Norwegian cinema.
LoBo, action wise we've got the TV (mini) series "Torpedo". Yes, its meaning is the good old' classic slang for hitman. And it’s damn well done. You might say that this short action and drama packed series has a story and design in the likes of a good HBO series (meaning damn good). I still haven’t bought the DVD, but I saw it when it aired on NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), our biggest radio and TV network.
As a matter of fact, I think I'll give the series a little review after I've rewatched it. Just to give you guys a taste of its "awesomeness".