Elling
Screening: 20 November 2004
Norway 2001
Directed by Petter Naess
Leading players ~ Per Christian Ellefsen, Sven Nordin, Jorgen Langhelle.
89 minutes (subtitles).
Synopsis
This is the story of a middle-aged man, who will not leave his house until forced to by the death of his mother. Moved into care he finds himself with a roommate, Kjell, who encounters life as an even greater challenge. These two characters, ill-equipped for the outside world, are cast out of their institution and set up house in a small apartment in Oslo. Elling is fastidious and paranoid, while Kjell is messy and clumsy. Thrown into this strange but strangely viable relationship is Reidun, their pregnant neighbour.* * * * * *
The charm of the film comes from an amalgamation of opposites and how, in some organic way, the two men come to rely upon one other. A huge hit in Norway this film is funny and touching without ever being sickly sweet.
