Danish Film 2007
Compelling and credible character study of a man whose personal guilt and self-punishment manifests in loneliness, egoism and pessimism. (Lars Brygmann - from Unit One)plays Ulrich Nymann, a successful property/salesman who is involved in a drunken late night fray that ends in his opponent’s death. With the help from friends in high places, Ulrich is pardoned without a sentence, but the psychological damage done having a greater impact than expected as his life begins to unravel to reveal an entire history of regret. In the following weeks Ulrick attempts to make amends for his transgression by getting closer with the man's grieving family.
Ulrich’s cold and hard exterior has been formed by layers of a tragic pas. The intricacies of his strained relationship with his father are beautifully woven into a tragic but unexpectedly inspiring story of loss, loneliness and renewal.
Story 7.5/10 - it's a common theme in nordic dystopias, but it works here.
Photography 7/10 again because I really like grey, steel, clinical architecture and design. Not quite as good as "the bothersome man" in terms of filmography.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
SBS Films - The Bothersome Man
A Norwegian film from 2006.
"Forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvaag) arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment - even a wife. But before long, Andreas notices that something is wrong. The people around him seem cut off from any real emotion, and communicate only in superficialities. The ominous ”Caretakers”, who make sure the city runs smoothly, keep an increasing watch over Andreas as they find he doesn’t fit in. Andreas makes an attempt to escape the city, but he discovers there’s no way out. Andreas meets Hugo, who has the same longings as himself. Hugo has found a crack in a wall in his cellar. Beautiful music streams out from the crack. Maybe it leads to ”the other side”? A new plan for escape is hatched."
It's a perfect yet essentially soulless dystopia. Shades of clockwork orange, brand new world, 1984 and so on. The very last scene with him falling out of the bus into the blizzard probably could have been left out, if one wanted the film to end with a bit more hope. There are some great scenery shots like the volcanic desert scenes which were shot in Iceland.
Not sure why, but I really really liked it! It was quite sad in a way, with very little explanation or closure at the end,leaving one feeling both empty but retaining a small amount of hope!
As an aside what I am starting to really notice about Nordic films, especially Danish is the distinct lack of bright colours in general. If used they are a "pop" of colour to make a statement against the general smooth steel grey backdrops.
Photography - 7.5/10 but only because I like the grey, neat streets, offices and homes of the Danish. Some lovely juxtapositions and use of colour. Gorgeous interiors and architecture OF COURSE. Great use of location or context to reflect feeling eg. barren wastelands, green fields, souless city.
Story - 7.5/10 it was intriguing, and reads promisingly but ultimately unfulfilling if closure and explanation is desired.
"Forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvaag) arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment - even a wife. But before long, Andreas notices that something is wrong. The people around him seem cut off from any real emotion, and communicate only in superficialities. The ominous ”Caretakers”, who make sure the city runs smoothly, keep an increasing watch over Andreas as they find he doesn’t fit in. Andreas makes an attempt to escape the city, but he discovers there’s no way out. Andreas meets Hugo, who has the same longings as himself. Hugo has found a crack in a wall in his cellar. Beautiful music streams out from the crack. Maybe it leads to ”the other side”? A new plan for escape is hatched."
It's a perfect yet essentially soulless dystopia. Shades of clockwork orange, brand new world, 1984 and so on. The very last scene with him falling out of the bus into the blizzard probably could have been left out, if one wanted the film to end with a bit more hope. There are some great scenery shots like the volcanic desert scenes which were shot in Iceland.
Not sure why, but I really really liked it! It was quite sad in a way, with very little explanation or closure at the end,leaving one feeling both empty but retaining a small amount of hope!
As an aside what I am starting to really notice about Nordic films, especially Danish is the distinct lack of bright colours in general. If used they are a "pop" of colour to make a statement against the general smooth steel grey backdrops.
Photography - 7.5/10 but only because I like the grey, neat streets, offices and homes of the Danish. Some lovely juxtapositions and use of colour. Gorgeous interiors and architecture OF COURSE. Great use of location or context to reflect feeling eg. barren wastelands, green fields, souless city.
Story - 7.5/10 it was intriguing, and reads promisingly but ultimately unfulfilling if closure and explanation is desired.
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