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.
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