Petter Næss’ very funny Norwegian film, Elling,
released in 2001, is based on Ingvar Ambjørnsen’s novel Brødre
I blodet
(Blood Brothers). The Academy of Motion Pictures nominated the film as one of the Best Foreign Language films of 2002. The film concentrates on the relationship
of Elling and Kjell Bjarne, two social misfits thrown together by fate.
Elling (Per Christian
Ellefsen) had lived in an apartment with only his mother until her death. The
police have to come and drag him out of hiding in his closet. They send him to
an institution where he befriends his roommate Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin), who
Elling calls the Orangutan. Kjell
Bjarnes (always called by both names by Elling) is a simple-minded companion
who is at first fascinated by the sex-stories that Elling makes up. The two are
eventually released and set up in a two-bedroom apartment in Oslo which is paid
for by the Norwegian government. The
first thing the friends do is move Kjell’s bed into Elling’s room so they don’t
have to face the change of being alone. And they become a Norwegian Odd Couple.
The film concentrates on the difficulties the two have in
establishing what society would view as normal lives.
They have had no experience with a phone, but Kjell quickly discovers
phone sex and runs up a huge bill. Elling’s mother did all the shopping while
she was alive, so Elling’s first journey to the story ends up with him in a
complete breakdown outside the store. As they meet each challenge, monitored by
their social worker, Frank Åsli (Jørgen Langhelle), small ordinary actions become major
breakthroughs.
They learn to eat out at a restaurant. Kjell makes friends
with Reidun Nordsletten (Marit Pia Jacobsen), a pregnant lady who lives in
their building and the two begin a relationship. Elling becomes jealous, but it
pushes him to go out to a poetry reading club where he meets a friend who owns
a Buick and a cabin (keys to open new worlds for the pair).
With each change, we grow in our concern for them. To see
them celebrate Christmas together and give each other gifts or watch them respond
to the birth of Reidun’s baby was truly joyful to watch. And Elling’s final successful
transition into society feels like a triumph.
Elling (2001) *****
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