Elling (2001)

Director:

Petter Næss

Writers:

Ingvar Ambjørnsen (novel)
Axel Hellstenius (writer)

Release Date:

16 March 2001 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

They're packed and ready for the greatest adventure of their lives. All they have to do is get out of the house.

Plot:

When his mother, who has sheltered him his entire 40 years, dies, Elling, a sensitive, would-be poet...

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Poet | Horny Person | Nervous | Trip

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Per Christian Ellefsen	...	Elling
Sven Nordin	...	Kjell Bjarne
Marit Pia Jacobsen	...	Reidun Nordsletten
Jørgen Langhelle	...	Frank Åsli
Per Christensen	...	Alfons Jørgensen
Hilde Olausson	...	Gunn
Ola Otnes	...	Hauger
Eli Anne Linnestad	...	Johanne (as Eli-Anne Linnestad)
Cecilie A. Mosli	...	Cecilie Kornes (as Cecilie Mosli)
Joachim Rafaelsen	...	Haakon Willum
Per Gørvell	...	Eriksen (as Per Gørvel)
Knud Dahl	...	Waiter at bar
Knut Haugmark	...	Porter

Also Known As:

Brødre i blodet (Norway) (alternative title)
Me, My Friend and I (International: English title) (festival title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Norway

Language:

Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R | Netherlands:AL | Spain:T | Argentina:Atp | UK:15 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Oslo, Norway

Company:

Maipo Film- og TV Produksjon

Trivia:

Every scene from Elling's neighborhood were shot around Majorstuen, on Oslo's west side. The locations, such as the grocery store where he hides his poems in packages of sauerkraut, and the diner where they eat dinner are all very real places. Both in name and appearance the shop and diner look exactly the same today.

Quotes:

[Elling is about to order two train tickets to Oslo]
Train ticket salesman: Yes?
Elling: Yes!
Train ticket salesman: You're going to?
Elling: Yes, we! Kjell Bjarne and I are going to Oslo of course.
Train ticket salesman: One way?
Elling: There are more ways?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002) (TV)

A Diamond in the Dust

In a world of big blockbuster movies, it is wonderful to know that there are still films like "Elling"--even if it is subtitled from Norwegian. The interactions between the characters throughout the film require superb acting and they get it. Elling and Kjell Bjarne who are mentally re-acclimating to society live together and play off of each other's quirks evoking comedy and sympathy in a fine balance. Kjell Bjarne, a large slob, and Elling, a fragile man suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and removal anxiety from his mother, evoke laughter and sympathy. It is a pity that films like "Elling" are so rare compared to the huge-budget monstrosities we call entertainment. Films like "Elling" bring the art back into film-making.