Himmelfall (2002)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Gunnar Vikene

Writers:

Torun Lian (writer)
Gunnar Vikene (writer)

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Vi kan ikke redde alle planetene, men kanskje jorden for eksempel?

Plot:

Reidar is a resident at Solihøgda psychiatric institution. He is expecting the Earth to be hit by a huge meteor any time now...

Plot Keywords:

Hope | Meteor | Institution | Nudity | Sex

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Kristoffer Joner	...	Reidar
Maria Bonnevie	...	Juni
Kim Bodnia	...	Johannes
Hildegun Riise	...	Vigdis
Gitte Rio Jørgensen	...	Fru Ruud
Endre Hellestveit	...	Thomas
Min Min Tun	...	Wong
Kjersti Sandal	...	Siw
Jon Bleiklie Devik	...	Alf
Petter Width Kristiansen	...	Eilert
Bjørn Sundquist	...	Juni's father
Janny Hoff Brekke	...	Juni's Mother
Stig R. Amdam	...	Policeman #1 (as Stig Amdam)
Sverre Røssummoen	...	Policeman #2
Jon Ketil Johnsen	...	Policeman #3
Steinar Thon	...	Policeman #4
Ine Ahnell	...	Ane
Gjert Haga	...	Taxi Driver #1
Helge M. Iversen	...	Taxi Driver #2 (as Helge Iversen)
Oddbjørn Hesjevoll	...	Janitor
Erling Fidjestøl	...	Male Nurse
Sigurd Aae Klausen	...	Sykepleier (as Sigurd Klausen)
Karin Stautland	...	Nurse - Solihøgda
Agnete Vossgård	...	Nurse - Solihøgda
Grete Aasbø	...	Nurse - Solihøgda
Dag Olav Larson	...	Nurse - Solihøgda
Per Christian Strøm	...	Nurse - Solihøgda
Kristin Lie	...	Nurse - Solihøgda
Grethe Mikaelsen	...	Patient - Solihøgda
Tor Christian Bleikli	...	Patient - Solihøgda
Oddgeir Thune	...	Patient - Solihøgda
John Olav Ågotnes	...	Patient - Solihøgda
Kate Elin Samuelsen	...	Patient - Solihøgda
Jane Øksnes	...	Patient - Solihøgda
Marianne Nilsen	...	Anes mother
Ljudmil Nikolov	...	Anes father (as Ludmil Nikolov)

Directed by
Gunnar Vikene

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Torun Lian		writer
Gunnar Vikene		writer

Produced by
Hans Dragesund	....	co-producer: Alligator
Sigve Endresen	....	producer: Motlys
Ørjan Karlsen	....	associate producer: Motlys
Ørjan Karlsen	....	co-executive producer
Motlys	....	co-executive producer
Thomas Stenderup	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Reidar Skaar
Stein Berge Svendsen

Cinematography by
Sjur Aarthun

Film Editing by
Kasper Leick

Casting by
Kathleen Johnsen
Kjersti Paulsen

Production Design by
Martin Gant

Costume Design by
Stina Thoresen

Makeup Department
Veslemøy Fosse Ree	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Arve Figenschow	....	production manager
Anne Frilseth	....	production manager

Art Department
Dag Fosse	....	carpenter
Erling Skåtun	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Roy Fenstad	....	foley artist
Arne Hansen	....	sound designer
Arne Hansen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jon McBirnie	....	sound mixer
Gunnar W. Meidell	....	sound (as Gunnar Meidell)
Toby Price	....	foley recordist
Øyvind Rydland	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Stein Håkonsen	....	special effects

Stunts
Trond Kongshavn	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Nicholas Messel	....	gaffer
Patrik Säfström	....	first assistant camera
Kjell Vassdal	....	assistant camera: second unit

Editorial Department
Søren Ottosen	....	assistant editor
Ingrid Sæthre	....	assistant editor
Stine Skaret	....	post-production coordinator

Other crew
Margret Bergheim	....	script supervisor
Ingeborg Jakobsen	....	assistant location manager
Marit Pettersen	....	production accountant
Tonje S. Rolland	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Alligator Film AS
• Final Cut
• Motlys
• Norsk Filminstitutt

Distributors

• Sandrew Metronome Norge

Also Known As:

Falling Sky (International: English title)
The Sky Is Falling Down (Europe: English title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Norway

Language:

Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Denmark:11 | Norway:11

Filming Locations:

Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Company:

Alligator Film AS

"We can't save all the planets, but maybe the earth?"

In a small town in Norway, or maybe a suburb to one of the bigger cities, we meet a group of people and get involved in their lives for three hectic days before Christmas. These people all tell us their story, and at the same time tell the story of somebody else.

We meet Reidar (Joner) and Juni (Bonnevie). They are patients at a mental institution, and have a close relationship (but to many of the viewers a strange one, I would guess) Juni hits people who touch her and we are not talking feminine slaps here, but full on break-your-nose-punches. Juni is also suicidal, and Reidar does his best to look after her. Reidar is a very responsible person, who is likely to take the blame for everything. He is also an astrology expert. Based on his constant studies, he has come to the conclusion that the sky might fall down any minute. Reidar's hope is that though we might not be able to save the other planets, we might save our own. Along with these two protagonists we meet a wide and colourful gallery of characters, they are all involved in each other's lives on some level, and they all have a story to tell.

It is very difficult to write a summary of this film, because it is so well made. If I write about one person, I have to mention more, and more, and soon I am giving away most of the plot. The film is full of surprises and lovely and vulnerable characters. It is extremely funny, and extremely sad at the same time. You laugh with tears in your eyes, constantly!

My guess is that this is another one of the films that will be bought from Hollywood and made into a similar, but not half as good box-office wonder. I truly hope though, and recommend, that you go see this film in Norwegian, even if this is not your native language, and enjoy it.