The Chasers

The chasers is a triangular love drama between two men and a woman, which they both love. The men are friends, getting to know her at the same time.

The film is very different from anything I've seen before. The actors have dialog both between themselves as well as with us, the audience. The storyline is far from what we're used to. We go back as the three speak, after going to a hunting trip in the mountains.

Very early we get to know that this might end with someone's death, "or do we really?" it's said. The story easily is woven on to the screen, as we get to know more and more of what's really happening. Forget all conventions in film making, and you get along on the ride.

This film came out at the same time as the French wave in cinema was brought upon us, and in a way it's got similarities, though this is early, in 1959. Director Erik Løchen later became an important guy in Norwegian filmindustry, and directed a very special film, "Motforestilling" in 1972, which cdan be seen in 125 different ways on a DVD.

This film has later been voted as the best Norwegian movie of all times. I'm not sure if I agree to that, but in any case, it's one of the most interesting ones. Very experimental, very exciting, though not a commercial success at all. But it's truly a masterpiece, and a very important work to watch for those interested in film history.

Though being this interesting, there's still clear evidence of this not being an expensive more in production. Maybe that's why this wasn't a commercial success, though it was picked for the main competition in Cannes, and got good critics by most.

For film buffs - please treat your self in watching this. Out on DVD with English and french subtitles.

PLOT: Bjørn and Knut are two good friends. Together with Knut, Bjørn and his wife Guri goes for a trip in the Norwegian mountains to hunt. Knut has been in love with Guri since he first met her many years ago, but it was Bjørn who finally married her. In the mountains, the situation gets dramatic, when Knut tries to tell her how he feels about her.

The way the film is made is very unconvential. The actors talk directly to the viewer, and the narrator ask them questions about what they are thinking. With this metode we learn what they all think about each other. The film builds up to a climax, with a nice twist in the end.

Those 3 reviews are thorough enough, i have nothing more important to add on. This is a very good movie, ahead of its time, original and creative as it gets. Something like a drama/romance/noir/thriller with hints of Nouvelle vague, even an offbeat comedy element. Voice-overs from every leading character and something weird, these characters were communicating at times with voice-overs. Something even weirder : 4th wall broke many times, and the characters were talking to the..camera! This is almost brilliant. Very entertaining movie, even exciting at times, fast pace, unpredictable. Ending could have been better, but still, it was good enough. Not much to say, just watch it if you find it.

Erik Løchen made two films, the first one being Jakten (1959), the other one called Motforestilling (1971) they are both probably the best films to ever come out of Norway.

Jakten is half Jules and Jim (1962) and half Rules of the game (1939) Two men are "Fighting" over the same girl just like in Jules and Jim, and there is constant symbolism throughout the film about this all being a game, like Rules of the game.

The film takes place during the hunting season in Norway, and is jam packed with symbolism about the two men fighting for the girl are like the two dogs they are using to hunt.

Supriseingly is the imagery very good and the locations are marvelous.

If Erik Løchen had made more films it would might have been the Norwegian new wave (since it holds a lot of similarities with The French new wave starting about the same time) This is definitely the best place to start exploring Norwegian cinema and it might be the best Norwegian film ever made.

"Jakten" aka "The Hunters" (1959) has been voted by Norwegian film experts as the best film ever made in that country; I have not seen nearly enough Norwegian films to agree or disagree with such a claim, but it IS a very good movie in any case. The topic - a love triangle between a husband, a wife, and their best friend - is not strikingly original, but the writer-director Erik Løchen, who somehow only made two feature-length films in his career, uses revolutionary (especially for its time), unusual techniques, like the characters not only sharing their thoughts with the audience but also their thoughts interrupting each other's (!), as well as them often speaking directly to the camera. He also breaks the time-space continuum, making the present and the past feel as one. He shows himself to be a master of the medium. The film is ominous and foreboding, but it can be lyrical or even funny as well; it also boasts beautifully stark black & white cinematography, and is very well-acted. Only the very ending, although certainly unexpected, may disappoint some viewers. *** out of 4.