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IMDbPro

Bunch of Five

Original title: Schpaaa
  • 19981998
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
735
YOUR RATING
Bunch of Five (1998)
  • Crime
  • Drama
Jonas and Emir are members of a criminal gang of 14-15 year-olds in Oslo. Emir has slight brain-damage after being beaten by his father as a 5-year-old, and Jonas' biggest problem is stoppin... Read allJonas and Emir are members of a criminal gang of 14-15 year-olds in Oslo. Emir has slight brain-damage after being beaten by his father as a 5-year-old, and Jonas' biggest problem is stopping Emir from hitting people on the head. One day, they are offered a job by a gang of drug-... Read allJonas and Emir are members of a criminal gang of 14-15 year-olds in Oslo. Emir has slight brain-damage after being beaten by his father as a 5-year-old, and Jonas' biggest problem is stopping Emir from hitting people on the head. One day, they are offered a job by a gang of drug-dealers: Deliver a packet of heroin to one guy and beat up another. This is the start of a... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
735
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Erik Poppe
  • Writers
    • Hans Petter Blad
    • Erik Poppe
  • Stars
    • Maikel Andressen Abou-Zelof
    • Jalal Zahedjekta
    • Sharjil Arshed
Top credits
  • Director
    • Erik Poppe
  • Writers
    • Hans Petter Blad
    • Erik Poppe
  • Stars
    • Maikel Andressen Abou-Zelof
    • Jalal Zahedjekta
    • Sharjil Arshed
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 2 nominations

    Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Maikel Andressen Abou-Zelof
    • Jonas
    Jalal Zahedjekta
    • Emir
    Sharjil Arshed
    • Jack
    Mickael Marman
    • Ali
    Seth Raknes
    • Lille Jan
    Kiyana Faravardeh
    • Mira-Fe
    Irina Eidsvold Tøien
    • Jonas' Mother
    Damir Dado Pudar
    • Emir's Uncle
    Rolf Petter Næss
    • Big-Shot
    Stian Bonnevie Arntzen
    • Boy From Westside
    Kjersti Borgen
    • Eva
    Tormod Gjersvold
    • Substitute Teacher
    Roger Mogstad
    • Police officer
    Turid Gunnes
    • Politikvinne
    Jag Safri
    • Shop Owner
    Vigdis Moi
    Magnus Mortensen
    • Boy at Gas Station
    Leon Bashir
    • 19-Year Old Boy
    • Director
      • Erik Poppe
    • Writers
      • Hans Petter Blad
      • Erik Poppe
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When Mir is about to get hit by a train, Jonas appears to be walking behind his friend and close to the rails, warning him about the train coming. Later on, when Mir disappears from view giving the impression that he was hit, Jonas and his friends can be seen from a higher spot, far from the rails.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Jonas: Emir was my best friend. He has always been my friend. He is 15 years old and comes from Yugoslavia. I have always known that he would make my life a living hell. It scared me out of my wits. My name is Jonas and I'm 14 years old. I have always lived here in town, and I have always lived with my mum. I have never met my father. When Mir was little, his dad clubbed him on the head. Now he has a right proper dent. He had lain down on his bed without taking his shoes off. His dad was pretty aggressive.

    • Connections
      References Dead Man Walking (1995)

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Erratic but decent.
    "A Bunch of Five" works best if you imagine a less depressive and teen version of "Of Mice and Man" involving youth gangs, drugs and violence. But it's also a tale about an undying and unusual friendship between Jonas and Emir. 14 year-old Jonas (Maikel Andressen Abou-Zelof) is very protective of Emir (Jalal Zahedjekta), an older, bigger but heated and troubled kid who tends to be a violent type who always goes for people's heads when he has to fight, himself a victim of violent abuses when he was younger, hit on the head by his father and now a burden to everybody due to his stupid acts. All Jonas have to do is to keep Mir, as he call, under control. And both are part of a group of teen robbers who keep doing their business as usual until the day Emir gets mixed up with two different tasks given by his uncle (to beat up one guy and give drugs to another) causing a catastrophic problem for everyone involved.

    Although highly inconsistent, erratic and mildly unbelievable to some (but such gangs were part of Norway's past as strange as it may look), the movie delivers an effective story about friendship and companion, though often eclipsed by the movie's rush in presenting non fulfilling thrilling moments (well filmed but losing in effect sometimes - except the video store robbery and the police chase right after it, those were great). There's nothing new in terms of what kind of crimes they commit, the obstacles the group has to face against the police, drug dealers and other criminals, and even against themselves - obviously you can see those happening in plenty of other movies. And "Schpaaa" is an easy ride, more preoccupied in providing suspense and action sequences than to really focus on the drama of educated kids who prefer to steal than to find something useful to do. Thinking of that, the movie can be unappealing to some because it's not gritty and harsh like "Pixote" was, a truly great film and I don't know why but while I was watching "Schpaaa" I kept remembering that movie. I guess that was a way to say that no matter what you put in those kind of movies, nothing will ever get near "Pixote" grandiosity.

    At the end of the day, you still have a good watchable movie with pleasant performances by the young cast, specially the main characters. 8/10
    helpful•2
    1
    • Rodrigo_Amaro
    • Oct 6, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 1998 (Norway)
    • Country of origin
      • Norway
    • Languages
      • Norwegian
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Кулак
    • Filming locations
      • Oslo, Norway
    • Production company
      • Bulbul Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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