This film takes on the problem with people not wanting to assume their responsibilities, are 'suffering' from - what could be called - 'decision-agony' (so common in the Nordic countries?), afraid of living alone or just afraid of living. All this leading to that the characters continue their daily life even if they all need a change.
Leni (Ane Dahl Torp) lives a - in every sense - sterile life with her father, a relationship with incestuous undertones, afraid of leaving, afraid of living, afraid of breaking the daily routines, that consists of making the meals to her father and being his little 'lapdog'.
All this til the day her father dies and she is forced to leave the apartment as it's going to be sold and she can't afford paying the rent. All of a sudden she has to earn her own living and confronting the frightening 'outer world'.
Heidi (Pia Tjelta) and Odd (Kyrre Haugen Sydness) (Odd being the estate agent who forces Leni to move from her fathers apartment) is a couple living in an almost 'master and slave'-relationship, where Odd dominates Heidi in a way she seem to accept, afraid of loosing his husband, afraid of living alone, afraid of breaking the social rules by divorcing a man who abuse her in more than one way. Odd's interest in his wife and child is subordinated his career and he's obviously frustrated of having to deal with a family when their are much more important things in the world to concentrate on.
Christer (Aksel Hennie) is an unsuccesful 'master of the art of living', having great plans but being afraid of assuming the responsibilities wherefore he instead tries to exploit other people, in pretending that he likes them or cares about them.
This goes for the shop owner who employs him but finds out that his only interest lies in a payment in advance, in order to sort his economical problems.
Furthermore Christer asks an old friend to lend him money but the friend instead invites him to go on a boat trip around the world, working for him on the boat. Christer turns his offer down but - of course - persists to ask him if he can lend him some money for a business project.
As his friend knows him, he refuses: "You know you're going to fail" as he so veraciously concludes.
Being desperate Christer now asks his father, a person he can't stand but when his father offer him a sum of money, it's not enough and Christer looks back in anger...
Besides these characters there are others and one can mention Kildahl (Bjørn Floberg), a Jack-in-office with a suppressed wife, trying to dictate other peoples life, not able to control his own.
Like the butterfly-effect, a bird shit (a euphemism is unnecessary I think) on Christers vest, brings him in relation with Kildahl, leading to troubles for both Christer, Kildahl and others around them, in a way turning their world upside down.
Like in Alfred Hitchcocks 'The Birds', flying species in this film, seem to point not only to the end of the monotonous life of the main characters but to the end of the world.
This film about a group of hesitant people, prolonging their futile lives by not making decisions that might turn their lives upside down, initiating a new and fresh start, is told with great amount of humour but on the same time in a way that makes you (me) angry. The latter as the characters either tries to dominate or let themselves be dominated by others. This until the limits are reached and the skies - finally - comes tumbling down.
Director: Eva Sørhaug.
Leni (Ane Dahl Torp) lives a - in every sense - sterile life with her father, a relationship with incestuous undertones, afraid of leaving, afraid of living, afraid of breaking the daily routines, that consists of making the meals to her father and being his little 'lapdog'.
All this til the day her father dies and she is forced to leave the apartment as it's going to be sold and she can't afford paying the rent. All of a sudden she has to earn her own living and confronting the frightening 'outer world'.
Heidi (Pia Tjelta) and Odd (Kyrre Haugen Sydness) (Odd being the estate agent who forces Leni to move from her fathers apartment) is a couple living in an almost 'master and slave'-relationship, where Odd dominates Heidi in a way she seem to accept, afraid of loosing his husband, afraid of living alone, afraid of breaking the social rules by divorcing a man who abuse her in more than one way. Odd's interest in his wife and child is subordinated his career and he's obviously frustrated of having to deal with a family when their are much more important things in the world to concentrate on.
Christer (Aksel Hennie) is an unsuccesful 'master of the art of living', having great plans but being afraid of assuming the responsibilities wherefore he instead tries to exploit other people, in pretending that he likes them or cares about them.
This goes for the shop owner who employs him but finds out that his only interest lies in a payment in advance, in order to sort his economical problems.
Furthermore Christer asks an old friend to lend him money but the friend instead invites him to go on a boat trip around the world, working for him on the boat. Christer turns his offer down but - of course - persists to ask him if he can lend him some money for a business project.
As his friend knows him, he refuses: "You know you're going to fail" as he so veraciously concludes.
Being desperate Christer now asks his father, a person he can't stand but when his father offer him a sum of money, it's not enough and Christer looks back in anger...
Besides these characters there are others and one can mention Kildahl (Bjørn Floberg), a Jack-in-office with a suppressed wife, trying to dictate other peoples life, not able to control his own.
Like the butterfly-effect, a bird shit (a euphemism is unnecessary I think) on Christers vest, brings him in relation with Kildahl, leading to troubles for both Christer, Kildahl and others around them, in a way turning their world upside down.
Like in Alfred Hitchcocks 'The Birds', flying species in this film, seem to point not only to the end of the monotonous life of the main characters but to the end of the world.
This film about a group of hesitant people, prolonging their futile lives by not making decisions that might turn their lives upside down, initiating a new and fresh start, is told with great amount of humour but on the same time in a way that makes you (me) angry. The latter as the characters either tries to dominate or let themselves be dominated by others. This until the limits are reached and the skies - finally - comes tumbling down.
Director: Eva Sørhaug.
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