Elling (2001)

Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

Boring

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I appreciate that this Norwegian movie gets recognition abroad from Norway too. Its just a shame that its not better known as it easily could be a hit in most countries. Another shame is that the subtleties regarding the intricate differences between the main characters will not be fetched by someone who do not understand Norwegian. Elling has a very correct and refined language/accent, while Kjell Bjarne is very blunt and speaks working class Language. Even though I believe this movie could be appreciated all over the world because of the beautiful story and top notch acting.I have seen this movie many times, and still every time I see it I am amazed that it brings out all the different emotion in me. From laughing out loud to crying. Yes you have to be very cold hearted not to be moved by this film.The few criticism I have seen about the movie is about realism (welfare) and the drinking and smoking by a pregnant woman which seems accepted. Well I can confirm that its not unrealistic regarding the Norwegian welfare system. It is as good as in the movie. Regarding the drinking and smoking when pregnant. It is not accepted to do that in Norway, but this is not a story about the average Norwegian and the woman is not from what we can call the privileged part of the society. In fact Norway may be one of the most restricted countries when it comes to both smoking and drinking. And another important factor is that the author has very liberate views.If you have not seen this gem I strongly recommend you to see this one.

A simple film of simple people with simple intentions, Elling (2001), a Petter Naess film, portrays a pair finding their way through the welfare state of Norway. An authentic focus on the lives of these two men with mental illness grabs sympathy from the audience as they watch the everyday struggles of Elling (Per Christian Ellefsen) and Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin). After living the majority of his life with his mother, her unexpected death cripples Elling and his psyche, and we see Elling being forced out of a closet he had been hiding in by the Norway welfare people for his own good will. Elling meets his roommate, Kjell Bjarne who obsesses over the sexy stories Elling tells him. Eventually, the pair find themselves living in a big city welfare apartment provided for them by the Norwegian government. It is here that they build a relationship with their social worker, Frank Asli (Jorgen Langhelle) as they try living day to day life.The topic of mental illness is central to this film, as the two main characters had the Norwegian government intervene in their lives because they were unsuitable to live on their own. Naess chooses to not include the actual diagnoses of each character because he felt that including a clinical diagnosis for each character would dehumanize them. This choice is extremely effective in translating a very likable nature behind the pair no matter their psychological differences. Although, Naess had good intentions of making the two very likable in spite of their mental illness, it also may translate to the audience that all people with mental illness are such simple, good natured, likable people that must be taken care of by their respective state governments. Nonetheless, the simplicity of these two characters definitely grab at the audiences' heartstrings.The character of Elling is a staunch Labour Party supporter and Gro Harlem Brundtland enthusiast which is a major theme throughout the film. Once the unlikely pair move into their government housing, Elling insists on putting an almost angelic photograph of Gro Harlem Brundtland (a major supporter of the welfare state in Norway) in a prominent spot on their dining area wall. Elling has idealized Gro Harlem Brundtland so much that he constantly reads about her and almost substitutes her for his mother and for those who are taking care of him. Such strong support by Elling for this Party can be seen in political disagreements that he has with his new friends at a cabin where he truly believes everything the Labour Party has done is right and true. The viewer may question if Elling clung to this idealism once he could no longer cling to his mother… What seems to draw Elling out of his neurotic rut is the opportunity for new friendship and even family. Kjell Bjarne, no matter how different he is in personality, and Elling demonstrate their friendship when giving each other gifts on Christmas. They both pick something that is truly perfectly inherent to the others personality and this moment is one of the most meaningful and precious of the entire movie, granted Kjell's present was a nude woman on a watch! Elling and Kjell Bjarne provide each other with exactly what each other needs to balance out, which seems to be why the pair is so successful in living on their own and really creating their own family.For such a simple pair of characters, Naess provides a simple amount of locations for scenes. A large amount of the film takes place in the government provided housing that Elling is afraid to leave. Once Elling begins to shed some of his anxieties, we see both Elling and Kjell Bjarne in different places with different people such as a poetry house, cabin, or friends' apartment. Simple cinematic techniques are used as well to compliment the simple characters. The use of voice-over provides extra detail if needed that may not be interpreted from a scene. Besides this technique, there seems to be no flashy devices like those in Hollywood that catch a viewers' attention. But rather, the viewer is able to focus on the characters and their likability and simplistic nature.The film, Elling (2001), is an uplifting story with authentic characters that develop through being forced into the "real world" essentially. There are no hidden things to get from this film, as it is upfront and simple and only wants to provide the story of an unlikely pair coming together to form their own family.

The Norwegian film "Elling" delightfully swept me off of my feet. The film directed by Peter Næss portrays the journey and lives of two mentally institutionalized roommates, Elling and Kjell Bjarne, who are now living in an apartment provided by the Norwegian welfare system in Oslo. Not many films have the ability to make you self reflect the way that "Elling" can. This film through its impeccable acting and thoughtful storyline immediately forces you to relate to and essentially root for the characters to succeed. By skillfully incorporating voice-overs, implanting messages regarding mental illness, and exploring how humans can evolve, this film leaves the audience feeling hope toward humanity. An integral film technique that Peter Næss incorporated into this simplistic style of film was voice-overs. Elling would not hold nearly the same amount of meaning if the audience did not get to hear the inner thoughts of the troubled but lovely Elling throughout. Instead of special effects, sex scenes, violence, etc. Elling instead captures its audience through its dialogue. The characters reactions were always fascinating to me and the times that Elling's thoughts were voice-overed were extremely important to the audiences understanding of the characters. When Elling brought Kjell Bjarne to meet Alfon (Elling's poet friend) he said something in his mind that was important to the film overall, "There he goes again. Kjell seems to carry every person he meets. Strange". This quote holds significance in characterizing Kjell Bjarne. First it proves the wonderfully kind heart that Kjell Barne possesses in which he never receives credit for. Throughout most of the film Kjelle Bjarne is referred to as overweight, sex crazed, and an oaf. Yet by using the trauma of his past regarding his mother, he is able to help save and love everyone he meets outside of the mental institution. Elling also gains some humor through the voice-overs. Elling does not always process situations the same as others but that is what makes this film special. He states, "Elling and Kjell Bjarne, Oslo's new rescue team. Pregnant or elderly. Call day or night" This voice-over I found to be funny and made me realize that these two characters, no matter what their mental illness includes, are immensely giving and loving. Through these voice-overs I believe that Elling has the power to make you think deeper and laugh a little more than if director Peter Næss would have not used this technique. Mental illness is typically a taboo concept in societies universally, however Elling does not shy away from exposing these characters nor never shames them either. The fascinating part to me regarding the inclusion of two mentally institutionalized main characters was that the situations never became too dark nor were medications ever forced upon them for their conditions. The only direct help that was implemented was through a social worker named Paul Ånsel whom had a very positive impact on both characters. Elling in particular was displayed as an anxious, obsessive compulsive, somewhat autistic character from the beginning. Up until Elling was 40 years old he had been sheltered by his mother his entire life up until her death. We watch Elling struggle to answer a phone, answer the door, go outside and cross the street the buy groceries, eat at a restaurant. He states in a voice-over, "I have always had two enemies, dizziness and anxiety,". Yet this quote is the only direct answer the audience ever receives on what is wrong with Elling. His mannerisms and actions are not as society would claim, to be "normal", however this film puts into question what normal really is. Kjell Bjarne pushes Elling to break out of his anxieties, as does Paul but never in a judgmental way that makes him feel inferior to others. Reflecting on this idea I believe that the film was exposing a different way in which humans can deal with mental illness. Elling and Kjell Bjarne evolve into fully functioning and wonderful members of society by the end of this film. In only 84 minutes the audience feels personally invested in the two characters achieving new goals. As stated earlier, Elling completely restricted himself from everyday activities but as the film progressed we delightfully got to witness Elling breaking down his fears. One of my favorite lines of the movie was when Elling thought to himself, ""Had I really made a friend without any help from the Norwegian government?". Elling never realized his potential and I think that was the most touching part of the entire movie. Through his jealously of Kjell Bjarne and his new romance with Reidun, Elling was able to find his talent of being a poet. He began chronicling his thoughts into poems and placing them inside sauerkraut boxes in local grocery stores around Oslo only signing them with the letter E. His stated he wanted to stay true to his personality as a momma's boy and he didn't want fame, he just wanted to be appreciated as someone significant in society. Kjell Bjarne was also able to evolve throughout the film by finding Reidun and being able to hold a relationship with a woman, which was his biggest dream. The two characters never shied away from who they truly were and in essence they learned how to grow up before our eyes. This film was able to prove that change was possible even regarding the mentally ill. This film can universally resonate with any audience that watches. It touches on uncomfortable subjects such as mental illness, while giving hope to humans that change is possible. Through the voice-over techniques the audience is given a first hand look to how this complex character operates. Elling and Kjell Barne are immensely complex yet loving characters and even though this film is not flashy or scandalous it has heart and helps the audience self reflect on how they want to live their lives.

Increase in wealth, individualism and related alienation increases the number of those financially capable of coping without socialisation - provided this situation is maintained. But in the event of change, they are unprepared to continue on their own. In rich countries like Norway, there are special services for those people, and the film in question deals with 2 of them: Elling and Kjell Bjarne, who - after obtaining an apartment in Oslo and "guarded" by a social worker - they must prove they can get out into the real world and lead "normal" lives. Beginning is tough, creating numerous comic and crazy situations, but with the help of other people with the same lonely background, they find things and values in common and all their lives change radically. The film is warmhearted, accentuating basic human values and arguing that every person has his/her place under the sun - as "normality" is a wide and differently perceived concept. The cast is also great, both the protagonists and supporting actors, leading with Per Christian Ellefsen as Elling.The film got an Academy Award nomination, but it is still not widely known. Perhaps the title is uninviting for wider distribution and recognition.