Elling (2001)

	Directed by: Petter Næss	COUNTRY Norway GENRE Comedy/Drama INTERNATIONAL TITLE Elling RUNNING TIME 89 minutes
	Produced by: Dag Alveberg
	Written by (based on the novel Brødre i blodet by Ingvar Ambjørnsen): Alex Hellstenius

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Elling	Per Christian Ellefsen
Kjell Bjarne	Sven Nordin
Reidun Nordsletten	Marit Pia Jacobsen	½
Frank Åsli	Jørgen Langhelle	½
Alfons Jørgensen	Per Christensen	½
Gunn	Hilde Olausson
Hauger	Ola Otnes
Johanne	Eli Anne Linnestad
Cecilie Kornes	Cecilie A. Mosli

Review

Peter Næss' adaptation of Ingvar Ambjørnsen's beloved novel about the dysfunctional lives of Elling and Kjell Bjarne is one of only three Norwegian films – alongside Ofelas (1987) and Søndagsengler (1996) – to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category of non-English language films. Elling may not have the edge and power to make this psychological and sociological study as mind-expanding as it probably should have been, but Næss' knack for making unconventional characters (which are actually rather conventional in the Norwegian film tradition of portraying outlandish, edge-of-society characters) entertaining and likeable will do the trick for most viewers.

The performances are likeways: likeable and charming, if not terribly deep. Nevertheless, Per Christian Ellefsen as Elling and Sven Nordin as Kjell Bjarne find an effective, reciprocal tone between them. All the while, Ambjørnsen's interesting ambiguity towards the success of the Scandinavian welfare system when it comes to mental illness is the film's thematic backdrop – he criticizes the institutional and secluding tradition Elling and Kjell Bjarne are rooted in, yet still has faith that the dutiful public sector (impersonated by Jørgen Langhelle's character) will be able to make things right.