Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

gretemiller I was so pleasantly surprised by this Norwegian movie. The characters are exceptionally portrayed. I love the different aspects of crazy that they each have to offer. The key turning points for Kjell Bjarne and Elling also happen at unexpected times, which adds a sort of realism to the film. The simple victories these characters win over their anxiety and previously extremely sheltered way of life is so satisfying. You just want them to succeed so badly, so its refreshing to see their growth. This film is about two men who room together in a state institution. Elling is a 40-year-old "mama's boy" who has lived under his mother's roof and has been babied and sheltered by her his whole life. When she dies, Elling is extracted from his home and placed in the institution where he meets Kjell Bjarne. Kjell Bjarne is a 40-year-old virgin who is obsessed with women, sex, and food. Even their first conversation as roommates together in the state institution is about sex. After 2 years, the roommates are released from the institution and sent to live in an apartment to prove that they can live on their own in society. This is where we meet the character Frank Åsli, a social worker and father figure in charge of Elling and Kjell Bjarne. Elling and Kjell Bjarne go through many struggles to learn simple tasks, such as simply answering the phone or doorbell. A big challenge for the two men is leaving the apartment. They gradually progress by experiencing growth in their fundamental life skills. Finally, they arrive at Christmas. They exchange gifts and watch a Christmas program on TV together, but this is also where we meet Reidun. She is a pregnant, single woman who lives above Kjell Bjarne and Elling. From this point on Elling and Kjell Bjarne gain more independence from each other. Reidun is also the inspiration for Elling to write his first poem. This launches Elling on society by compelling him to share his poetry secretly with the city. This is also how Elling meets Alfons Jørgensen, a famous poet, at a poetry reading. From here on Kjell Bjarne and Elling continue to adapt with the help of their new friends. Much detail was drawn to everyday tasks. It makes you realize how many life skills you actually have and that you weren't born just knowing how to answer the phone or mingle with people comfortably. Although these men are in their 40's and learning very fundamental skills of life, everyone had to learn these skills at one point. Elling and Kjell-Bjarne are so defiant and negligent toward responsibility outside of the apartment. People on the outside of their apartment of any kind make them anxious and uncomfortable to the point that they pretend they aren't home.Elling's scene where he explains that he has two enemies, "dizziness and anxiety", was especially interesting. The way that he personifies those dimensions of his character draws specific attention to them. He later shows off his progress when he ventures out of the apartment by expressing, "they (dizziness and anxiety) didn't join me this time." It is very heart-warming to finally see Elling and Kjell-Bjarne take the baby-steps they need to expand their capabilities. From these steps, their confidence grows immensely and their lives really take off. For example, while Kjell-Bjarne is ogling at the waitress at the pub, Elling is in the public bathroom for the first time trying to pee. The moment when the stranger standing next to him snaps his fingers and Elling is successful for the first time at going to the bathroom in public, is such a momentous occasion. Everything from then on spirals into successful growth towards Kjell Bjarne and Elling becoming more and more self-sufficient. That is one turning point for Elling.There are two key times in this movie. One, when Elling and Kjell Bjarne go to the pub. Elling accomplishes going to the bathroom, like previously mentioned, but then immediately after, he calls Frank on the phone and has a simple conversation just telling him what they are doing. Kjell Bjarne and Elling are so pleased about the boundaries that they just stretched that it snowballs from then on. This is when they are truly becoming independent from the institution and their apartment. The second turning point is on Christmas. Elling and Kjell Bjarne are launched into separate interests, creating independence from each other. Kjell Bjarne meets Reidun, who becomes his girlfriend and he spends a lot of time with her. Meanwhile, Elling starts writing poetry, at that same key moment, which launches him into the world of poetry. Through independence from each other and the state institution, these men gain their lives. The look of joy on Kjell Bjarne and Ellings' faces when they accomplish something is like a whole new world opens up to them. It is incredible to watch Elling and Kjell Bjarne succeed with the help of Frank, Reidun, and Alfons. This movie is truly inspiring and warms your heart to see these men succeed.

Sheldon Way "Elling" is a film with the potential to resonate in a variety of audiences, with people from all over the world, from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. It deals with universal issues that are not restricted to Oslo, Norway, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Director Peter Næss does an excellent job of portraying common issues of anxiety, shyness, and confusion in social situations in his characters Elling and Kjell Bjarne. Elling and Kjell Bjarne can teach us a thing or two about the way we think about society and the world today, and maybe even something about ourselves.It's important to note that while both main characters are socially inexperienced, neither of them has a documented disability of any kind. All we know is that they lived extremely sheltered lives, and now that they are adults they must learn to fend for themselves as everybody else does. They're normal people, just like everyone else, they've just been sheltered and are therefore nervous about stepping out into the world outside. Everybody gets nervous in new situations. Most people don't experience it to the same extent as Elling and Kjell Bjarne, but it's something most people can relate to on some level.Society today often looks down on people who are unable to cope with certain social situations or who can't live on their own, unless they have some sort of disability. It seems that we tend to think that they are less deserving than so-called "normal" people. The film does a good job of portraying them as portraying them as "normal" people with a variety of social anxiety issues due to their sheltered lives. We are meant sympathize and relate to the characters as opposed to look down on them. The film seems to be a realistic portrayal of the welfare system in Norway, and might be very different to what an international audience is accustomed to.After living in an institution for a few years, Elling and Kjell Bjarne are given an apartment and a stipend, funded by the Norwegian government, in order to assimilate into the world outside the institution. They're trying to prove that Elling and Kjell Bjarne can live on their own and become fully functioning members of society. Their social worker, Frank Asli, can be rather harsh and demanding, but he succeeds in helping Elling and Kjell Bjarne adapt to the world outside their institution, so one could say that his methods are effective. In Norway's welfare system, everybody is given a chance to live the fullest life possible, and programs are often funded by the state in order to provide equal opportunities.It's important to note that the institution placed Elling and Kjell Bjarne in an apartment together, so that they can help each other with their issues. They each have their own strengths and can help each other with different things. At first, Kjell Bjarne is more comfortable going out in public, so he does the shopping and eventually gets Elling to accompany him to the café for pork and gravy. Elling struggles with going out in public until he finds something that he can do for himself, when he decides to go to a "poetry meeting". He wants to prove to Kjell Bjarne that he can do things on his own too. Elling wants to be the more responsible, sophisticated one. They set examples for each other to follow, and each one wants to be able to do what the other one can, so they essentially end up teaching and learning together about their new world in Oslo."Elling" is a film that almost everyone can relate to. Almost everybody gets nervous in certain situations, whether it's public speaking, flying, going on a ship, or just going to the grocery store. Because Elling and Kjell Bjarne have no documented ability, it's easier for the audience to relate to the characters and to see a little bit of the characters in themselves. It's easy for the audience to laugh along with the characters as they adventure in their new world. It can also provoke thoughts about the way that society deals with people like Elling and Kjell Bjarne, how people view them on the street, and how the government treats them. In the film, they receive support from the government, and reactions to the welfare system in Norway can vary depending on where a viewer is from. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the film, however, is the importance of working together as a team. Elling and Kjell Bjarne are in this situation together, and they eventually are able to overcome their differences to work together and begin to find their place in the world.

natehaustein Petter Næss's Elling tells the coming of age story of Elling and Kjell Bjarne, a pair of middle- aged Norwegian men taking their first steps into the world after spending time as roommates in a state institution. Through their adventures and misadventures, the two learn how to fit into the world around them, encompassing love, friendship and freedom. Unsure about how to approach even the simplest of social situations, the two find support in the everyday people around them, newfound friends, and each other. Per Christian Ellefsen gives a strong performance as the introverted and sheltered man in the title role. Elling struggles to interact within the world around him, and his anxiety towards becoming a part of the greater society can be felt subtly, yet earnestly. It would be easy for an actor to portray this nervous, if not fearful emotional reaction in the more traditional film role of the externally visible schizophrenic, but Ellefsen holds it in for much quieter, genuine depiction of the socially meek character of Elling. As he makes new friends throughout the film, and participates in new activities such as poetry readings and shopping at the local market, the audience can see Elling's social comfort level rise ever so slightly. Many times he is extremely uncomfortable, and Ellefsen's performance illustrates this detail beautifully, especially in showing a progression of the character throughout the film in minuscule incremental steps.Kjell Bjarne, on the other hand, played by Sven Nordin, performs a contrasting role to Ellefsen, as a girl-crazy, gentle giant looking for love. The two work together beautifully, filling in for the parts the other lacks. The relationship between the men is touching to watch unfold, and their dependence on one another is overtaken only by the encouragement each provides. Always the practical one, Elling keeps Kjell Bjarne on track on such important things as wearing fresh underwear and acting with decency in public, while Kjell Bjarne opens the social doors to the world outside, most notably with their pregnant neighbor, Reidun. Many times the situations acted out by Kjell Bjarne are hilarious thanks to his obliviousness to social expectations, such as when he attempts to ask Reidun out on a date, though his heart is in the right place, and the audience can't help but root for his successes.Elling also gives a look into the perceived condition and effectiveness of the Norwegian State institution–it's a positive one. The film explicitly accepts the men as valid members of society who need just a small push to get them involved. As the two men begin to participate to a greater extent within their environment, many supporters appear, and of particular note, a man Elling meets at a poetry reading named Alfons Jørgensen. A man of some loneliness himself, the intellectual Alfons plays a part in encouraging Elling to take risks and live life fully–even if that entails Elling secretly planting his poetry in boxes of sauerkraut at the local market. Alfons in fact gains as much from the company of Elling and Kjell Bjarne as they do from him. In time, the once very private gentleman learns again what friendship means, and the impact he has in the lives of those around him. In addition to the instances with Alfons, interactions with their social worker, Frank Åsli (Jørgen Langhelle) yield revelations of the possibilities open to Elling and Kjell Bjarne, and his positive reinforcement gives the audience yet another reason to love the two men growing into their respective roles in society. Elling is heartfelt, yet humorous and entertaining at the same time. In many scenes, one could easily laugh or cry at the situations being acted out by Elling and Kjell Bjarne in their attempt to discover how to live life on their own. Petter Næss does a remarkable job in making a film with subtlety that also gives a strong emotional connection with its characters. Elling's look into the daily activities of Norway is anything but monotonous, and the interactions taking place can be seen for the very influential effects they have on real people. The journey we take with Elling and Kjell Bjarne is a coming of age tale for the two men, and a confirmation for the rest of us in considering the significance of even the seemingly simplest individuals.

krouses "Ring….. Ring….. Ring….. Elling pick up the phone!" Everyday tasks, some as simple as answering a phone, we tend to take for granted. For Elling, played by Per Christian Ellefsen, and his roommate Kjell Bjarne, played by Sven Nordin, they do not have this luxury. In the beginning of the Norwegian comedy film Elling, directed by Petter Naess, Elling and Kjell Bjarne meet while living in a Norwegian assisted living home. Elling and Kjell Bjarne are eventually given the opportunity to move into their own apartment in the heart of downtown Oslo. Upon their release, the audience is introduced to Frank Asli (Jorgen Langhelle), who plays the role of Elling and Kjell Bjarne's social worker. It is Frank's job to slowly ease the two friends back into society. Some of the lessons learned throughout the film include how to properly use a phone, where to find a grocery store, how to go out to a restaurant, and how to interact and have relationships with other people. Naess does an excellent job of keeping the audience entertained and attached to the main characters, Elling and Kjell Bjarne, throughout the film.There are four main themes in Naess' Elling, which relate directly to Norwegian culture. The first major theme the audience encounters, is dealing with mental illness. In directing this film, Naess purposely did not give the audience any sort of diagnosis on the mental state of either Elling or Kjell Bjarne. This was most likely done so the audience would be less able to relate to the characters' illness. It seemed as though Naess would rather have his audience focus on the other themes in the film rather than psychiatry. In Norway, cases of depression are extremely high and effects of this are displayed in Elling and Kjell Bjarne as well. For instance in one of the opening scenes of the film, Elling and Kjell Bjarne are laying in bed and Kjell Bjarne reveals how frustrated he is that in all his life, he has never had sex with a woman. The audience can see Kjell Bjarne has developed a sense of loneliness and tell there is missing something in his life. Elling seems to have more of an anxiety problem. When they first moved into the apartment, Elling is asked to go shopping for food and ends up having an anxiety attack. Naess does an excellent job with the sound to enhance the anxiety scenes. For instance, when Elling is walking to the store, the background noise (cars, music, etc.) is elevated dramatically. I found this to be a very effective way to help enhance the situation.Another major theme touched upon by Naess concerns the Norwegian welfare system. In Norway, the tax burden of gross domestic products (GDP) is 45%. Due to this, all Norwegian citizens and residents have their health care insurance coverage paid for. This theme reoccurs over and over again in the film as Elling and Kjell Bjarne continuously go out and spend what they call the "state's" money on food, supplies and even phone sex calls. Frank is portrayed in the film as a tough love social worker. It is his job to check up on the two men every so often and to make sure they have enough money from the "state". Closely related to the welfare system, another main theme of the film is the Norwegian political system and more specifically the Norwegian Labor Party. Several times throughout the film, the audience sees pictures of Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway's first female prime minister) hanging up in the background. Usually these pictures are accompanied by a red rose, which is the symbol of the Norwegian Labor Party. Although Elling never actually says it directly in the film, it is implied he views Brundtland as a motherly figure. Brundtland helped with creating a better welfare state in Norway when she was leader of the Norwegian Labor Party and because of this, Elling is able to enjoy all of his' benefits without having to work. The last prevalent theme I wish to discuss is the substance use and abuse seen throughout the movie Elling. As I mentioned before, there are very high taxes in Norway and taxes for alcohol and tobacco tend to be on the upper end of the scale. It is very expensive to buy alcohol and tobacco and because of this, Norwegians are forced to get creative if they want to save their money. At one point in the film, we see Frank Asli rolling up his own tobacco to smoke so that he can avoid having to buy cigarettes. In terms of Alcohol, Norway puts a higher price on driving under the influence. As a penalty for a DUI in Norway, the driver is forced to pay a fine based on their income. Tickets can get pretty expensive for those with well paying jobs. There are also more DUI checkpoints in Norway as well and this is evident in the film when their new friend, Alfons Jorgensen (Per Christiansen), gets randomly stopped on the way to his cabin. Even though Alfons had not been drinking, he was still stopped by the police just to be safe. One aspect of this theme I found unnecessary is when the audience is introduced to Reidun(Marit Pia Jacobsen), we find her drunk and falling down the stairs. Reidun is a pregnant lady who lives in the same apartment building as Elling and Kjell Bjarne. She is a smoker and a drinker even though she is pregnant. I don't think it is a good portrayal of Norwegian society and could have been left out in an otherwise excellent film. Overall I think Elling is a light hearted and excellent Nordic comedy. The acting is superb and the themes, for the most part, are a wonderful portrayal of Norwegian society. Naess does a wonderful job and I would recommend the movie Elling to anyone looking for a relatively clean Norwegian film.