By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Rune Denstad Langlo
Starring: Celine Engebrigtsen | Kyrre Hellum | Mads Sjøgård Pettersen | Marte Aunemo | nders Baasmo Christiansen
Original language title: Nord
Country: norway
Year: 2009
Running time: 78
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1252610/
Bruce says: “Norwegian film, if it accomplishes nothing else, documents the droll sense of humour in the land of the midnight sun. NORTH is the story of a thirty year old man who is trying to find himself by meeting the four year old child he recently discovered he sired. Initially it is hard to grasp what Jomar (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) is doing other than demonstrating unacceptable behavior, most of which is related to his vast alcohol consumption. The film begins with a ski lift that has stopped. People are yelling at a man holding a plug. ‘Put the plug in the socket,’ one person says to Jomar who stands at the top of the ski lift platform in a daze.
“The cabin next to the ski lift is where Jomar has been living for a while. He opens the door after a knock and immediately punches the man on the stoop. After fighting Jomar discovers he has a son. Next thing the cabin is ablaze and Jomar is on the road. He starts out his journey on a snowmobile, switching to skis when the vehicle gives out. En route to ‘the North’ Jomar meets all sorts of characters each of whom is more lonely and disoriented than he.
“A young girl takes Jomar in much to the chagrin of her grandmother with whom she lives. Even the girl questions the wisdom of Jomar mixing alcohol and pills. When Jomar stumbles upon an abandoned cabin he uses some of the wall paneling as firewood for the rustic stove. Jomar flees in the middle of the night as the cabin goes up in flames. Is Jomar a pyro? Next a homophobic young man agrees to help Jomar only if he promises he isn’t gay. In one of the more hilarious scenes in the film they try to get drunk by shaving their heads, soaking bandages with alcohol, and taping the bandage to the bald spots. They look ridiculous, a bit Martian in fact. Judging by the body language of the young man, he likely is hoping that Jomar is gay and will take advantage of the situation. But man-to-man sex is the last thing on Jomar’s mind. He later meets an old man living in a tent on a lake. The old man has a chain tied on his ankle and at the other end, tied to a snowmobile outside. When Jomar asks about the chain the man refuses to answer the question. Shortly Jomar discovers the riddle. Finally, Jomar reaches his destination.
“Jomar claims he has been sick, implying an emotional disorder rather than physical illness. His antics support that statement although the director claims he is just tired and pathetic. That ambiguity creates a problem for the viewer to know how much empathy and/or sympathy to dish out. 3.5 cats
“(NORTH screened at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival)”