"Now It's Dark", written and directed by Arild Østin Ommundsen, is as aesthetically pleasing as it is intellectually stimulating. The film, shot in Stavanger, Norway, spoils the eye with gorgeous cinematography and haunting scenery. The symbolic heritage of the likes of Lars von Trier and David Lynch is clear in this film, and far from merely becoming tropes for a mediocre genre, the symbolic elements constitute an invigorating thought exercise that keeps the viewer joyfully pondering the many enigmas of the film long after the viewing.
We follow our protagonist Lene, played by Silje Salomonsen, as an emotional and, perhaps traumatic, disruption takes place early in the film. At this stage, very little is known and the viewer will no doubt have some definite assumptions about what is going on - regardless, the event puts the protagonist to wander the streets of the city at night. Here she will have many encounters with a wide assortment of characters and personalities, each reflecting something of her within them to a greater or lesser extent. This moving from "station to station" is reminiscent of the old epic The Odyssey, where Odysseus, on his way back to Ithica, must traverse many challenges and adventures. Perhaps a better connection can be made with the much more recent Ulysseus, written by James Joyce, where we follow three characters through various events, all happening in the duration of a single day. Now It's Dark, however, takes place over a single night - and night being of course the symbol of reversal: where all monstrosities, unconscious nightmares and dark desires are let lose. In short, Now It's Dark is Lene's descent into the hell of her own making - the journey into Hades all heroes or heroines must undergo - and which we, as viewers, go with her as if we were her.
I saw this film twice in the theaters and I can't wait until the Bluray release (when I can pause at will after every scene to analyse it with my friends). I have omitted saying anything about the plot, and instead focused on the kind of structure and narrative elements this film plays with. If you enjoy beautifully shot, thought-provoking dramas concerning the fragility, and comedy, of the human psyche - this film is for you.
As a final note, I may mention the sheer richness of the many themes explored in this film. There is, as I have been describing it, definite serious themes like fear, jealousy, love, estrangement, and so on, being played out to great effect in the film. But these are organically broken up with moments of comedy, humor and a genuine spirit of cheerfulness. It is precisely because these comedic elements are so well woven into the fabric of the serious matter, each animating the other, that this film really stands out as a masterpiece.
