Sons of Norway

I recently saw this at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival where director Jens Lien was on hand at my screening for a Q&A following the film. The film is set in 1978 where Magnus (Sven Nordin) and Lone (Sonja Richter) are a new age couple raising two boys. Magnus is an architect by trade and is in a transition stage between being a hippy and a new age trend setter. His loving wife Lone puts up with his eccentricities and is the glue that keeps the family stable. A family tragedy propels the oldest son Nikolaij (Åsmund Høeg) into being a follower of the punk rock scene where he joins a band and rebels on the establishment of his hometown. Magnus goes through the family crisis on a different course following a nervous breakdown. This is a smart and funny comedy with a heavy sprinkling of drama to keep it on track. Norway has become known in recent years for the quirky comedy/drama films coming from there and this is a good example. Great directing by Lien from an excellent story by Nikolaij Frobenius. Fine acting performances from a great cast and nicely photographed by cinematographer Morte Søberg. Masterfully edited by Vidar Flatauken with a great score and sound this is a worthwhile coming of age film. Look for former Sex Pistols front man John Lydon as his alter ego Johnny Rotten in a cameo and a soundtrack featuring six original Sex Pistol classics. I would recommend this imaginative film and give it a 9.0 out of 10.

John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon cameos and Executive-Produces this social/political fantastic coming-of-age film. Nikolaj adores his eccentric hippie parents, especially his extremely unconventional father. Christmas is celebrated around a tree strung with bananas (summing up the father's feelings regarding the religious reasons for the holiday), and the holiday's good-humored Christmas dinner table blessing includes quotes from Nietzsche challenging beliefs in Christ and/or Christianity. But when Nikolaj's mother dies in a tragic accident, Nikolaj's anger helps to guide him toward punk, The Sex Pistols and a need to rebel against the hypocrisy and bleak future that he now sees his school, society - and yes, even his dad - leading him to. The problem is, rebelliousness has always been encouraged, not disciplined, in Nikolaj's home. Plus, Nikolai's dad was also badly damaged, and is now feeling a similar need to lash out. How do you stand up against your father when he begins following you down YOUR path and listening to YOUR music? Plus, he goes so far in supporting your rebelliousness that he actually comes to your school - rather brilliantly - to defend you when you are threatened with discipline after throwing a bottle at your school principal, hitting him in the head, during a bullshit public speech. Effectively, your dad is growing up just as much as you are. But still, there remains much to lash out against. For one, Nikolaj's father drags him along as he retreats to a hippie nudist colony, a personal journey for dad that turns out to be about little more than a need to shagg some woman from behind in the bushes. Then there's his dad's overly familiar playfulness with one of Nikolaj's teen-aged female friends. The last straw is broken, however, when Nikolaj's band gets their 1st public gig and - needing a drummer after their regular one has a bad reaction to some drugs - Nikolaj's father is called upon by the band to sit in with them. SONS OF NORWAY is a delightful and very thoughtful film that provides seems honest, while avoiding easy answers.

Sons of Norway is the charming story about young Nicolaj growing up in a suburb of Oslo in the late seventies, when punk rock is the hottest thing. Nicolaj is loved, but later on he is not noticed the way he usually was. What's even worse is, that when he does his best to get a negative reaction, he gets support he really doesn't need.

It's not easy, being Nicolaj. He's fascinated by Sex Pistols and gets Johnny Rotten as his guiding star - to hate everything. All with support. Is it possible to make an uproar when all you get is support?

Jens Lien (Director of The bothersome man and Johnny Wang) has made another interesting story of maladjusted men in Norway. This time he goes back to the late seventies to describe a period in the life of Nicolaj, based upon the biographically inspired novel "Teori & Praksis" by Nicolaj Frobenius.

It's done well. Lien knows how to interest the viewer. the casting is great, and the actors are all doing a great job. There's lots of laughs, especially around the mad and free spirited father. Sven Nordin is perfect in his role. as is Åsmund Høeg as Nicolaj. The time capsulizing of the late seventies is great, until Johnny Rotten himself turns up in a dream, playing himself in a cameo - obviously 30 years older than he is at the time. Fun to have him there - but maybe CGI would have helped a little here?

The film is very enjoyable, but still I really feel the film ends up in no conclusion. Great plot, but where does that leave us?

Well, maybe this is the way a life goes, but still - we'd wish for more to get a perfect film. Still, there's lots to enjoy here. Maybe even scenes you'll remember for a long time. Gosh - I'd really wish this film could have made it all the way. If you enjoy a fun story, and love punk, you'll get much out of this. But it's not all feel-good. There's too much seriousness lying behind too make this innocent fun.

I have a fondness for films that appear older than they are. Now, you might think I simply like old movies, but that's not quite it. I specifically enjoy films that possess a certain aged quality, a patina of time. This movie is a prime example.

Despite being released in 2011, it feels significantly older. If it weren't for the presence of John Lydon, I would have sworn I was watching something from the 80s or 90s.

Sex Pistols and society... A coming-of-age story interwoven with social commentary. Director Jens Lien and the screenwriter have truly crafted a remarkable collaboration.

The result is a film that anyone who has ever crossed paths with punk rock simply must see.