Arild Østin Ommundsen's fifth outing of a feature film is Eventyrland (which translates to Failrytaleland/Adventureland, but is named "It's only make believe" internationally). Ommundsen has here wanted to go right back to basics, doing most (or almost all) of the work himself. He has written, shot, directed, cut and sound edited this. Even casting his actress wife in the main role.
Jenny, played by Silje Salomonsen, tells her boyfriend that she is seven weeks pregnant, just before they are to pick up a bag of weed for reselling. Things goes terribly wrong, and she goes to prison, and have to give her child up for adoption. Trying to get her life back on track after release from prison, isn't easy. Can she succeed in getting her daughter back and her life life she have dreamed about?
The film has obvious marks of this. A good plot, but the film falls short from time to time due to amateurish acting from some. Fresh and unpretentious, yes, but the film would have earned on several more takes on many scenes. Also photographing focus is from time to time getting off. I'm not a fan of that, but I admire the guts.
I enjoyed all four earlier features from Ommundsen's hands, but it's been a slight downward spiral. His first, Mongoland is the best so far. The second, Monsterthursday, is the second best, and Rottenetter the third. Rottenetter got a bit undeserved bashing by both critics and audience voters here on IMDb, but I still found it really refreshing.
So my expectations to this was quite high. But I'm afraid I really don't understand the praise this had got from critics so far. It's even on of the possible Oscar nominee's from Norway this year, which I find really quite surprising. (Competing With Erik Skjoldbjærg's "Pioneer" and Iram Haq's "I am Yours". Having not seen the latter, this is far behind Pioneer in all aspects.
The music score, made by singer song writer Thomas Dybdal is good, though, but still mixed so high that it annoys in a couple of scenes. I'm afraid this once more shows that a good film maker needs a good team. It's not possible to do it all by yourself. It'll show. and it does so much that this feels like a student film.
I hope Ommundsen next time feels like having a team around him again, and that the praises and critical acclaims he gets for this doesn't set him off doing more of this one man show on a tiny budget again. Made for only 3 million Norwegian Crowns ($ 500.000), it's impossible to be great. As it is to win an Oscar. Disappointing. Welcome back on a bigger budget, Ommundsen!
