Norwegian Dream

'Norwegian Dream' touches lots of topical issues that could have developed much further and potentially controversial - immigrant workers and exploitation of them, homophobia in Poland, an adopted black son who performs in drag, seemingly open but in fact rather hypocritical attitude of Norwegians in regard of the above issues... It could have been especially a great opportunity to tell the story from the Polish immigrant worker's point of view (as opposed to in British or German pop culture where Polish plumber/painter/farm hand/cleaner/etc are treated as a footnote or a background). When Poland is deemed soon surpass UK and Germany's economic indicators and yet its politics on its regressive path (of rising homophobia and xenophobia, for example), the film could have been a timely comment and a self-reflection... But unfortunately none of it really develops beyond a mere predictable dramatic device, while the drama itself (namely Roberto's emotional struggle and romance) also fails to go truly deep and touching. There's nothing out of place or offensive. Actings are adequate, cinematography, editing, production value all delivers... It's all very watchable... but it lacks a punch, a surprise, a grip.

It's a pity that I would be remembering this film more as what it could have been than what it is.

The movie "The Norwegian Dream" follows Robert, a young Polish immigrant who takes a job at a fish factory in Norway to help pay off his mother's debts. This movie reminds me of the 1981 Brazilian cinematic masterpiece "They Don't Wear Black Tie". Although the characters' situations differ, both movies explore similar themes of acceptance, internal conflict, loyalty, and the choices we make in life.

Director Leiv Igor Devold portrays a harsh, sexist, racist, and hostile environment at a fish processing factory, where immigrants endure long hours of grueling work to support their families back home. It is within this environment that Robert also confronts challenges related to his sexual identity. This is where Hubert Milkowski's performance as Robert truly shines. He builds a Robert, who sees himself literally as the island, trapped by all the conflicts and struggles with no way to escape, forced to make difficult choices - whether good or bad. We witness the transformation of the naive, insecure young Robert into a strong, self-assured man.

Without a doubt, one of the standout films of 2024, deserving of attention for its depth in themes and the powerful performances of its cast.

First off Hubert Milkowski is a first rate actor, and hopefully Poland is proud to have him. In this excellent film he plays a young man Robert who has decided to leave Poland after a traumatic attack of gay bashing. The scene where he relates this to his lover, a young black man is deeply moving. Robert is working and badly paid for it in a fish processing plant. His lover is the owner's son. No spoilers but he goes through many compromises, both in his relationship with his lover and the work force around him. The passionate scenes are well shot, but do not fall into the too easy gay film trope of showing totally explicit sexuality. Erotic they are, intercut with Robert totally dressed in a daydream lying happily in the countryside his body relaxed looking fulfilled. This is in contrast to his tense and closeted self among the factory workers and even at the beginning with his future lover. In my opinion Polish film has come a long way since Polanski's ' Knife in the Water ' and Wajda. It deals with homophobia and racism, and this in itself is brave coming out of a Lodz trained director. It is expertly directed, with perfectly cast actors and it has its ambiguities which is not a negative thing. It is as complex as life itself. A deserved ten.

Norwegian Dream

Once you got through the bleak and miserable setting this movie came together in a fairly decent way.

Some of the basic propositions stretched credulity, these workers have come from Poland to Norway to earn money that they cannot earn in Poland. This means you have to put up with a lot to establish a life and get on, and thus it was so. The whinging and moaning about everything is not consistent with getting on.

It is a bizarre story line that Ivar keeps pushing Robert to come out of the closet and/or acknowledge him in public when surely just to have met someone be having fun together is the main thing. To be revealed in this place and at that time would have been the end of everything.

We had some committed acting however subtitles always make things seem more profound than they are. Robert is 19 I can't see the need for the script to rush his story it didn't add anything.

I'm giving this a 6 outta 10 I was well worth watching.

After the opening scene of the movie, I thought this was going to be a niner (9/10) movie! Very interesting situation, unusual place, maybe the scenery was going to be great, and the love story was going to be very original. A black Norwegian, a fishery in the kings of oil of Europe, a gorgeous young polish gay worker, this was going to make a sparkling mix.

Well, then, first, I felt uncomfortable with the use of English as the main language. In some parts, they speak English between Polish workers. Then there was not much scenery, not much Norwegian cultural stuffs, nor polish. For the journey in the northern kingdom, one will have to watch something else.

Then there's the union story, and the conflict wasn't really developed. I do know that Norway isn't in the EU, it's possible that work regulation might be weird, but that contract story was not depicted well enough to get us involved. I even felt it very fake. Such as workers applauding each other at the union meeting, which is so American. Is Norway and Poland so far from European social behavior ? This is not at all my first Nordic movie, I traveled several times up there, and I'm sure there's something wrong.

A 5 minutes scene with a punk grandma did not unlighted much the very flat plot.

I started to check my watch after 45mn.

There's the love story. If there was something great left in the movie, it should be the love story, so I expected big drama, sensual first encounter, first kiss, forbidden love heat, and great ending and coming out at the face of the polish workers known to be superconservative roman Catholics.... There's a conflict, but they just forgot to play it angry. So, big things expected... that you'll never get. Even a good music or play list choice to support it, is missing.

I didn't see any depth in the characters. Worse, I felt Hubert Milkowski (Robert) uncomfortable acting gay. No chemistry between the two. No tenderness. Even the first kiss is extremely fake, they barely touch lips ! If we had to compare with Clark Gable kissing Vivien Leigh in Lo que el viento se llevó (1939), or Ashton Sanders kissing Jharrel Jerome in Luz de luna (2016), this movie should be rated 1.

It's well known that young boys wait a long time before doing serious things (!?). Well, when they finally (finally!) are going to have sex, they fake a French kiss, and it's very badly simulated. They even keep distance between their chests. And, not much more sensual to see, the love scene is cut by Robert laying down in the grass looking at the sky ! It could be to pass the Polish film censorship, if it's ever screened over there. Even in a Japanese gay themed movie, where censorship is way stricter, there's much more warmth.

There's also a very fake scene when he dives into the sea and plays like it's freezing. But this is summer : at the beginning of the movie, in the car, it's 5pm on his cell phone, and it's daylight, and, it's night at night, so they are not up north on the Arctic, it's the North Sea, and it is not that cold at all.

What's the point of the movie? Foreign workers in Norway? Homophobic Polish? Love separated by two cultures? It's only 88 minutes long. The moviemakers did not make a choice, and neither matter is well-developed.

The end credit says dedicated for those who fight for the right to love, but I didn't see such fight in this story. Parents are finaly somewhat okay, I mean compared to my own experience. The movie skipped truly homophobic stuffs. Not to hurt ? If you're not aware that the Polish government is superconservative about gay rights along with the Polish church, you just don't get what this movie is about.

And where's the end ? Right after watching this film, because of this end, I was ready to rate it 2. It's a french arthouse movie ending. You're aware.