Havnaa

This is a superb piece of cinematic entertainment based on the true story of the brothers Erling and Magne Havnaa, who became household names for their careers in boxing, kickboxing... and bank robbing. Bård Breien (Kunsten å tenke negativt) directs with a remarkable drive; the film bumbles along and takes you confidently through the highs and lows of these two remarkable lives without ever resorting to adulation or sentimentalism. Expert cinematography (Askild Edvardsen) and set decoration (Oto Häusler) recreate the late 1980s/early 1990s with vivid remembrance, and Breien finds a balance between sprightly comedy and mindful drama that even Milos Forman would have been proud of. Still, the film's greatest asset is its two stars: Tobias Santelmann as Erling and Odin Waage as Magne. The incomparable Santelmann brings a wonderful gusto to his part and is about to establish himself as one of Norway's greatest actors of his generation. And the up-and-coming Waage demonstrates an understated depth as Magne.