This is simply a charming and funny story that doesn't have what I would call laugh out loud moments but thats the best thing about this offbeat film. Story is about two 40 year old men that have had virtually no contact with the outside world. Elling (Per Christian Ellefsen) has lived with his mother until her death and then the police find him huddled in a cabinet not knowing what is happening. He is sent to an institution and his roommate is Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin) and together they form a friendship. After two years they are both given the opportunity to live on their own so they are sent to live in an apartment complex in Oslo. They meet Frank (Jorgen Langhelle) who is to make sure they are alright and evaluate their progress. Frank has a difficult time at first getting them to go outside and intermingle with the outside world but he finally shows them that they have to go and shop for food if they want to remain in their apartment. One day they meet Reidun (Marit Pia Jacobsen) who is their upstairs neighbor and pregnant. She is drunk and passed out on the stairs and they bring her back to her apartment where Kjell stays with her. Kjell and Reidun start to date and this upsets Elling who feels jealous and forgotten so he starts to write poetry.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
One night Elling goes to a poetry reading and meets an elderly gentleman named Alfons Jorgensen (Per Christensen) and form a friendship. Alfons turns out to be a poet that has had many books published and he also owns a 1958 Buick which Kjell gets running and the four of them decide to go spend some time at Alfons cabin. While there Reidun goes into labor and together they await the news of her delivery.
This film was directed by Petter Naess who does a very good job of keeping the humor on a subtle level. It is funny to watch them get frustrated at certain things that are expected of them but for the most part this film keeps a steady pace with its comedic scenes. The characters Elling and Kjell bare a striking resemblance to "The Odd Couple" with one being fussy while the other talks of not changing his underwear or not bathing for days. Ellefsen dominates the film with his character and he comes across as a cross between Felix Unger and Rowan Atkinson's character "Bean". One of the things that I did notice about these two is that I didn't come away thinking that they were retarded or slow, just two people that seemingly are having a late start in life and are just now experiencing things for the first time. That's the charm about this film and the simplicity gives it its pulse. Film is about how these two adjust and start fitting into society instead of hiding from it and guessing what its about.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
One night Elling goes to a poetry reading and meets an elderly gentleman named Alfons Jorgensen (Per Christensen) and form a friendship. Alfons turns out to be a poet that has had many books published and he also owns a 1958 Buick which Kjell gets running and the four of them decide to go spend some time at Alfons cabin. While there Reidun goes into labor and together they await the news of her delivery.
This film was directed by Petter Naess who does a very good job of keeping the humor on a subtle level. It is funny to watch them get frustrated at certain things that are expected of them but for the most part this film keeps a steady pace with its comedic scenes. The characters Elling and Kjell bare a striking resemblance to "The Odd Couple" with one being fussy while the other talks of not changing his underwear or not bathing for days. Ellefsen dominates the film with his character and he comes across as a cross between Felix Unger and Rowan Atkinson's character "Bean". One of the things that I did notice about these two is that I didn't come away thinking that they were retarded or slow, just two people that seemingly are having a late start in life and are just now experiencing things for the first time. That's the charm about this film and the simplicity gives it its pulse. Film is about how these two adjust and start fitting into society instead of hiding from it and guessing what its about.