Elling, a middle aged man is rescued from a cupboard, where he has hidden himself, after his mother died. It's clear he has mental problems. He is brought to an institution that will try to help him with his problem. It's in this hospital where he becomes a roommate of Kjell Bjarne, a big man whose hygiene leaves a lot to be desired because he tends to forget when to bathe and when to change his underwear.
As a way of rehabilitating these pair, they are sent to Oslo after two years in the the mental institution. It's a gamble the people in charge of them take, but fortunately, the arrangement pays off for both men. As they are settling down, in the neat and sparse apartment, Elling doesn't want to go out. When Frank, the man who supervises these two men, urges Elling to go out, he is at a disadvantage. Not having to deal with the real world, presents a big problem to Elling.
Eventually, Elling and Kjell find their way to a nice restaurant where they are served a dish they have come for, but that wasn't in the menu. Kjell's sexual desires begin stirring inside him and come to a collision when he, and Elling happen to come home and find the upstairs neighbor, Reidun, who has passed out drunk on the stairs.
At this same time, Elling realizes he is a poet, or at least he believes he is. His self confidence begins to build up when he goes to poetry readings around town and meets the poet Alfons, who sees in Elling a man with possibilities. Kjell also finds he is a talented mechanic that can fix cars. Eventually, the experiment with the two men seems to be paying off.
Petter Naess, the Norwegian director, does wonders with this feel good comedy about two men that have been institutionalized because of mental problems working themselves into good citizens. It says a lot about the way Norway deals with problems affecting its citizens. Sometimes, confinement for too long doesn't help the inmates whose problems could be treated in a different way. The film presents a positive approach as how to help people in that situation.
The actors in the film give excellent portrayals. Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin make us believe they are Elling and Kjell without much effort. The others in the cast add to the success of the picture.
As a way of rehabilitating these pair, they are sent to Oslo after two years in the the mental institution. It's a gamble the people in charge of them take, but fortunately, the arrangement pays off for both men. As they are settling down, in the neat and sparse apartment, Elling doesn't want to go out. When Frank, the man who supervises these two men, urges Elling to go out, he is at a disadvantage. Not having to deal with the real world, presents a big problem to Elling.
Eventually, Elling and Kjell find their way to a nice restaurant where they are served a dish they have come for, but that wasn't in the menu. Kjell's sexual desires begin stirring inside him and come to a collision when he, and Elling happen to come home and find the upstairs neighbor, Reidun, who has passed out drunk on the stairs.
At this same time, Elling realizes he is a poet, or at least he believes he is. His self confidence begins to build up when he goes to poetry readings around town and meets the poet Alfons, who sees in Elling a man with possibilities. Kjell also finds he is a talented mechanic that can fix cars. Eventually, the experiment with the two men seems to be paying off.
Petter Naess, the Norwegian director, does wonders with this feel good comedy about two men that have been institutionalized because of mental problems working themselves into good citizens. It says a lot about the way Norway deals with problems affecting its citizens. Sometimes, confinement for too long doesn't help the inmates whose problems could be treated in a different way. The film presents a positive approach as how to help people in that situation.
The actors in the film give excellent portrayals. Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin make us believe they are Elling and Kjell without much effort. The others in the cast add to the success of the picture.