ELLING

Year: 2001
USA: First Look Pictures
UK: Arts Alliance Ltd
Cast: Per Christian Ellefsen, Sven Nordin, Per Christensen, Jørgen Langhelle, Marit Pia Jacobsen, Hilde Olausson, Ola Otnes, Eli-Anne Linnestad, Cecilie Mosli, Joachim Rafaelsen, Per Gørvel, Knud Dahl, Knut Haugmark
Director: Petter Næss
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian (English subtitles)
USA: 89 mins
UK: 88 mins
USA Rated: R for language and some sexual content
UK Certificate: 15 contains some strong language and sex references
USA Release Date: 29 May 2002 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 14 March 2003

Synopsis

After a two-year stint at Brøynes Treatment Center, Elling (Per Christian Ellefsen) and his somewhat denser roommate, Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin), return to the so-called real world. The mismatched pair are discharged from the psychiatric hospital and given an apartment in Oslo in an attempt to get them to behave like responsible citizens.

For someone who finds crossing a restaurant floor comparable to a South Pole expedition, and for whom going round the corner for groceries holds untold terrors, Elling's new life involves a number of challenges that need surmounting.

With impressive willpower, Elling and Kjell Bjarne's confidence grows and they find unusual ways to cope with society. The pair dodder down some unfamiliar roads, striking up the most peculiar friendships in the most unlikely places. And when Kjell Bjarne meets a woman, and Norwegian contemporary poetry makes Elling vomit, situations occur where life's frightened boys are forced to give it all they've got - and then some.

ELLING is a humorous and warm story about venturing into life. Funny without being insensitive and moving without being sentimental, the film is a celebration of an enduring, oddball friendship.

The film is based on Ingvar Ambjørnsen's bestseller 'Brødre i blodet (Blood Brothers)'.