O'HORTEN

Year: 2007
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Artificial Eye
Cast: Bård Owe, Espen Skjønberg, Ghita Nørby, Henny Moan, Bjørn Floberg, Kai Remlow, Per Jansen, Bjarte Hjelmeland
Director: Bernt Hamer
Countries: Norway / Germany / France
Language: Norwegian (English subtitles)
USA: 90 mins
UK: 91 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for brief nudity
UK Certificate: 12A contains brief sexualised nudity
USA Release Date: 15 May 2009 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 8 May 2009 (Limited Release)

UK Distributor

Synopsis

Odd Horten has driven the same train route every day for so long that the rest of his life has become a routine of comfortable rituals. But the time has come for the 67 year-old engineer to retire after forty years of dutiful service. His orderly, solitary existence is about to give way to a future of perplexing questions. How could Horten get himself in such an awkward situation when he should be celebrating his retirement?

Will Horten ever travel by plane? Will he finally sell his prized boat? How does Horten end up in a pair of women's red high-heeled shoes? Will he survive a night time drive with a blindfolded man at the wheel? The only thing for certain is that Horten is first in line for some absurd adventures and quirky encounters. And maybe even a new dog and an old love!

Winner - Film Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival 2008 and European Film Academy Prix D'Excellence, European Film Awards 2008. O'HORTEN is writer-director Bent Hamer's fifth feature film. Bent was born in Sandefjord, Norway, in 1956 and follows previous films - FACTOTUM (2005), KITCHEN STORIES (2003) and EGGS (1995) all of which made their international premiere at the Director's Fortnight in Cannes. KITCHEN STORIES and EGGS were both awarded the International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI) and KITCHEN STORIES received the Europa Cinemas Prize. KITCHEN STORIES was a 2003 Audience Award nominee at the European Film Awards and the Norwegian entry to the Academy Awards.