Console best movie i've ever seen.

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

gogoschka-1 A comedy masterpiece. Sometimes tragic but more often outrageously funny, this wonderful tale of two mentally challenged outcasts caught me fully unprepared.There wasn't a single face without a wide grin in the audience after this film. An amazing script, fantastic actors: this was the feel-good movie of 2001. 9 stars out of 10.In case you're interested in more underrated masterpieces, here's some of my favorites: imdb.com/list/ls070242495

heistad-933-254808 Elling, a comedy directed by Peter Næss, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two middle-aged outcasts in Norway: Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin)—a sex-crazed virgin with a heart as big as his massive frame—and Elling (Per Christian Ellefsen)—an agoraphobic amateur poet who is learning to cope with the death of his mother (his sole companion for the past forty years). The two men meet in a fashion as unconventional as their personalities: in the bedroom of a state institution. As their relationship develops and they are released from the institution, they are set up in an apartment under the supervision of the surprisingly blunt social worker, Frank Åsli (Jørgen Langhelle). Here, the two men learn everything from grocery shopping, to conquering the colossal task of answering the phone. When Kjell Bjarne strikes up a romance with their lonely neighbor, however, Elling faces his greatest trial yet: complete independence for one night. The results of this test, and the many unexpected challenges of life that these friends face, make for an hour and a half of absolute delight. As we follow their extraordinary story, these bizarre heroes are able to make the seemingly mundane both fascinating and heartwarming. The chemistry between Ellefsen and Langhelle is tremendously funny and unwittingly charming, persuading us to root for the underdog with absolute ease. Both originally stage actors, it is clear that these men have mastered their craft. Their believable portrayal of such unbelievably kooky characters, make Elling more than just another feel-good film; it shows us how to connect with those who are disconnected. Ellefsen, whose character's stuffy upbringing comes out in pompous commands to his oafish friend, manages to win us over us with his puppy-like helplessness juxtaposed with an excessive pride for accomplishing what we would consider to be everyday tasks. Nordin, on the other hand, instantly warms every heart in the audience with his selfless spirit, using his brute strength, rather ironically, to help anyone in need.The true success of Elling, is that it wasn't originally intended to be a film. Ingvar Ambjørsen first brought the story of Elling and Kjell Bjarne to Norway with his novel, Bjødre I blodet (Brothers in Blood) from which director, Petter Næss adapted the play, Elling. From here the story evolved into the feature film, which surpassed its previous record of success. The usual traps of stage-to-film adaptations of awkward dialogue and unnatural movement (treating the set as a stage) are a non-issue for Naæss. The dialogue is clever but convincing and the actors move about the space as if it really is their home. Even the minor characters' reactions to Elling and Kjell Bjarne add to their believability, as they echo what we are feeling in the audience. Jørgen Langhelle's Frank Åsli as the social worker embodies our astonishment and slight frustration with Elling and Kjell Bjarne's ineptitude, while the retired poet, played by Per Christensen, expresses our sympathy for them. It is not, in other words, an intensely dramatic play shoved into the confines of a movie screen.Using the technique of voice over, Næss was able to capture the intimacy of the original novel. He uses first-narration so that Elling's life is not some freakish spectacle for strangers to gawk at, but rather, a story he wants to tell the world. Avoiding dramatic close-ups, the film never feels invasive. The camera movements, sound production, and lighting are all discreet so that the focus is never shifted from the story. Elling conveys what is often lost in big screen production: the beauty in the subtleties of life. As Kjell Bjarne realizes the exhilaration of love, our hearts beat flutters with anxiety too. Elling learns to trust himself and the world around him, and we wish he were in the theater sitting next to us. Elling is a story about the adventures of a sex-crazes virgin and an agoraphobic poet it's true. But they are more than just outcasts—they are artists, as their discoveries allow us to rediscover the wonders of living right along with them.

MartinHafer Elling is a very odd man. He lived the first 40 years of his life with his mother--never leaving his home. When she died, he was discovered living in this hovel and was places in a psychiatric institution. Now, over two years later, the hospital is discharging him and he's to share an apartment with his friend Kjell. The problem is Elling IS mentally disturbed--with a lot of assorted symptoms of various anxiety disorders--plus he's just plain weird. As for Kjell, he, too, comes from the hospital and both are VERY awkward when it comes to fitting in to the community. What will happen with these two strange men? Will they make it or will they need to return to the hospital? I noticed that IMDb listed this film as a comedy. I really don't think it is a funny film, nor does it try to be--but it IS quirky. Instead, I see the film as a nice slice of life. It does NOT make fun of the characters but has a nice affection for them. Overall, an engaging and sweet little Norwegian film.

Sheldon Way "Elling" is a film with the potential to resonate in a variety of audiences, with people from all over the world, from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. It deals with universal issues that are not restricted to Oslo, Norway, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Director Peter Næss does an excellent job of portraying common issues of anxiety, shyness, and confusion in social situations in his characters Elling and Kjell Bjarne. Elling and Kjell Bjarne can teach us a thing or two about the way we think about society and the world today, and maybe even something about ourselves.It's important to note that while both main characters are socially inexperienced, neither of them has a documented disability of any kind. All we know is that they lived extremely sheltered lives, and now that they are adults they must learn to fend for themselves as everybody else does. They're normal people, just like everyone else, they've just been sheltered and are therefore nervous about stepping out into the world outside. Everybody gets nervous in new situations. Most people don't experience it to the same extent as Elling and Kjell Bjarne, but it's something most people can relate to on some level.Society today often looks down on people who are unable to cope with certain social situations or who can't live on their own, unless they have some sort of disability. It seems that we tend to think that they are less deserving than so-called "normal" people. The film does a good job of portraying them as portraying them as "normal" people with a variety of social anxiety issues due to their sheltered lives. We are meant sympathize and relate to the characters as opposed to look down on them. The film seems to be a realistic portrayal of the welfare system in Norway, and might be very different to what an international audience is accustomed to.After living in an institution for a few years, Elling and Kjell Bjarne are given an apartment and a stipend, funded by the Norwegian government, in order to assimilate into the world outside the institution. They're trying to prove that Elling and Kjell Bjarne can live on their own and become fully functioning members of society. Their social worker, Frank Asli, can be rather harsh and demanding, but he succeeds in helping Elling and Kjell Bjarne adapt to the world outside their institution, so one could say that his methods are effective. In Norway's welfare system, everybody is given a chance to live the fullest life possible, and programs are often funded by the state in order to provide equal opportunities.It's important to note that the institution placed Elling and Kjell Bjarne in an apartment together, so that they can help each other with their issues. They each have their own strengths and can help each other with different things. At first, Kjell Bjarne is more comfortable going out in public, so he does the shopping and eventually gets Elling to accompany him to the café for pork and gravy. Elling struggles with going out in public until he finds something that he can do for himself, when he decides to go to a "poetry meeting". He wants to prove to Kjell Bjarne that he can do things on his own too. Elling wants to be the more responsible, sophisticated one. They set examples for each other to follow, and each one wants to be able to do what the other one can, so they essentially end up teaching and learning together about their new world in Oslo."Elling" is a film that almost everyone can relate to. Almost everybody gets nervous in certain situations, whether it's public speaking, flying, going on a ship, or just going to the grocery store. Because Elling and Kjell Bjarne have no documented ability, it's easier for the audience to relate to the characters and to see a little bit of the characters in themselves. It's easy for the audience to laugh along with the characters as they adventure in their new world. It can also provoke thoughts about the way that society deals with people like Elling and Kjell Bjarne, how people view them on the street, and how the government treats them. In the film, they receive support from the government, and reactions to the welfare system in Norway can vary depending on where a viewer is from. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the film, however, is the importance of working together as a team. Elling and Kjell Bjarne are in this situation together, and they eventually are able to overcome their differences to work together and begin to find their place in the world.