Watch Elling For Free

Too much of everything

Excellent but underrated film

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

I appreciate that this Norwegian movie gets recognition abroad from Norway too. Its just a shame that its not better known as it easily could be a hit in most countries. Another shame is that the subtleties regarding the intricate differences between the main characters will not be fetched by someone who do not understand Norwegian. Elling has a very correct and refined language/accent, while Kjell Bjarne is very blunt and speaks working class Language. Even though I believe this movie could be appreciated all over the world because of the beautiful story and top notch acting.I have seen this movie many times, and still every time I see it I am amazed that it brings out all the different emotion in me. From laughing out loud to crying. Yes you have to be very cold hearted not to be moved by this film.The few criticism I have seen about the movie is about realism (welfare) and the drinking and smoking by a pregnant woman which seems accepted. Well I can confirm that its not unrealistic regarding the Norwegian welfare system. It is as good as in the movie. Regarding the drinking and smoking when pregnant. It is not accepted to do that in Norway, but this is not a story about the average Norwegian and the woman is not from what we can call the privileged part of the society. In fact Norway may be one of the most restricted countries when it comes to both smoking and drinking. And another important factor is that the author has very liberate views.If you have not seen this gem I strongly recommend you to see this one.

What do you get when you force a diminutive, neurotic mama's boy and a hulking oaf are forced to live together by the Norwegian government? This is the basic premise of Petter Næss's film, Elling. The film begins with the titular character, played with convincing neuroticism by Per Christian Ellefsen, being released from the mental institution where he has lived during the two years following his mother's death. Despite its morbid sounding set-up, Elling is a surprisingly lighthearted film that stays on the side of heartwarming without ever becoming overly silly or sentimental.Elling and his roommate, Kjell Bjarne (Sven Nordin), a giant interested primarily in food and sex, have been deemed ready to face the real world. The Norwegian government provides the pair an enviable, fully furnished apartment in Oslo in which to build their new life. They can keep the apartment on the condition that they make an effort to assimilate into normal life. This includes tasks that are seemingly mundane to us but panic inducing to Elling, including answering the phone and going around the corner to shop for groceries.The film arouses a great empathy in viewers. Though probably not to Elling's extent, everyone has felt fearful in certain settings, even if those fears are irrational. When Elling experiences these moments, Næss uses the camera to put us in his shoes. As the phone in the apartment rings, Elling tries in vain to ignore it, but it overcome by dizziness. The camera rocks almost imperceptibly back and forth, as if we might be overcome with anxiety and fall to the ground with Elling. As Elling learns to conquer his fears, the spinning rooms and rocking camera movements subside.Though they are pushed to action by the tough love of their social worker, Frank Asli, it is primarily Elling and Kjell Bjarne who comfort and encourage each other to grow and take risks. Kjell Bjarne feels little of Elling's fear towards the outside world. He expresses himself through his physical actions, without over thinking any process ("Kjell Bjarne seems to carry every person he meets…strange," Elling notes at one point). Where Kjell Bjarne is a man of few words, Elling is a chatterbox, and though he has trouble conveying it, he seems to possess a deep insight into the personalities of the people surrounding him. Though the two seem to have nothing in common, they form an intimate bond. One touching scene shows the two exchanging Christmas gifts: Kjell Bjarne has painstakingly constructed a model of their apartment out of thousands of matches for Elling, while Elling purchases a lewd watch with a woman on it for Kjell Bjarne ("How did you know I wanted the blonde?!" he exclaims gleefully).As the film progresses, Elling and Kjell Bjarne develop into more independent individuals while still strengthening their friendship. When Kjell Bjarne finds their neighbor, Reidun, drunk, pregnant, and passed out in the stairwell, the two form a tentative yet tender relationship. Though this initially causes Elling to pout and react with jealousy, it enables him to learn how to deal with being alone, which in turn leads to his discovery of his true calling as a poet. After this empowering experience, Elling boldly addresses Kjell Bjarne and Reidun's insecurities about their blossoming relationship and pushes them together When Reidun expresses doubt about Kjell Bjarne ("He never says anything. He's so weird," she complains to Elling), Elling advocates for him ("I prefer the English expression: 'rare,'" he replies).On an excursion to explore his new calling, Elling makes his first friend that wasn't forced upon him, an elderly writer named Alfons. Alfons, Elling, Kjell Bjarne and Reidun, each in their own way social outcasts, form an unlikely family, a support system to lean on. By the end of the film, Elling and Kjell Bjarne are not only on their way to becoming full independent members of society, but are actively benefiting the people around them.Elling never truly delves into the darker side of mental illness, and Elling and Kjell Bjarne's diagnoses aren't explicitly revealed. Kjell Bjarne often bangs his head against the wall and has a hygiene problem, while Elling is incredibly anxious and agoraphobic, but none of these behaviors seem to warrant an extended stay in a mental institution. Do the pair truly have mental illnesses, or are they simply socially maladjusted? Whatever the case, the film never makes cheap jokes about mental illness or uses it as an excuse to dehumanize or stigmatize the characters. Rather, Elling finds its humor in the exploration of two characters with diametrically opposed viewpoints working in tandem to create better lives for themselves.

The Norwegian film "Elling" delightfully swept me off of my feet. The film directed by Peter Næss portrays the journey and lives of two mentally institutionalized roommates, Elling and Kjell Bjarne, who are now living in an apartment provided by the Norwegian welfare system in Oslo. Not many films have the ability to make you self reflect the way that "Elling" can. This film through its impeccable acting and thoughtful storyline immediately forces you to relate to and essentially root for the characters to succeed. By skillfully incorporating voice-overs, implanting messages regarding mental illness, and exploring how humans can evolve, this film leaves the audience feeling hope toward humanity. An integral film technique that Peter Næss incorporated into this simplistic style of film was voice-overs. Elling would not hold nearly the same amount of meaning if the audience did not get to hear the inner thoughts of the troubled but lovely Elling throughout. Instead of special effects, sex scenes, violence, etc. Elling instead captures its audience through its dialogue. The characters reactions were always fascinating to me and the times that Elling's thoughts were voice-overed were extremely important to the audiences understanding of the characters. When Elling brought Kjell Bjarne to meet Alfon (Elling's poet friend) he said something in his mind that was important to the film overall, "There he goes again. Kjell seems to carry every person he meets. Strange". This quote holds significance in characterizing Kjell Bjarne. First it proves the wonderfully kind heart that Kjell Barne possesses in which he never receives credit for. Throughout most of the film Kjelle Bjarne is referred to as overweight, sex crazed, and an oaf. Yet by using the trauma of his past regarding his mother, he is able to help save and love everyone he meets outside of the mental institution. Elling also gains some humor through the voice-overs. Elling does not always process situations the same as others but that is what makes this film special. He states, "Elling and Kjell Bjarne, Oslo's new rescue team. Pregnant or elderly. Call day or night" This voice-over I found to be funny and made me realize that these two characters, no matter what their mental illness includes, are immensely giving and loving. Through these voice-overs I believe that Elling has the power to make you think deeper and laugh a little more than if director Peter Næss would have not used this technique. Mental illness is typically a taboo concept in societies universally, however Elling does not shy away from exposing these characters nor never shames them either. The fascinating part to me regarding the inclusion of two mentally institutionalized main characters was that the situations never became too dark nor were medications ever forced upon them for their conditions. The only direct help that was implemented was through a social worker named Paul Ånsel whom had a very positive impact on both characters. Elling in particular was displayed as an anxious, obsessive compulsive, somewhat autistic character from the beginning. Up until Elling was 40 years old he had been sheltered by his mother his entire life up until her death. We watch Elling struggle to answer a phone, answer the door, go outside and cross the street the buy groceries, eat at a restaurant. He states in a voice-over, "I have always had two enemies, dizziness and anxiety,". Yet this quote is the only direct answer the audience ever receives on what is wrong with Elling. His mannerisms and actions are not as society would claim, to be "normal", however this film puts into question what normal really is. Kjell Bjarne pushes Elling to break out of his anxieties, as does Paul but never in a judgmental way that makes him feel inferior to others. Reflecting on this idea I believe that the film was exposing a different way in which humans can deal with mental illness. Elling and Kjell Bjarne evolve into fully functioning and wonderful members of society by the end of this film. In only 84 minutes the audience feels personally invested in the two characters achieving new goals. As stated earlier, Elling completely restricted himself from everyday activities but as the film progressed we delightfully got to witness Elling breaking down his fears. One of my favorite lines of the movie was when Elling thought to himself, ""Had I really made a friend without any help from the Norwegian government?". Elling never realized his potential and I think that was the most touching part of the entire movie. Through his jealously of Kjell Bjarne and his new romance with Reidun, Elling was able to find his talent of being a poet. He began chronicling his thoughts into poems and placing them inside sauerkraut boxes in local grocery stores around Oslo only signing them with the letter E. His stated he wanted to stay true to his personality as a momma's boy and he didn't want fame, he just wanted to be appreciated as someone significant in society. Kjell Bjarne was also able to evolve throughout the film by finding Reidun and being able to hold a relationship with a woman, which was his biggest dream. The two characters never shied away from who they truly were and in essence they learned how to grow up before our eyes. This film was able to prove that change was possible even regarding the mentally ill. This film can universally resonate with any audience that watches. It touches on uncomfortable subjects such as mental illness, while giving hope to humans that change is possible. Through the voice-over techniques the audience is given a first hand look to how this complex character operates. Elling and Kjell Barne are immensely complex yet loving characters and even though this film is not flashy or scandalous it has heart and helps the audience self reflect on how they want to live their lives.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this Norwegian movie. The characters are exceptionally portrayed. I love the different aspects of crazy that they each have to offer. The key turning points for Kjell Bjarne and Elling also happen at unexpected times, which adds a sort of realism to the film. The simple victories these characters win over their anxiety and previously extremely sheltered way of life is so satisfying. You just want them to succeed so badly, so its refreshing to see their growth. This film is about two men who room together in a state institution. Elling is a 40-year-old "mama's boy" who has lived under his mother's roof and has been babied and sheltered by her his whole life. When she dies, Elling is extracted from his home and placed in the institution where he meets Kjell Bjarne. Kjell Bjarne is a 40-year-old virgin who is obsessed with women, sex, and food. Even their first conversation as roommates together in the state institution is about sex. After 2 years, the roommates are released from the institution and sent to live in an apartment to prove that they can live on their own in society. This is where we meet the character Frank Åsli, a social worker and father figure in charge of Elling and Kjell Bjarne. Elling and Kjell Bjarne go through many struggles to learn simple tasks, such as simply answering the phone or doorbell. A big challenge for the two men is leaving the apartment. They gradually progress by experiencing growth in their fundamental life skills. Finally, they arrive at Christmas. They exchange gifts and watch a Christmas program on TV together, but this is also where we meet Reidun. She is a pregnant, single woman who lives above Kjell Bjarne and Elling. From this point on Elling and Kjell Bjarne gain more independence from each other. Reidun is also the inspiration for Elling to write his first poem. This launches Elling on society by compelling him to share his poetry secretly with the city. This is also how Elling meets Alfons Jørgensen, a famous poet, at a poetry reading. From here on Kjell Bjarne and Elling continue to adapt with the help of their new friends. Much detail was drawn to everyday tasks. It makes you realize how many life skills you actually have and that you weren't born just knowing how to answer the phone or mingle with people comfortably. Although these men are in their 40's and learning very fundamental skills of life, everyone had to learn these skills at one point. Elling and Kjell-Bjarne are so defiant and negligent toward responsibility outside of the apartment. People on the outside of their apartment of any kind make them anxious and uncomfortable to the point that they pretend they aren't home.Elling's scene where he explains that he has two enemies, "dizziness and anxiety", was especially interesting. The way that he personifies those dimensions of his character draws specific attention to them. He later shows off his progress when he ventures out of the apartment by expressing, "they (dizziness and anxiety) didn't join me this time." It is very heart-warming to finally see Elling and Kjell-Bjarne take the baby-steps they need to expand their capabilities. From these steps, their confidence grows immensely and their lives really take off. For example, while Kjell-Bjarne is ogling at the waitress at the pub, Elling is in the public bathroom for the first time trying to pee. The moment when the stranger standing next to him snaps his fingers and Elling is successful for the first time at going to the bathroom in public, is such a momentous occasion. Everything from then on spirals into successful growth towards Kjell Bjarne and Elling becoming more and more self-sufficient. That is one turning point for Elling.There are two key times in this movie. One, when Elling and Kjell Bjarne go to the pub. Elling accomplishes going to the bathroom, like previously mentioned, but then immediately after, he calls Frank on the phone and has a simple conversation just telling him what they are doing. Kjell Bjarne and Elling are so pleased about the boundaries that they just stretched that it snowballs from then on. This is when they are truly becoming independent from the institution and their apartment. The second turning point is on Christmas. Elling and Kjell Bjarne are launched into separate interests, creating independence from each other. Kjell Bjarne meets Reidun, who becomes his girlfriend and he spends a lot of time with her. Meanwhile, Elling starts writing poetry, at that same key moment, which launches him into the world of poetry. Through independence from each other and the state institution, these men gain their lives. The look of joy on Kjell Bjarne and Ellings' faces when they accomplish something is like a whole new world opens up to them. It is incredible to watch Elling and Kjell Bjarne succeed with the help of Frank, Reidun, and Alfons. This movie is truly inspiring and warms your heart to see these men succeed.