Heiners Filmseiten – Sons of Norway (en)

Sons of Norway (Sønner av Norge)

Francaise title: Une éducation norvégienne
Russian title: Сыны Норвегии
Original title: Sønner av Norge

Alternative titles:
Söhne von Norwegen | Revolt

Tragicomedy – Sweden, Norway, France, Denmark
Production year: 2010
Movie length: 87 minutes

Director: Jens Lien
Writer: Nikolaj Frobenius
Cinematograph: Morten Søborg
Music: Ginge Anvik

Movie description:

It’s not easy to rebel when your dad wants to join the party... One day (in 1979), Magnus and his son Nikolaj hit the wall in their new terrace house in Rykkinn. Magnus is an architect, hippie and free spirit, a glaring exception in a community where equality and conformity is the norm. He always stands up for his son, supporting him unconditionally, even when Nikolaj decides to stop giving a damn. »Sons of Norway« is a film about rebellion, punk rock, suburban hell and the struggle between freaks and punks. But most of all, it’s the story of an unusual father-son relationship, and about the strength of the bonds we sometimes do our best to rip apart.

It’s 1978 and 14-year-old Nikolaj is living an idyllic existence with his young brother Peter and his archetypal, politicized hippie parents, the energetic Magnus (Sven Nordin) and the angelic Lone. When Lone is killed in a car accident, Magnus falls into a deep depression. Nikolaj has nowhere to turn until his best friend proudly slaps his latest purchase on the turntable: The Sex Pistols’ »Never Mind the Bollocks« .... (The film was executive produced by former Pistols leader John Lydon, who plays a pivotal role in the movie.) Soon enough, Nikolaj finds a new use for safety pins and buys a guitar. The real rub – and much of the comedy – comes when his father partially snaps out of his depression. Instead of disciplining Nikolaj, Magnus encourages him. It may be hard to rebel, but it’s even tougher when your father is listening to the same records as you.
Lively, entertaining and insightful, Jens Lien’s »Sons of Norway« is one of the funniest and most charming coming-of-age stories to come out of the Nordic region since »Fucking Amal«.

Boy Actors