The documentary genre is gaining terrain in movie theatres world wide. In this article you can read about some of the recent Norwegian documentary films.
3/19/2008 :: Is it at all possible to say something in general about the recent Norwegian documentaries? They sure cover a broad range of subjects. From the Michael Mooreish “Pining For the Fjords” and its controversial version of the Norwegian food production industry; to the SXSW-screened “Mr. Mustache” about, well, men with mustaches.
A New Identity
In the later years, documentaries have gained a bigger audience both internationally and in Norway – perhaps partly due to the higher focus and consciousness around global and political issues. Although the Norwegian documentary films vary a great deal in form and style, several of them can be said to have one thing in common: They tell stories about a country that is searching for new identities in a globalized world.
Two of these - “Raw Youth” and “Board Control” - were just screened at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. In “Raw Youth” we are introduced to a class of students in a multicultural and pretty harsh environment in Oslo’s suburbs. “Board Control” follows the evolution of Norwegian skate board culture (skate boarding was illegal in Norway between 1978 and 1989!), and is a story about how American culture has been regulated in Norway.
In addition, in “All For Norway”, the film makers try to identify just what it means to be Norwegian. And finally; in “Cool & Crazy On the Road” a much loved Northern Norwegian choir for old men find their way to New York, and a crash of cultures seems inevitable.
In different ways, these documentaries all make a comment about Norway in a changing world, as they reflect on issues such as immigration, youth culture and national versus regional identities.
International
Quite a few Norwegian documentary film makers also search beyond the country’s borders to fint their subjects of interest. "On a Tightrope" follows four Chinese orphanage children who struggle to make a better life through the art of tightrope walking. "Yodok", which is to be released in August 2008, follows a North Korean defector who has managed to escape from the North Korean gulag. Also due to be released this fall is "Modern Slavery" where we meet people living under extremely restricted conditions in Mexico, Russia, Brazil - and Oslo.
Line Halvorsen’s “USA vs Al-Arian” created quite a buzz last year. It tells the story of the American-Muslim family Al-Arian and their struggle to fight terrorism charges levelled by the U.S. Government. The pro-Palestinian professor Sami Al-Arian was arrested in 2003, and although there has been much debate over his alleged ties to terrorist organizations, he is still in jail, on hunger strike.
Yet another border crossing Norwegian documentary is Beate Arnestad’s “My Daughter the Terrorist” - which was just screened at the SXSW. The film team follows two young female elite soilders of the Sri Lankan Black Tigers trained for a suicide mission. The film asks a chilling but important question: What makes anyone want to blow themselves up for a cause?
More Women
Halvorsen and Arnestad are two women in an industry dominated by men. Generally, women are mysteriously missing in all key positions in the film industry. However, women are a lot better represented in the documentary genre, where about 50 per cent of the latest projects that applied for national funding had women in key positions. Two recent films also focus on young girls - in two very different ways; in "Girls" we're introduced to a group of tough 9th graders and their strict female power structures; in "Porn Star?" Vanessa (19) is searching for attention in the porn business.
A lot of work is being done to change the overall picture when it comes to women and film; the Norwegian government has laid out an extensive plan to draw more women to the film industry, and has set as a goal that by 2010, 40 per cent of the key positions in film production will be held by each gender.
Silje Bekeng / Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York