News of Norway

1
2009 spring
news of norway
film
issue
pages 2-9
page 12
norway’s world champion chef
Volume 67
film issue
dear reader,
ven though Norway has had its own
film industry since the silent movie era,
with few exceptions – such as when
“Kon-Tiki” won an Oscar in 1951 – it catered
mostly to a domestic audience. Traditionally,
Norwegians often have preferred foreign
movies, especially those made in Hollywood.
Norwegian filmmakers worked in
the shadow of
Sweden through
the 1960s and ‘70s
with names such as
Ingmar Bergman
in the spotlight,
and in the 1980s, it
was Danish film,
with Lars von Trier
and his “dogma”
concept movies
and his disciples,
that won international
acclaim.
However, there has
long been an international awareness of
Scandinavian filmmaking and its unique perspective on the human condition.
The good news is that in the last 15 years
we have seen a remarkable surge of
Norwegian films, reflecting contemporary
life and human challenges. Many of these
films have received awards at major film festivals in Europe and North America. There are
some key explanations to why we now see a
vibrant and internationally recognized
Norwegian movie industry. Firstly, we need
PHOTO BY ARILD STRØMMEN
E
to go back to the 1980s, when commercial TV
arrived in Norway. With it came new job
opportunities for filmmakers to make TV
commercials for the domestic and international markets. A lot of creativity was released,
and Norwegian commercials became cool and
won major prizes abroad with their particular
brand of humorous storytelling.
Young and unknown filmmakers gained
the confidence they needed to move to short
films and feature movies. Secondly, the establishment of the Lillehammer Film Academy
increased interest in filmmaking and laid the
foundation for a larger and more professional
filmmaking community. Finally, the government made the strategic decision to substantially increase long-term funding of
Norwegian film production. Since then, the
cultural policy has been to fund many film
projects, both the small and independent films
in addition to the more commercial ones.
Today, we are reaping the fruits of this
investment. As someone involved in public
diplomacy, I cannot think of many other
forms of communication that so effectively
can tell a story about my country and help
place it not only in people’s minds, but also in
their hearts. You can read more about
Norwegian films and actors in this issue of
News of Norway. Many of the Norwegian
movies presented here are available at better
stocked DVD stores around the United States,
are sold on the internet, and are frequently
screened at film festivals and independent
movie theaters in larger cities. Do take the
time to see some of them!
Royal Norwegian Embassy
2720 34th. St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 333-6000
www.norway.org
AMBASSADOR
Wegger Chr. Strommen
COUNSELOR, COMMUNICATIONS
Jannicke Jaeger
EDITOR
Arild Strommen
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Eli Havn
SUBSCRIPTION
News of Norway (ISSN: 0028-9272)
is published by the Royal Norwegian
Embassy in Washington, D.C. The
magazine was founded in 1941 and
reaches 37,000 subscribers in the United
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write or call with your name and
address, or send an email to
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jannicke jaeger, counselor of communications,
royal norwegian embassy
Norwegian
film through
100 years
by ingerid lund & eli havn
1906/1908:
The first film produced in
Norway has been lost and
source material is ambiguous.
Produced by Hugo Hermansen in
1906 or 1908, it was entitled
"Dangers of a Fisherman's Life"
("Fiskerlivets farer") or "A Drama
at Sea" ("Et drama paa havet").
1931:
Norway's first movie with
sound, "The Big Christening," is
released, written by Tancred
Ibsen, grandson of authors
Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne
Bjørnson. The 30s were a time
of growth and heightened popularity for the film industry.
PHOTOS IN TIMELINE COURTESY OF NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE
2 | news of norway | spring 2009
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE
film
Aksel Henie stars in World War II drama
“Max Manus.” It is the second most
seen Norwegian movie of all time.
record year for norwegian film
by eli havn
he biggest Norwegian box-office success of 2008 was the
World War II drama “Max Manus,” which premiered in midDecember, and is still running in Norwegian movie theaters.
According to NRK TV, 140,500 tickets were sold during the opening weekend, 40,000 tickets more than the previous record. “Max
Manus” is the second most seen Norwegian film in Norway ever –
one in four Norwegians have seen it to date. One has to go back to
1975 to find the most seen film ever, “Pinchcliff Grand Prix.” “Max
Manus” is one of the most expensive Norwegian films ever made
and is based on the true story of World War II resistance hero Max
Manus. It is nominated for nine 2009 Canon awards, which are
awarded by the people in the film industry, like the Academy
Awards.
Nils Gaup’s “The Kautokeino Rebellion” came in as the second
most seen Norwegian film in 2008. The film is set in 1852 in the
north of Norway and deals with a native Sami uprising.
Traditionally, foreign film has captured most of the Norwegian
market, but last year a total of 23 Norwegian films premiered,
accounting for an all-time high of 22.5 percent of movie goers.
Among the five most seen films in Norway, two of them were
T
1951:
The documentary "Kon-Tiki" by
Norwegian explorer and writer
Thor Heyerdahl wins an Oscar
for documentary feature at the
24th Academy Awards. It is the
only feature film in Norwegian
history to win an Academy
award.
Norwegian (“Max Manus” and “The Kautokeino Rebellion”) and
among the top 20, five were Norwegian. (In addition to the two
already mentioned were “Long Flat Balls II,” “Cold Prey II,” and
“The Man who loved Yngve.”)
orwegian director Bent Hamer believes that the Norwegian
film industry is experiencing success because it has become
braver. “From the middle of the 1990s, the industry has taken
chances and seen that things work. I am very optimistic about the
future.” Trond Espen Seim, a popular Norwegian actor, says, “There
is a totally different confidence in the film industry now.”
Since the 1990s, Norwegian films have not only become very
popular with Norwegian audiences, but have also gotten more attention from abroad. Several Norwegian films have been exported and
received international awards. In the first two months of 2009, the
film “North” premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and
“Dead Snow” screened at Robert Redford’s Sundance Festival in
Utah. To keep the film industry moving forward, the Norwegian
government has allocated an all time high of almost $100 million in
production support for Norwegian film.
N
1957:
Film director Arne Skouen's
"Nine Lives" is released. The
movie is nominated for an Oscar
and a Golden Palm. In 1991
Norwegian television audiences
vote the movie the best
Norwegian feature film ever
made.
www.norway.org | 3
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE
norway’s no 1 director
by arild strommen
orwegian film director Harald Zwart goes to Beijing in May this
year to start making a new version of “Karate Kid.” “New
movie scripts come across my desk all the time,” Zwart said.
“The best ones already have stars attached.” “Karate Kid” will be produced by Will Smith and star his son Jaden and Jackie Chan.
With his feet firmly planted in Hollywood and as the person behind
Norwegian blockbusters such as “Long Flat Balls” and its sequel,
Zwart is arguably the most accomplished filmmaker to come out of
Norway. He claims not to have gone out of his way to promote himself, but always concentrated on creating a good product. “If you are
good enough, Hollywood will track you down,” he said.
About 10 years ago, he received a phone call from the agency
International Creative Management, with an invitation to have lunch
with Steven Spielberg in Los Angeles. Zwart already had a successful
career producing commercials in the United Kingdom, and Spielberg
had been impressed by the Norwegian director’s show reel. “Having
lunch with Spielberg opened many doors,” Zwart said. It most significantly led him to directing “One Night at McCool’s,” starring Liv
Tyler, Michael Douglas, Matt Dillon, and Paul Reiser. A black comedy
about three men who fall in love with the same woman on the same
night, the film showcased Zwart’s talent for complex narrative, edgy
humor, and inspired casting.
Zwart went on to shoot “Agent Cody Banks,” an action film starring Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff in the story of a teen secret agent
N
1949
Edith Carlmar, Norway's first
female director, debutes with
the film "Death is a Caress", a
film considered to be Norway's
first film noir." She made 10 feature films between 1949 and
1959.
4 | news of norway | spring 2009
with the tag line: “The CIA spent $10 million on his training, but didn’t teach him how to talk to women.”
“Michael Douglas became a mentor of sorts,” Zwart said. And
through Douglas he met Steve Martin, who was the lead in “The Pink
Panther II,” which Zwart directed in 2008. The movie got a lukewarm
reception by critics, something Zwart seemed unfazed by. “Our target
audience was not critics or those who always will think that anyone
other than Peter Sellers can’t be the Pink Panther. It is like when you
make a movie based on a book, people who loved that book will think
the book was better than the movie,” he said. Producer, and wife,
Veslemøy Ruud Zwart chimed in: “If you feel you always have to take
other people’s opinions into account, it can block your creativity.” She
feels a movie based on something that already exists should still be a
stand-alone product, something new, which also goes for the upcoming
“Karate Kid.” It is not meant to be a movie for those who grew up with
Ralph Maccio in the lead. “We want to make a movie for a new generation, those who haven’t seen ‘Karate Kid,’” she said.
Veslemøy Ruud Zwart is founder and chief executive of the feature
company Zwart Arbeid and the commercial production company
Motion Blur, operating in Norway and Los Angeles. According to
Harald, she is the backbone of their filmmaking operation. “She has
extraordinary creative flair and pushes me to do my best. She is inseparable from my success,” he said. The filmmaking couple will now
spend three months in China working on “Karate Kid.”
1959:
Liv Ullmann is cast in her first
starring role in Edith Carlmar’s
"The Wayward Girl" ("Ung flukt").
Carlmar’s critically acclaimed
films often sparked public
debate, and are today considered classics.
film
los angeles celebrates 10
years of nordic film
by ann christin eng & liecel tverli scully
n January, the 10th Scandinavian Film
Festival in Los Angeles showcased riveting drama, zany comedies, and haunting
imagery. Four Norwegian films were screened
this year at the Writers Guild Theatre in
Beverly Hills.
The inspiration to create the festival came
from an interest in Nordic film and a desire to
share it with the American audience, founder
and director James Koenig explained. “In a
way, Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. was
inspired by Liv Ullmann. About a dozen years
ago, an organization called Women in Film,
along with the Norwegian and Danish consulates sponsored a screening of Ullmann’s
directorial debut ‘Sophie.’ She was there
along with a small audience. I couldn’t help
but think, ‘There are wonderful Nordic films
like this, and people here don’t get the chance
to see them.’ People need to see such films,”
Koenig said. He then set out to create an
annual opportunity to see films from the five
Nordic countries – including as many as possible of the Nordic Oscar submissions, feature
films, shorts, and documentaries.
“The response has been great. It is clear
that there is interest in Nordic film in
Hollywood. Now in our 10th year we are
proud to have regulars who see nearly every
screening – industry professionals, film
lovers, and homesick Nordics.” Increased
interest and the growth of the festival are in
many ways connected to current cultural and
technological changes. Koenig points out that
the diversity of the American population has
made the country more used to linguistic
diversity and subtitles, opening up the market
for foreign films. “Film is a nexus of art and
technology, and business. Technology is
increasing accessibility. Accessibility translates to increased interest,” he said.
Norwegian films screened this year
included “Peer Gynt from the Streets,” Harald
Zwart’s comedy “Long Flat Balls II,” “Dead
Cold,” set in 2020 when the Gulf Stream has
disappeared and the northern areas are frozen
over, and “The Kautokeino Rebellion.” The
last chronicles a Sami uprising in northern
PHOTO BY NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE
I
“The Kautokeino Rebellion,” the second most seen Norwegian film in 2008, chronicles
a Sami uprising in northern Norway in 1852. It is directed by Nils Gaup, a descendant
of the rebellion. It was one of four Norwegian films showed in Los Angeles in January.
Norway in 1852, directed by a descendant of
the rebellion. “After screening Nils Gaup’s
wonderful Kautokeino Rebellion, I received
letters of gratitude from a lawyer who has
handled major cases defending the rights of
Native Americans, and from a Native
American producer working for a film studio,” Koenig said.
The film festival offers important networking opportunities for film professionals
and Koenig has witnessed it giving rise to further collaborations: “A Norwegian cinematographer who was working here met
Danish director Bille August at our festival
and ended up working with him. Norwegian
director Erik Poppe, at the festival with his
film, ‘Hawaii Oslo,’ connected with both an
agent and North American management via
introductions at the festival. I’ve kept the
thank you note from the agent. Filmmakers
attending the festival have found distributors
for theatrical and DVD releases,” Koenig
said. According to the festival director,
Norwegian film has something essentially
Nordic to it, dealing with life, death, love,
hate, fear, identity, immigration, alienation,
and other human issues, which the American
audience is readily able to identify with.
1965:
"The Heroes of Telemark" starring Kirk Douglas is based on
the true story of the Norwegian
heavy water sabotage at
Rjukan, Norway, which denied
the Germans the ability to
develop a nuclear bomb during
World War II.
WHERE TO SEE NORWEGIAN FILM
Los Angeles Scandinavian Film Festival
Los Angeles, Calif., January
www.scandinavianfilmfestivalla.com
Austin Scandinavian Film Fest
Austin, Texas, February
www.scandinavianfilmfest.com/austin
Denver Scandinavian Film Fest
Denver, Colo., March/April
wwwscandinavianfilmfest.com/denver
Scandinavia House Films
New York, year-round
www.scandinaviahouse.org
Seattle Scandinavian Film Fest
Seattle, Wash., October
www.scandinavianfilmfest.com/seattle
Twin Cities Nordic Lights Film Fest
Minneapolis, Minn., November
www.scandinavianfilmfest.com/twincities
1975:
The most widely seen
Norwegian film of all time,
"Pinchcliffe Grand Prix" ("Flåklypa
Grand Prix"), is released. The
stop motion animated feature
directed by Ivo Caprino has sold
5.5 million tickets since its
release.
www.norway.org | 5
“troubled
water” to
be remade
in hollywood
by erlend haugen
orwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe’s “Troubled
Water” (De Usynlige) took home the Hamptons
International Film Festival’s top Golden Starfish
prize for a narrative feature along with its audience
award in October 2008. “Troubled Water” is now getting a Hollywood remake by producer Basil Iwanyk,
who made “Firewall” and “Clash of the Titans.”
“People were incredibly touched by this movie,”
Poppe said after the awards ceremony at the Regal
Cinemas in East Hamptons. “They asked questions
about the story, the acting, and my storytelling.”
“Troubled Water” is the third film in a trilogy starting with renowned “Schpaa” and “Hawaii, Oslo.” The
movie brings up existential questions regarding guilt,
responsibility, betrayal, care, and love in a contemporary plot. How do you find light, joy, and purpose in life
after a blow of fate?
N
an Thomas is released from prison after having
served eight years – for what may have been an
accident or murder. Being a divinely gifted organist, he gets a deputyship at a church. The priest is Anna,
a single mother to whom Jan Thomas soon finds himself
attracted. He decides not to tell her about his past, but
then Agnes, a teacher, comes on a school visit to the
church. She recognizes the organist Jan Thomas as the
young boy who was convicted of the murder of her son.
When Basil Iwanyk and Icelandic-born Joni
Sighvatsson remake the movie, they will keep the title
“Troubled Water” in the English-language version.
J
PHOTO BY HAAKON NORDVIK
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE
1985:
The Norwegian equivalent of the
Academy Awards, the Amanda
award, is created. The award is
presented during the annual
Norwegian Film Festival in
Haugesund.
6 | news of norway | spring 2009
1987:
"The Pathfinder" ("Veiviseren") by
Nils Gaup is nominated for an
Oscar in the best foreign film
category. He has made several
films with and about indigenous
Sami, including “The Kautokeino
Rebellion,” the second most
seen Norwegian film in 2008
film
PHOTO BY JOACHIM DRAGELAND ISAKSEN
worth
the ride
by anne myklebust
sually, the old adage, “this is the first day of the rest of your
life,” exudes comfort rather than despair. But in the Norwegian
film “O’Horten,” aging train driver Odd Horten finds anything
but comfort in contemplating his future. And he will have to face the
rest of his days sooner rather than later, as he only has one last train to
steer across the mountains of western Norway before retirement looms.
This delightful mixture of melancholy and comedy opens in U.S. theaters in May this year.
“O’Horten” is written and directed by Bent Hamer, a name which
will sound familiar to many film buffs. Three years ago, Hamer directed the U.S. film “Factotum,” an adaptation of a novel by Charles
Bukowski, which featured Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei. “O’Horten,”
Hamer’s fifth feature, is more mellow than the poignant “Kitchen
Stories,” which has become a staple of contemporary Scandinavian
filmmaking.
“O’Horten” explores the familiar, yet never boring, theme of locating a stable platform in one’s existence. For Odd Horten, that platform
is – literally as well as figuratively – his job. When he realizes that his
future existence is one without fixed timetables or familiar destinations, the ground no longer feels so solid under his feet.
U
s one has come to expect from Hamer, the film’s depth lies in its
direction as much as in its dialogue. Hamer has taken great care
to ensure that all parts of the film reflect just how central the railroad is to Horten’s life. In the opening segments, we see that even his
small apartment lies in the shadow of the tracks.
The film’s well-rounded production package has not gone unnoticed by U.S. critics, and was described as “aces,” by Variety’s Alissa
Simon, who states that the film, “provides a warm and gently humorous divertissement that should be appreciated by niche arthouse auds
worldwide.”
A
1997:
"The Other Side of Sunday"
("Søndagsengler") by Berit
Nesheim is nominated for an
Oscar in the best foreign film
category, and subsequently
released in movie theaters in
the United States.
he thought that went into the creation of the soundtrack underlines the quality of the film. John Erik Kaada, described by
Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet as “Norway’s film music
guru,” has done an excellent job accentuating the sparse dialogue. His
music becomes a voice just as significant as those of the film's characters. As Alexis Madden states in a review for Moving Pictures:
“Kaada’s score subtly influences the viewer’s mood, adding the underlying magic from which the audience can feel the film as well as
observe it.”
As one would suspect, creating this “underlying magic” was anything but easy. In an exclusive interview, John Erik Kaada commented
on the collaborative process of creating this unique soundtrack. “The
collaboration between the director and the writer varies from film to
film. In some productions, we literally work side by side, while in others, one is left alone to make the music, and the director will leave most
decisions to the composer. I’m not really sure which method of working I prefer. Somewhere in between would be ideal. Which was the
case with O’Horten. The whole process began with me sending a series
of snippets and suggestions on a couple of CDs. Then Bent would
select what he liked the most, and I would work from there. This was
before shooting started. Often I get ideas from reading the script, in
which case I will start recording immediately,” the composer said.
Considering Kaada’s success in Norway, one might not expect him
to dream about working on a U.S. production in the future. As it turns
out, he does. “I am often envious of composers who are able to be
overtly pompous, and create music with a huge orchestra. There are not
a lot of Norwegian films this would work for – “O’Horten,” would certainly not be one of them. Bent Hamer’s characters are so frail. It is difficult to find the balance between how much music and pomposity one
can add. Usually, with these kinds of films, it is the simple things that
work best.”
T
2002:
Director Petter Næss's "Elling" is
nominated for a best foreign
film Oscar. The film is based on
Ingvar Ambjørnsen's novel
"Blood brothers" from 1996, one
of four books in a series about a
neurotic Elling.
www.norway.org | 7
ANE DAHL TORP works in film and theater. When she
works in the theater, she brings her dog, the Norfolk terrier
Jonas, to work every day. The 33-year-old used to live in Molde,
where she felt like "the loneliest actress in Norwegian history":
"Several times I sat in bars with my gin and tonic, pretending to
scout for people I was waiting for." Dahl Torp claims to have
once forgotten her purse, forcing her to substitute a grocery
store bag for it on the red carpet. Dahl Torp has received an
Amanda award for her role in the film "Comrade Pedersen"
(2006). She also starred in "Uro" (2006). Currently, she
can be seen in Norwegian movie theaters in
Tommy Wirkola's "Dead Snow," which
screened at Robert Redford's Sundance
Festival in Utah in February, and will
be released in the United States
later this year.
INGRID BOLSØ BERDAL hails from Nord Trøndelag
in Norway. She was the lead in the thriller "Cold Pray" and in the
sequel, "Cold Pray II," both box office successes. Twenty-nineyear-old Bolsø Berdal also starred in "Comrade Pedersen,"
"Sons," and "House of Fools." When preparing for "House of
Fools," she admitted herself to a psychiatric ward for 24 hours
for research. "It was an important experience. I am humble that I
was allowed to stay there," she said. In 2007, she won an award
for using her own regional dialect in films and her conscious
use of dialect has become a big part of her image. This year she
will be jury chairman of the Amandus festival, a Norwegian film
festival for youths and children, which celebrates young filmmakers.
2005:
Actor/director/writer Aksel
Hennie is awarded the Silver
Tower at the 2005 Palic
International Film Festival in
Yugoslavia for an "extraordinary
combination of action, writing,
and directing skills" in the feature film "UNO."
8 | news of norway | spring 2009
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE
NICOLAI CLEVE BROCH has appeared
with his close friend and fellow actor Aksel Hennie
in several films, and the two are considered by
many to be Norwegian film's dynamic duo. Cleve
Broch is known for going all out to get into character. For his most recent role in the wartime drama
"Max Manus," his hair was bleached so extensively
that his hair actually began falling out. The 33-year
old's interest in acting came by way of a Dungeons
and Dragons-style live-role-playing game in the forest, after he got tired of sitting in his room "pretending to be an elf." The actor always strives to
give the audience something new: "The audience
needs to be educated. I have never really understood why people want to see the same thing over
and over again." Cleve Broch is married to
Norwegian actress Heidi Gjermundsen. He got his
breakthrough in the film "Buddy" in 2003. He has
also appeared in "UNO" (2004), "Uro" (2006), and
"Cold Lunch" (2007).
PIA TJELTA made her film
in 2001 with "Mongoland," shot
hometown, Stavanger. According
year-old Tjelta, if she had not be
accepted by the Norwegian Nati
Academy of Theater she would h
majored in child welfare. Before
became a film actress, she toure
Europe with a theater company.
adamant that self-confidence is
something that comes naturally
"Everyone needs acceptance an
confirmation that she is needed,
that she matters, and that she is
good at what she does. Me
too." Norwegian TV2 called
her "the first lady of
Stavanger," because of
her looks and popularity. Tjelta, who
was last seen in
"Fallen
Angels,"
also starred
in "Buddy"
and "Cold
Lunch."
norw
MARIA BONNEVIE
Maria Bonnevie was born in Swe
to a Norwegian actress and a
Swedish actor. She grew up in Os
and graduated from the Swedish
National Academy of Mime and
Acting in 1997. She debuted in 19
with "The Polar Bear King" and "
White Viking." Thirty-five-year-old
Bonnevie has said that starring in
the films changed her life: "I was
young girl with bad self-esteem, w
often blushed. I was not very goo
in school and not very popular.
Therefore it was a great experien
to become the center of everyone
attention." Five years after her
debut, she got her breakthrough
the film "Jerusalem." Bonnevie is
also known for her lead role in "I
Dina." Bonnevie was last seen in
Russian film, "The Banishment."
2006:
The Norwegian/Canadian animated short film "The Danish
Poet," directed by Norwegian
Torill Kove, and narrated by Liv
Ullmann, wins an Oscar in the
animated short film category –
the second Norwegian film to
receive an Academy award.
KRISTOFFER JONER
debut
in her
g to 31een
onal
have
she
ed
She is
not
to her:
nd
,
s
has starred in "Dark Woods,"
"Next Door," and "Mongoland."
According to Joner, who has
recovered from a drinking problem, but still smokes up to 50
cigarettes per day, he leads a
complicated life. "A world without problems will soon become
dull," he claimed. He considers
himself to be slightly neurotic
and he is afraid of (among other
things) flying and deep water.
He is known for his strong
opinions when it comes to
issues such as the justice system and the Norwegian policy
on drugs. Thirty-six-year-old
Joner applied three times for
the theater academy, but never
got in. Still, he has played more
roles in film than any other
Norwegian actor since 2000. He
was awarded the audience's
prize for Best Norwegian Male
Film Actor of the Century in
2005.
egian stars
film
TROND ESPEN SEIM is best known
for his role as private investigator Varg Veum
in a film and TV series based on popular crime
novels by Gunnar Staalesen. He has also
starred in "Hawaii, Oslo" and "Troubled Water."
The 37-year old claims he has two rules he has
to abide by in relation to acting: "I must avoid
acting in my regular underpants and I have to
brush my teeth before every performance."
Seim has the Latin words for "perpetual motion
machine" tattooed on his chest. He is always
optimistic: "If you want something bad enough,
you will find a way to make it happen," he said.
AKSEL HENIE has become one of Norway's favorite
by eli havn
den
slo,
actors. At the age of 17, he was one of the first in Norway to be
convicted of graffiti-tagging. This experience later became the
basis of the film "UNO," which he wrote, directed, and starred in.
Director Joachim Rønning has called the 33-year old a man "who
is not afraid to stand up for others, even if he has to bleed for it."
Known for his extensive repertoire, Hennie's roles have
included a bodybuilder on steroids ("UNO"), an angel
("Through a Glass, Darkly"), a self-absorbed gay man
("Cold Lunch"), and most recently a lead role as a
World War II resistance hero ("Max Manus"). "Max
Manus" was one of Norway's largest box-office
successes ever, in 2008/09.
991,
"The
d
n
sa
who
od
nce
e's
in
s
Am
na
2008:
Director Erik Poppe’s “Troubled
Water” (“De Usynlige”) wins
both the Golden Starfish for best
narrative feature and the audience award at the 16th Annual
Hamptons International Film
Festival. (See page 6)
2008:
Norwegian directors Joachim
Rønning and Espen Sandberg’s
biographic World War II drama
“Max Manus” is released. It’s the
most expensive film ever made
in Norway, and the second
most widely seen Norwegian
film ever. (See page 3)
www.norway.org/culture/film | 9
Q&A
– Congressman Earl Pomeroy
ongressman Earl Pomeroy is a founder
and co-chairman of the Friends of
Norway Caucus in the House of
Representatives – a forum for dialogue and
exchange of views between U.S. and
Norwegian politicians on issues, interests, priorities, and policies, between Norway and the
United States, and globally.
C
What is the Friends of Norway Caucus?
spots in the world. We appreciate our friendship with Norway, and have been able to use
the caucus to build upon the bonds between us
founded on our shared values of freedom,
democracy, free markets, and human dignity.
Our governments work well together diplomatically, militarily, and economically. But
for me and my constituents in North Dakota,
this connection is personal. The caucus provides an opportunity to foster those good
friendships.
I formed the Friends of Norway Caucus in
1999 with retired Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN)
to further enrich the relationship between the
United States and Norway. According to the
most recent U.S. census, there are more than 5
million Norwegian-Americans. North Dakota,
the state which I represent, has the largest percentage of Norwegian-Americans, with over
30 percent of my state's population claiming
Norwegian descent. My constituents have
deep ties with Norway, and I wanted to create
a congressional entity that could further connections between our two countries.
How has the caucus been useful to you?
The U.S. has a strong bond with Norway. Our
interests are strategic in nature as we both
work to bring peace and stability to troubled
I can think of an area where we should not
cooperate - perhaps you could send us a little
less lutefisk, but keep the brown cheese and
Jarlsberg cheese coming! In all seriousness,
there are areas where we could cooperate
more, such as areas of alternative energy,
energy efficiency, global warming, rural medicine, and commercializing innovation from
our research entities.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONGRESSMAN EARL POMEROY’S OFFICE
How would you describe the nature of U.S.Norwegian relations?
What are the areas of concern to your constituents with regards to Norway? In what
ways do they wish to have links to Norway?
Norwegian-Americans in North Dakota care a
great deal about our tourism, culture, and heritage connections with Norway. In fact, the
largest Norwegian festival in the United
States, Norsk Høstfest, is held in Minot, North
Dakota each year. North Dakota also hosts the
largest tour operator in the United States for
taking Americans to Norway.
North Dakota shares a strong connection
with Norway through our university systems.
For a decade or more, the University of North
Dakota has hosted more students from
Norway than any other university in North
America. Moreover, the leaders of the university are working towards strong, reciprocal
student and faculty exchanges in Norway in
areas like law, medicine, entrepreneurship,
and engineering.
Interestingly enough, my state, like
Norway, has a great potential to produce energy. People from my area look to Norway to
see if its enhanced oil recovery technologies
may be helpful to our efforts. In fact, a
Norwegian company is currently working on
putting together a strategic alliance to produce
wind energy in North Dakota, using their
expertise developed in northern Norway.
In what areas do you think Norway and the
U.S. should cooperate?
What do you expect to achieve by being
engaged in the caucus?
I want to foster understanding between our
two nations. Norway is more modern and
high-tech than many Americans understand,
and Americans are more diverse, kind-hearted, and generous than many Norwegians
understand from what they see on television.
Some Norwegians come to New York, Los
Angeles, Las Vegas, or Disney World and
think they have experienced the United States.
Instead, I invite folks to come to the Great
Plains, where so many Norwegian descendents live, to fully understand what is in the
hearts and minds of Americans.
We have much to learn from each other,
and much to gain through working together.
Ideally, we hope to attract more Norwegian
students to study in the United States at the
undergraduate and graduate levels. So many
of our wonderful relationships with the leaders in Norway started with Norwegians studying here in America. I wish we had thousands
of Norwegian students studying in the United
States, not just hundreds.
10 | news of norway | spring 2009
Just excellent. As good friends do, we sometimes disagree, but we know we are still best
of friends. We work closely together around
the world to bring peace and stability to troubled spots. We work closely together in
NATO and the United Nations. We both are
involved in humanitarian relief in many countries. Norway invests the most per capita in
foreign aid, and the United States invests the
most overall. We are both committed to making the world a better place.
Who is your favorite Norwegian politician
off all time?
Former Prime Minister and WHO Director
General Gro Harlem Brundtland.
Who is your favorite Norwegian artist?
Painter Edvard Munch.
Why do your constituents/Americans of
Norwegian ancestry care about Norway
now that they live in America?
Norway is a very powerful brand in North
Dakota because Norwegian-Americans are
proud of Norway's accomplishments, culture,
history, and people. You hear North Dakotans
almost apologize for only being one-quarter
or half Norwegian rather then 100 percent
Norwegian. Norway has advanced from being
one of the poorer nations of Europe more than
a century ago, whose citizens had to leave to
find opportunity, to a country today that is
among the richest nations of the world.
Norway is now an example for other nations
because of its high standard of living, high
levels of education, and great opportunities
for its citizens. Folks in North Dakota recognize the great accomplishments of Norway
and are proud of the educational, business,
and deep personal connections between our
two countries.
PHOTO BY SIRI WOLLAND/MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND EQUALITY
society & policy
Promoting Women by Involving Men
by siv helén strømland
“M
en benefit from gender equality,” said
Norwegian Minister of Equality
Anniken Huitfeldt. In March, 2009,
she presented the first white paper about men
and gender equality for the United Nations.
She brought the World Economic Report stating that Norway is the No. 1 country in the
world when it comes to closing the gender
gap.
Norway has taken an active part in the
annual U.N. Commission on the Status of
Women (CSW), where important issues concerning gender equality are discussed. And
Norway has made an impact: “We have made
valuable contributions to the U.N. about the
role of women in peace processes. National
Norwegian policies on gender equality also
attract international attention, especially
because of the increased birth rate,” Huitfeldt
said.
The theme of CSW this year is the sharing
of responsibilities between men and women.
Huitfeldt pointed out that in Norwegian politics, care-giving responsibility of men is an
important issue. “In the last 10 to 15 years the
male gender role has undergone tremendous
change, nobody takes as much care of their
own children as Norwegian men – they work
less and have more responsibilities at home,”
the minister said. She has met several foreign
colleagues who raise their eyebrows when she
tells stories about men leaving meetings at
work to pick up their children from daycare.
“It is important to note that men themselves
also have gained much in this process. For
instance, now more men report that they have
close friends,” Huitfeldt explained.
Being in the lead of global gender equality
is an achievement, but Huitfeldt warned
against Norwegians becoming too self-righteous. Even though the country has come a
long way in dealing with gender inequality,
the finish line has not yet been crossed. “We
still have a gender-biased professional scene,
and women are overrepresented in lowincome, care-giving professions,” she said.
Also when promoting gender equality as a
global norm, she recognizes the importance of
an adaptable perspective. “There are big differences between Norway and developing
countries.” She pointed out that things that are
high on the agenda in Norway, such as paternity leave, may seem very alien in a country
with no maternity leave to speak of. “But it is
important everywhere to recognize the interrelation between men’s care-giving responsibilities and women’s professional participation,” said Huitfeldt. “For instance in industrialized countries where female participation in
Anniken Huitfeldt met with fathers and their
children after announcing that paternity
leave will increase from six to ten weeks.
professional life has been advocated without
also addressing the male care-giving responsibilities, it has proved difficult to maintain
birth rates,” she added.
Huitfeldt highlighted that it is important to
maintain a global perspective in Norwegian
politics because understanding the challenges
of other countries is essential for international
participation. She’s often asked why Norway
takes such an interest in global development.
“It’s not because we are so much nicer than
anyone else, but because we are so small,” she
pointed out. “It is in our self interest, as a
nation, to maintain a global perspective in our
policy-making, and that we behave in a manner of solidarity towards other countries.”
U.N. COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
– Annual commission about gender equality and the advancement of women
– Held March 2-23, 2009
– Established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1946
– Priority theme 2009: The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and
men, including care-giving in the context of HIV/AIDS
GENDER EQUALITY IN NORWAY
– World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report (2008) ranked Norway first on
gender equality
– 70 percent of women in Norway are employed
– The fertility rate (1.9 children per woman) is among top six in Europe (2007)
NORWEGIAN GENDER EQUALITY LEGISLATION
– 40 percent board representation of both genders in big companies
– Gender Equality Act (1978) - prohibits all discrimination on grounds of gender
– Parental leave for 54 weeks that can be divided between the parents, 10 weeks
reserved for the father (from July 2009)
– Flexible working hours for parents with small children
www.norway.org | 11
food
Fried Loins of Norwegian Cod
with Baked Root Vegetables
and Garlic Foam
Ingredients
Fish
2 pounds loin of Norwegian fresh cod, with skin
4 cloves garlic
2 branches thyme
4 tablespoons butter
Vegetables
2 carrots
2 celeriac
½ turnip cabbage
2 parsley roots
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 branches thyme
4 cloves garlic
Foam
20 ounces fish stock
7 ounces cream
2 tablespoons melted butter
4 cloves garlic
12 scalded almonds
3.5 ounces dry white wine
Preparation
Norway’s World
Champion Chef
Fry the fish, skin down in vegetable oil in a frying pan on
medium heat until almost finished (8 to 10 minutes). Sprinkle
butter, garlic, and thyme over the fish, turn the fish, and fry
for 30 seconds before serving.
Peel the root vegetables and cut in same sized pieces. Drizzle
with oil, butter, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bake in oven
at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until tender.
by eli havn
wenty-eight-year-old Geir Skeie from Fitjar on the west coast of
Norway has won the world championship for chefs – Bocuse
d’Or 2009. The competition is held every two years in Lyon,
France, and is the most recognized competition in the business. “It is a
good feeling when everything comes together,” Skeie said.
Each of the 24 contestants had to produce five dishes in five hours,
and the set ingredients for the fish dish were Norwegian scallops, cod,
and prawns. This corresponded well with Skeie’s food philosophy. He
revealed that he prefers to cook with local ingredients – a secret to his
success: “Norwegian seafood is very good, both wild and farmed. I
really like local vegetables, and try to use whatever is in season,” he
stated.
T
ooking has been Skeie’s passion since he started out in the
kitchen at home at the age of 13. After winning Bocuse d’Or
2009, he exclaimed: “Cooking became even more fun after I
won the competition, and now I will get to travel more too.” Last year
he focused all his attention on the championship, but now he will go
back to his job as chef at Mathuset Solvold, a restaurant in Sandefjord
in southern Norway.
Fancy cooking is not all Skeie does. The top chef stated that he is
inspired by the simplicity and cleanliness of the Norwegian food tradition and likes that there is “no extra fuss about it.” According to Skeie,
Fårikål, the unofficial Norwegian national dish, with lamb, cabbage,
and whole black pepper, is a favorite.
Slice garlic and fry until golden with almonds and vegetable
oil. Add white wine and fish stock and bring to a boil. Add
cream and boil for another 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix in blender before serving.
C
12 | www.norway.org/food
PHOTOS BY PAAL-ANDRÉ SCHWITAL
books
The
Conqueror
by anahita yousefi
“E
ven though life is lived forward, it is always understood backward.
You turn around and behold – in awe or fear – a pattern that you
are not aware of having made,” Jan Kjærstad offers in his latest
novel published in the United States, “The Conqueror.”
Jonas Wergeland is in prison for the murder of his wife – a beloved
and celebrated television personality in Norway. Wergeland’s programs
on the history of Norway hold the country in his thrall. A professor is
hired to write the definitive biography of Wergeland, but finds himself
unable to process the astonishing volume of contradictory information
he unearths – until a mysterious woman appears on his doorstep.
Possessing innumerable intimate stories about Jonas, the woman details
the dark side of his rise to prominence, and through her stories tries to
explain what made him a murderer.
Kjærstad’s latest novel offers a compelling story as well as insight
into Norwegian cultural life during the past 50 years. With a series of references to historical characters and events, the novel serves as an introduction to contemporary Norwegian society. The rise of the welfare state
and emergence of the mediated society are the backdrop to which this
story is told. Although the novel plays on Norwegian cultural life, it
remains appealing to a wider audience through its reflections on universal themes.
“The Conqueror,” the second book in Jan Kjærstad's trilogy,
was published in the United States by Open Letter in
February, 2009.
ombining the fictional with the factual, Kjærstad invites the reader to reflect upon the art of storytelling itself and consider all the
elements that makes up a story. Fact, fiction, coherence, and contradiction melt together in a series of short, seemingly unordered chapters. This gives the narrative a form that reinforces the questioning and
curiosity toward the given that is displayed throughout the novel.
“The Conqueror” is the second book in the trilogy about Jonas
Wergeland that consists of “The Seducer,” “The Conqueror,” and “The
Discoverer.”
C
jærstad is one of Scandinavia’s most prominent contemporary
authors. He made his debut in 1980 with a collection of short stories titled, “The Earth Turns Quietly.” Over the years, he has written a number of novels, short stories, and essays and received numerous
prizes. He was awarded the Norwegian Literary Critics Association’s
Prize in 1984 for “Homo Falsus” (“The Perfect Murder”). Kjærstad was
also honored with the prestigious Henrik Steffens Prize in 1998, given to
Scandinavians who have significantly enriched Europe's artistic and
intellectual life. In 2001, he won the Nordic Council’s Prize for
Literature for “The Discoverer,” the last book in the Wergeland trilogy,
which will be published in the United States in 2009.
PHOTOS BY WWW.OPENLETTERBOOKS.ORG
K
spring 2009 | news of norway | 13
Edvard Grieg Society Concert
at Yasi Piano Salon
NEW YORK, NY, April 7, 7.30 pm
The Edvard Grieg Society celebrates the anniversaries of Joseph
Haydn and Felix Mendelsohn with
a concert featuring renowned
Norwegian pianist Geir Henning
Braaten.
Info: (212) 339-9995
www.norway.org
new york
performing arts
film
"The Art of Negative Thinking"
at Scandinavia House
NEW YORK, NY, March 18, 6:30
pm and March 21, 3.00 pm
This black comedy, directed by
Bård Breien, follows 33 year-old
Geirr, who after becoming severely handicapped in a traffic accident, slips into isolation, self medication, and bitterness, and develops an odd yet worrisome
weapons fixation.
Info: www.scandinaviahouse.org
or (212) 879-9779
U.S. premiere of Gunnar Berg's
Hymnos at the Trinity Church
NEW YORK, NY, May 28, 2009
New York Scandia Symphony
presents Scandinavia's musical
heritage by Norwegian composer
Gunnar Berg.
Info: (212) 602-0747
Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler on
Broadway
"Natural
Born
Star"
at
Scandinavia House
NEW YORK, NY, March 25, 6:30
pm and March 28, 3.00 pm
This moving documentary from
2007 chronicles the rise and fall of
Fred Robsahm, who gained fame
in the 1960s as a Norwegian actor
in Italian westerns and dramas
including
the
cult
classic,
Barbarella (1968). The film is
directed by Even Benestad.
Info: www.scandinaviahouse.org
or (212) 879-9779
exhibits
PHOTO BY NIGEL PARRY
Anki King
NEW YORK, NY, through April 26
The Norwegian Seamen's Church
and Trygve Lie Gallery is proud to
present Norwegian artist Anki King
with her most current work
"Sisters." The oldest of three sisters, King has created a series of
paintings and drawings based on
the relationships between siblings.
Info: www.kjerka.com or call
(212) 319-0370
PHOTO BY WWW.LAGE-LUND.COM
Guitarist Lage Lund at The
Village Vanguard
NEW YORK, NY, March 17
through 22
Norwegian jazz guitarist Lage
Lund will appear at the legendary
club The Village Vanguard as part
of the David Sanchez quartet.
Lund came to New York in 2003
on a grant from the Fulbright foundation to attend the Juilliard
School as the first electric guitarist
in the school's 100-year history.
Info: www.lage-lund.com or
www.davidsanchezmusic.com
Martine Petra Hoel Exhibit at Art
Raw Gallery
washington dc
architecture exhibit
Detour at the National Building
Museum
WASHINGTON, D.C., through
May 25, 2009
In recent years, small but sensational architectural projects along
Norwegian tourist routes have
gained national as well as international attention.The Detour exhibit
showcases these eye-catching
constructions.
Info: www.norway.org or
(202) 272-2448
NEW YORK, NY, through March 21
Art Raw gallery will have four photographs by Martine Petra Hoel on
view and hundreds of pieces of art
created by other emerging international artists.
Info: (212) 810-6503
Jannicke Låker in Ecstatic Truth
NEW YORK, NY, through April 26,
Wednesday- Sunday, 12-6 PM.
Norwegian artist Jannicke Låker is
one of two artists with works in the
exhibition Ecstatic Truth at the
Dumbo Arts Center. "Ecstatic
truth" is a term used to describe a
filmmaking technique that favors
emotional accuracy over detailoriented accuracy in a documentary context.
Info: www.dumboartscenter.org
PHOTO BY HUGO FAGERNES
music
Miss Norway of Greater New
York & Miss Norwegian Heritage
NEW YORK, NY, April 4, 2.00 pm
This event at the Norwegian
Christian Home & Health Center
includes lunch, coffee and cake,
live music, special guests and raffle prizes.
Info: (917) 656-1552 or
[email protected]
PHOTO BY MARTINE PETRA HOEL
NEW YORK, NY, through March 29
A woman of dangerous independence restrained by a conventional
marriage, the newly married
Hedda (Mary Louise Parker)
mourns the freedom and excitement of her former life by
indulging in a cruel game, amusing herself with the misfortune she
inflicts on those around her.
Tickets: (212) 719-1300
special event
bringing together two Norwegian
architects who have participated
in the Detour project, and an
American architect for a discussion. The event will offer insight
into the ideas behind the tourist
routes project and highlights the
nature of Norwegian architecture.
Info: www.norway.org or
www.nbm.org
the king’s guard
PHOTO BY SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER TRANSFORMATION
For a complete and
updated calendar of
events please visit
His Majesty the King's Guard at
the US Navy Memorial
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 12.30 pm
His Majesty the King's Guard will
perform at the US Navy Memorial,
Pennsylvania Ave.
Info: www.norway.org
Twilight Tattoo at Ft McNair
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 6, 7 pm
His Majesty the King's Guard will
perform at The United States
Army's most popular outdoor ceremonial pageant.
Info: www.norway.org
virginia
Wreath laying at Arlington
Cemetery
ARLINGTON, VA, May 8, 14.15 pm
His Majesty the King's Guard will
lay down a wreath at the Tomb of
the unknown soldier.
Info: www.norway.org
exhibit
61 10' 00" North Latitude:
Encounters and Memories at
the Montpelier Center for Arts
and Education
MONTPELIER, VA, through April 19
Five artists from Virginia will display images in oil, watercolor,
charcoal and textiles, with motives
based on their travels to Norway.
Info: (804) 883-7378
panel discussion
Architects discuss Detour
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 30, 6.30 pm
The Norwegian Embassy and the
National Building Museum are
PAINTING BYMIRIAM AHLADAS
14 | www.norway.org
calendar
PHOTO BY WWW.KNUTERIKJENSEN.COM
festival
12th annual Ibsen Festival
PHOTO BY ERIK BERG
PHOTO BY WWW.IBSEN.NET
Dance Salad Festival at
Wortham Center, Cullen Theater
Arctic Technology at Hosfelt
Gallery
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN HOUGE
An Evening Devoted to NordicAmerican
Composers
in
Sateren
Recital
Hall
at
Augsburg College
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, April 5, 3 pm
The Edvard Grieg Society of
Minneapolis and Norway House
present a concert devoted to the
music of Nordic-American composers. This concert of music by
"the next generation" will be curated and hosted by Libby Larsen,
Minnesota native with Norwegian
roots, and one of the leading composers of her generation.
Info: (952) 842-8343
Peer Gynt opens at Third Wall
Theatre
OTTAWA, ON, March 10- 21
A new adaptation of Ibsen's epic
drama "Peer Gynt" is coming to
Ottawa's Third Wall Theatre
Company on Richmond Road.
Adaptation by Canadian poet,
novelist and playwright Henry
Bissel.
Info: www.thirdwall.com
Jon Fosse in new Canadian
English Translation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, through
April 12
This exhibition features a new
generation of craft artists from
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and
Finland who challenge the aesthetics
and
principles
of
Scandinavian Modernism.
Info: www.ybca.org
minnesota
music
texas
performing arts
HOUSTON, TX, April 9-11, 7.30
pm
Carte Blanche, from Bergen in
Norway, will be performing at
Houston International Dance
Coalition's annual Dance Salad
Festival. The festival is committed
to a multi-cultural presentation of
diverse dance disciplines at the
highest professional level.
info: www.dancesalad.org or
(877) 772-5425
PHOTO BY ALF BJORJESSON
IRREVERENT: Contemporary
Nordic Craft Art at the Yerba
Buena Center for the Arts
GRANBURY, TX, Through March 30
Norwegian photographer, video
and installation artist Espen R.
Krukhaug explores the changing
shades and forms during the
hours of darkness through his
photographs of urban nights. This
show comes with a musical collaboration with the Norwegian
experiment/ambient
band
'Orangedark'. At Studio 216, 216
W Pearl St.
Info: www.espenkrukhaug.com or
www.216art.com
NEW ORLEANS, LA, March 15,
The Norwegian Seamen's Church
in New Orleans, 1772 Prytania
Street
ATLANTA, GA, March 20, St.
Lukes Lutheran Church, 3264
Northside Parkway N.W.
JACKSONVILLE, FL, March 22,
St. Marks Church, 3976 Hendricks
Ave
The young Norwegian classical
pianist Knut Erik Jensen tours the
U.S. Jensen is the most frequently used pianist for the opera company in Trondheim and the above
concerts are the last of his spring
tour, "Nordic Elegance."
Info: www.knuterikjensen.com
performing arts
california
exhibits
Before Dawn
PHOTO BY ESPEN KRUKHAUG
Knut Erik Jensen on tour
photography exhibit
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, through
March 21
The presence of technological
installations on the isolated and
sublime island of Svalbard is the
focus of the Norwegian fine art
photographer Christian Houge's
images in his exhibition “Arctic
Technology”.
Info: www.hosfeltgallery.com or
(415) 495-5454
canada
PHOTO BY ULLA MONTAN
on tour
music
TORONTO, ON, through March 29
Contemporary playwright Jon
Fosse premier in Canada this
spring at One Little Goat Theatre
in Toronto. The play has been
translated by Harry Lane and
Adam Seelig under close consultations by the author.
Info: www.onelittlegoat.org
Norwegian Dance Company in
Vancouver
VANCOUVER, BC, May 7-9
One of Norway's foremost contemporary dance companies, Cie
Wee from Oslo, makes its
Canadian debut May 7-9, 2009 at
Canada's flagship dance facility,
Scotiabank Dance Centre.
Info: www.thedancecentre.ca
film
"The man who loved Yngve"
TORONTO, ON, May 14-24
The Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film
festival screen more than 275
films and videos. This year the
festival features the acclaimed film
from Norway "The man who loved
Yngve", directed by Stian
Kristiansen.
Info: www.insideout.ca
music
LANESBORO, MN, April 17-19
This year's events include Ibsen's
classic drama Hedda Gabler, an
exhibit by artist Julie McLaughlin
and lectures by Joan Templeton,
the president of the Ibsen Society
of America, and Ba Clemetsen,
the manager of Ibsen Festival at
the National Theatre of Norway.
Additional
events
include
Norwegian cultural presenters,
concerts, classes and folk art.
Info: 1-800-657-7025
The Thing, Nordic jazz band on
tour
VANCOUVER, BC, May 1
MONTREAL, QC, May 6-7
The Thing features one of
Sweden's leading sax players,
Mats Gustafsson, the brilliant
Norwegian rhythm section of
drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and
the bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten.
The threesome will be performing
at "The Ironworks" in Vancouver
May 1, and at the "Casa del
Popolo" in Montreal May 6 and 7.
Info: www.costaljazz.ca
spring 2009 | news of norway | 15
news of norway
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Washington, D.C.
Permit No. 251
Royal Norwegian Embassy
2720 34th. St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 333-6000
www.norway.org
PHOTO BY PAAL-ANDRÉ SCHWITAL
cover shot
Cert no. SW-COC-002142
COVER: Twenty-eight-year-old Geir
Skeie from the west coast of Norway
won the world championship for chefs –
Bocuse d’Or 2009.
News of Norway is printed on forest-friendly paper. Number of trees saved: 12.39;
total energy saved: 8,776,250 BTUs; greenhouse gas reduction: 1,147 lbs.; wastewater reduction: 5,263 gallons; solid waste reduction: 582 lbs.
news of norway
1 2009
inside:
Norwegian film production is at an
all time high. The biggest Norwegian
box-office success of 2008 was the
World War II drama “Max Manus,”
starring Aksel Henie. It is the second
most seen Norwegian film ever. One
in four Norwegians have seen it to
date, and it is still running in movie
theaters in Norway.
The 10th annual Scandinavian Film
Festival in Los Angeles showcased
four films in January this year. “The
response has been great. It is clear
that there is interest in Nordic film in
Hollywood” said founder and director James Koenig. There are six film
festivals in the United States screening Norwegian movies.
page 3
page 5
The Norwegian film “O’Horten” will
start showing in movie theaters in
the United States in May, 2009. In a
mixture of melancholy and comedy
the movie tells the story about train
driver Odd Horten, who contemplates his future as he steers his last
train across the mountains of western Norway before retirement looms.
“Men benefit from gender equality,”
said Norwegian Minister of Equality
Anniken Huitfeldt. She presented a
white paper about men and gender
equality for the United Nations in
New York in March, 2009. The World
Economic Report ranks Norway as
the No. 1 country in the world when it
comes to closing the gender gap.
page 7
page 11
www.norway.org