1/26/2007

Monster Thursday

Director: Arild Ostin Ommundsen

Although filmed in Sweden, this engrossing and intimate Norwegian movie uses surfing as metaphor in its tale of a young man named Even who decides to challenge himself by taking up the sport in the hopes of winning the heart of an old flame. The fact that his ex Karen marries his good friend Tord at the start of the film doesn’t deter our hero in the least although he learns more about putting faith into himself as the surf lessons take effect and after he is asked to take care of pregnant Karen when his friend leaves for Singapore for an extensive business trip. Surfers and those interested in meteorology will love the technical elements but foreign film buffs looking for something different should try to track the film down as it marks a new genre from Norway because honestly, how often are you going to see a film about Norwegians trying to catch a big wave?