A short history of Norwegian cinema
The first Norwegian fiction film is said to have been made between 1906 and 1908 by Swedish photographer Julius Jaenzon. Soberly entitled The Dangers of a Fisherman's Life , this ten-minute short has unfortunately been lost. All that remains of the film is a 1954 reconstruction shot in Frognerkilen, a bay just outside Oslo. The first Norwegian talkie, Den store barnedåpen or The Great Baptism, was directed in 1931 by Tancred Ibsen, grandson of the famous playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen would go on to become one of the leading directors of the following decades, with a melodramatic style reminiscent of Hollywood films. In another register, Thor Heyerdahl, who became famous thanks to the Kon-Tiki expedition, directed an eponymous documentary in 1950, recounting his crossing of the Pacific in the footsteps of the first navigators. A national critical and popular success, the film was remade in 2012, and nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category. A fifth international achievement for Norwegian cinema, fifty-five years after Arno Skouen's Nine Lives, the story of a tragic episode in the Second World War set on the Norwegian coast and the country's first film to be acclaimed by the Academy.
Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress, director and screenwriter, made her name with Ingmar Bergman films such as Persona (1966), Cries and Whispers (1972) and the mini-series Scenes from Married Life (1973). She also made several films, the latest of which, Miss Julie (2014), brings together Colin Farrell and Jessica Chastain in a film adaptation of Strindberg. Today, the figurehead of national cinema is undoubtedly Joachim Trier, the grandson of the great Erik Løchen, who directed The Hunt in 1959. He has been a regular director at Cannes since Oslo, August 31st (2011) was selected in the Un Certain Regard category. Most recently, his film Julie (in 12 chapters) (2021), which narrates the wanderings and setbacks of a thirty-year-old woman faced with her own life choices, was hailed by international critics as one of the major films of the year.
Norway, when blockbusters go green
The beauty of its snowy landscapes and the tranquility of its forests and fjords have long attracted the major Hollywood studios to Norway. In The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the second film in the Star Wars saga, the mountains of Finse form the snowy backdrop to the planet Hoth, where the rebels took refuge before the Empire, led by Darth Vader, came to flush them out. Han Solo and Luke Skywalker traverse the wind- and gust-beaten ridges of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier, while the battle scenes between the AT-ATs and the X-Wings are remembered as one of the highlights of this episode of the series. In fact, rides and events dedicated to fans are organized every winter, so find out more before you plan your trip.
More recently, Christopher Nolan's Tenet (2020) takes John David Washington and Robert Pattinson to the roof of the Oslo Opera House, as the characters discuss the implications of time and space in this enigmatic film from the director ofInception and the Batman trilogy. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson, aka The Black Widow, offers herself a temporary retreat in Sæbø, along the splendid Hjørundfjord, in Black Widow (2021). Before a hard return to reality in this spy movie from the Marvel universe. As for Timothée Chalamet, he roams the Statlandet Fjords, landscapes of the fictional Caladan, preparing his departure for the planet Arrakis, better known as Dune (2021).
But the most beautiful shots are to be found in the latest opus in the James Bond saga, Mourir peut attendre (2021). Léa Seydoux, Daniel Craig and Rami Malek play cat-and-mouse in the snowy forests of Hakadal and around Lake Langvann, before a captivating chase along the impressive Atlantic Road and Trollstigen, two of the country's most beautiful scenic roads.
Norway in series and in streaming
On the series front, Netflix, the giant on the lookout for new territories, has also set its sights on Norway. On the menu: a comic return to the Viking roots of the country's history, but also a teen series with a Nordic twist.
Starting with the phenomenon Skam (2015), a web series that took a completely unexpected international turn for its director Julie Randem. Originally aimed at Norwegian teenagers, this teen drama is produced by NRK, Norway's largest audiovisual group. Skam 's success can be explained by its choice of a more refreshing portrayal of high-school students, at a time when teen dramas are criticized for their lack of realism. Their more "realistic" lives have moved children, adults and teenagers around the world. As a result, the concept has been exported, and there are now versions everywhere: Skam France, Skam Belgium, Skam España...
If you're more of a history buff, immerse yourself in the three seasons of Norsemen. With the inhabitants of Norheim, you'll have a great time and experience some incredible adventures alongside these sea pirates and great feasters. An offbeat series with a captivating atmosphere, recreated in the Rogaland county, more specifically around Avaldnes, Karmøy and the island of Bukkøya. If you're not lucky enough to travel to these remote locations, you should know that the third season moved to Borre and the Midgard Vikingsenter for most of its filming, which is much easier to reach from Oslo.
Another Norwegian production, Ragnarök, builds a fantastic universe around the end of the Viking world, with climate change and teenage drama. Fans of the genre will find all the intrigue and heartbreaking romance they could wish for, set against the grandiose backdrop of the Odda region. If you get the chance, consider recreating one of the series' memorable scenes by visiting Trolltunga, the stone spit overlooking the waters of Lake Ringedalsvatnet. Perhaps not, however, in the same camera as Vidar, one of the protagonists, unless you want to see your Norwegian stay drastically curtailed.
In 2 seasons of 8 episodes,State of Happiness tells the story of the discovery of Norway's oil reserves, an event that changed the country's destiny and its place on the international stage. Screenplay and soundtrack both won awards at Canneséries in 2018.
The Exit series explores the lives of wealthy businessmen in all their excitement and drama. A series full of twists and turns, and all the more captivating for being based on real events...
Finally, there's the recent series Beforeigners, a resolutely contemporary thriller in which migrants from different eras arrive in contemporary Oslo. A mix of detective series and time travel, the two seasons will keep you on the edge of your seat as you stroll through the capital. More anecdotal, but nonetheless worthy of note, the series Occupied (2015), Lilyhammer (2012), Home for Christmas (2019), Bloodride (2020) and Makta (2023) testify to the growing diversity of Norwegian productions for the small screen.
