The 54th edition of the
Norwegian International Film Festival is held this year from Saturday 22nd August through until Friday 28th August in the town of Haugesund in Rogaland County, Norway, on the southwest coast of the country. The town, with a population of 47,000, lies about 60 kms north of the city of Stavanger and about 120 kms south of the city of Bergen. The festival goes back to 1973 and is therefore the oldest one in Norway, and as such has for several decades celebrated film and film art by being a meeting place for the Norwegian and Nordic film industry and the general public. The festival is an arena for film-professional and film-political discussions and a display window for national and international cinema.
The
Opening Film presentation is the Norwegian film
'Beloved' Directed by Erik Poppe and centres around Asle and Gerd who meet in a small coastal town on Norway's westernmost edge, facing the open sea. They have a son, and for a time their happiness seems complete. But Asle, a sailor, is restless and drawn back to the sea, while Gerd remains in the village, alone with their child. The distance between them grows, raising the question - how much distance can love endure?
Amanda, the national film award, saw the light of day in 1985. At the outset it was a film and TV award, but from 2005 and onwards it became a pure film award. For the first 20 years the ceremony was – except for the Nordic Amanda in 1993 – a co-operative effort between the Norwegian International Film Festival and the TV channel NRK. The awards recognise achievements across Norwegian cinema, including Acting, Directing, Screenwriting and technical filmmaking disciplines. The Amanda competition covers Norwegian feature films, theatrical documentaries and short films made for public exhibition. The Amanda Award consists of a statuette designed by the sculptor Kristian Kvakland.
There are six films in competition for the Amanda Award as follows :-
* 'A Mouse Hunt for Christmas' - this comedy family film from Norway is Directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken. A family from the city has borrowed their aunt's abandoned house to celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas in the country, unaware that the house is already inhabited! A very unusual family of mice have also decorated and are ready for Christmas, and they are not interested in visitors. So there is only one thing to do - set the traps, sharpen your senses and defend the house with whiskers, clever inventions and mouse powers.
* 'Don't Call Me Mama' - from Norway this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Nina Knag. Eva, a respected teacher and married to the town's Mayor, has her life turned upside down when she meets the young asylum seeker Amir, a talented poet who awakens feelings she cannot control. What begins as a mentorship develops into a forbidden relationship with increasingly serious consequences. What will happen to Eva's family, career and reputation?
* 'Flophouse America' - from Norway and the Netherlands, this documentary film is Directed by Monica Stromdahl. In a rarely intimate portrait, we meet 12-year-old Mikal, who was born and raised in the hotel room he shares with his substance-addicted parents. Mikal's greatest wish is for them to stop drinking. But what does it take for someone to truly change? As a result of the housing crisis in the USA, many move into cheap, dilapidated hotels—the so-called 'flophouse' hotels. Three years of footage have become an uncompromising and unforgettable film, dedicated to children in vulnerable situations.
* 'Seasiders - Tales from a Rugged Coast' - from Norway this documentary film is Directed by Elin Sander, Elisabeth Kleppe, Henrik Hylland Uhlving, and Produced by Elin Sander and Elisabeth Kleppe. This is a nostalgic, witty, and wild tribute to life along the Norwegian coast, and to the people who have clung to islands, islets, and fishing villages since time immemorial, and has been assembled from unique archival treasures spanning nearly a hundred years.
* 'Sentimental Value' - from Norway, this drama film is Directed by Joachim Trier. Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. Nora turns it down, but soon discovers he's given the part to an eager young Hollywood star. The two siblings must now navigate a complicated relationship with Gustav while dealing with an American actress dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics. Starring Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning. Academy Award winner.
* 'Trango' - from Norway and this documentary film is Co-Produced and Directed by Christopher Carvasal. Inspired by one of the greatest feats in climbing history, the legendary climber Robert Caspersen and his team embark on an adventure to the Himalayas with a dream of being the first to ascend one of the world’s highest cliffs, Trango Pulpit. The Norwegian expedition of 1984 was groundbreaking - a milestone in international climbing history - but it also had a dark side that would cast a shadow over the entire climbing community. Trango chronicles two expeditions 15 years apart, exploring the extreme risks, personal sacrifices, and the lifelong pursuit of achieving impossible dreams in the world’s most brutal mountain terrain.
For the complete line-up of feature films, documentaries and short films being showcased, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : http://www.filmfestivalen.no
Turning the focus back to this weeks big haul of nine new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we begin with a neo-Western crime thriller in which this beekeeper, musician, and anchor of his community, reunites with former foster daughter after many years apart, and fends off threats to his honey producing business. Then we have a biographical psychological drama film from a first time Director where a woman, after an abusive childhood, escapes into competitive swimming, sexual experimentation, toxic relationships, and addiction before finding her voice through writing. Next up we have an Icelandic family comedy drama offering that captures a year in the life of a family as the parents navigate their separation. Following on we have a biographical comedy drama film that sees nineteen-year-old Anthony Bourdain stumble into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that shapes the course of his life. Then we turn to an action thriller where, framed for the murder of his billionaire boss, a vengeful man uncovers an international conspiracy as he battles a gang of thugs aboard a cargo ship. Next is a comedy film that has three friends going on a spa weekend that descends into chaos when their disastrous friend joins. To follow we have a supernatural horror offering that is the sixth instalment in this franchise and here sees a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in, discovers she can travel into a place where she possesses an ability to bring what lives there back to the real world. And closing out the week we have two musical films - the first a coming of age road trip comedy in which three buddies drive cross-country in a van, causing mayhem and mischief while racing to LA for their big break - opening for Green Day on New Year's Eve; before wrapping up with a doco that explores the world of Metallica through the lives of their fans, including the band members themselves.
Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the nine latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.
'THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING' (Rated M) - this American neo-Western crime thriller film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Andrew Patterson in only his second feature film offering following 2019's critically acclaimed
'The Vast of Night'. This film had its World Premiere screening at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in mid-March 2025 and is scheduled for a wide cinema release in the US this week also. It has generated largely favourable critical reviews.
Set deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King (Matthew McConaughey) herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. He is also the unofficial Mayor of his rural community. When Amziah's estranged foster daughter Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass) unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah's rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built. Also starring Kurt Russell, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, Cole Sprouse and Owen Teague.
'THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER' (Rated R18+) - is an American biographical psychological drama film Co-Produced, Written and Directed by Kristen Stewart, in her feature film Directorial debut, and is based on the 2011 memoir of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch. Here, a young woman, Lidia Yuknavitch (Imogen Poots) finds escape from an abusive home through competitive swimming in the 1980's. After her athletic dreams are derailed, she navigates love, loss, addiction, sexuality, and her own self-destructive impulses while discovering her voice, and healing, through the transformative act of writing, and the power of water to heal. Also starring Thora Birch, Michael Epp, Earl Cave, Tom Sturridge, Charlie Carrick, Jim Belushi and Susannah Flood. The film had its World Premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of last years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2025, was released Stateside in early December last year, in the UK in early February this year, has so far grossed US$363K and has received generally positive reviews from critics.
- this Icelandic family comedy drama film is Written, photographed and Directed by Hlynur Palmason who made his feature film Directorial debut in 2017 with
'Winter Brothers' and thereafter
'A White, White Day' in 2019 and
'Godland' in 2022. Here, Anna (Saga Garoarsdottir), an artist, and Magnus (Sverrir Guonason), a fisherman, live with their three children and charismatic sheepdog (Panda) in the quiet grandeur of the Icelandic countryside. As the fractures in their marriage come to the surface, the couple try to hold onto the afterimages of a life together and make sense of a deep and lingering devotion. The film had its World Premiere in the Cannes Premiere section of the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2025, where the lead animal Actor, Panda, won the Palm Dog Award. It was released in its native Iceland in mid-August last year and only now does it get a showing in Australia, having generated positive critical reviews.
'TONY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American biographical comedy drama film that is Co-Written and Directed by Matt Johnson whose prior film making credits take in his debut in 2013 with
'The Dirties' and which he followed up with
'Operation Avalanche' in 2016,
'BlackBerry' in 2023 and
'Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie' in 2025. In 1975, a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain (Dominic Sessa) wants to be a writer but takes a summer job at a Cape Cod restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts, learning under the tutelage of a Brazilian-born restaurateur, known only as Chef (Antonio Banderas). The film is based on the early chapters of Bourdain's 2000 memoir
'Kitchen Confidential'. Also starring Emilia Jones, Rich Sommer and Leo Woodall. The film saw a limited release in the US from 7th August before going wide from this week also, and has generated positive critical reviews.
'MUTINY' (Rated MA15+) - this UK and US Co-Produced action thriller film is Directed by Jean-Francois Richet whose previous feature film making credits take in his debut with
'Inner City' in 1995, and which he would follow up with the likes of
'Assault on Precinct 13' in 2005,
'Blood Father' in 2016,
'The Emperor of Paris' in 2018 and
'Plane' in 2023. Here, after witnessing his billionaire boss's murder and being framed for the crime, Cole Reed (Jason Statham, who also Co-Produces here) boards a cargo ship on a one-man crusade to avenge his boss's death only to discover an international conspiracy. Also starring Annabelle Wallis, Jason Wong and Adrian Lester. The film is released Stateside this week too.
'SPA WEEKEND' (Rated M) - is an American comedy film Written and Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore whose previous Directorial pairing have given us
'21 & Over' in 2013,
'Bad Moms' in 2016,
'A Bad Moms Christmas' in 2017 and
'Jexi' in 2019. This film follows three best friends, Jane (Leslie Mann), Coco (Michelle Buteau) and Sophie (Anna Faris), as they embark on some much needed and welcome pampering during a luxury spa break in Palm Springs. But when their train wreck friend, Mel (Isla Fisher), turns up, the relaxation quickly descends into chaos with hilarious consequences. The film is released this week too in the US.
'INSIDIOUS : OUT OF THE FURTHER' (Rated M) - this American supernatural horror film is Written and Directed by Jacob Chase, who made his feature film debut with '
The Four-Faced Liar' in 2010 and which he would follow through with
'Come Play' in 2020, and
'Bad Boy' in 2025. This film serves as a sequel to 2023's
'Insidious : The Red Door', and is the sixth instalment in the
'Insidious' franchise, with the first five films in the series grossing a total US$732M at the worldwide Box Office off the back of combined production budgets amounting to just US$43M. Gemma (Amelia Eve), a young mother raising her daughter in her childhood home, discovers she can travel into the Further, a purgatorial realm of lost souls. When something evil comes after her, she realises she can bring what lives there back to the real world. Once the demons realise her power, our world becomes their playground. Also starring Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson Sellers and Lin Shaye, and is released this week also in the US.
'NIMRODS : A GREEN DAY COMEDY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American coming of age road comedy film that is Written and Directed by Lee Kirk who made his feature film debut with
'The Giant Mechanical Man' in 2102 and would follow this up with
'Ordinary World' in 2016. This film is based on 'Green Day's' limited success as an American rock band before the release of their breakout album
'Dookie' in 1994. In the film, three teenagers travel from Kansas City to Los Angeles under the false pretense that their band 'Analog Dogs' is opening for Green Day on New Year's Eve. The film stars Mason Thames, Mckenna Grace, Fred Armisen, and Green Day as themselves - Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool, had its World Premiere screening at TIFF in mid-September last year, was released in the USA last week, and has garnered generally positive reviews.
'METALLICA SAVED MY LIFE' (Rated CTC) - this documentary film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed. by Jonas Akerlund - a Swedish filmmaker and musician who is best known for his work in music videos, and for helming a number of concert and documentary films plus the feature films
'Spun', his debut, in 2002,
'Horsemen' in 2009,
'Small Apartments' in 2012,
'Lords of Chaos' in 2019 and
'Polar' in 2019. This film documents die-hard fans of Metallica and how the band give each of them a sense of identity and hope. It covers four decades of fandom and the found family each has from other Metallica
fans. What connects them all together is the sense of community, and one fan summarises it as 'Metallica is all of us together. It belongs to all of us'. The film also covers some of the struggles the band has gone through, like James Hetfield's (the bands singer and guitarist) insecurity and time in rehabilitation. Also starring other band members Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo. The film Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in mid-June 2025, and only now does it get a limited showing in Australia.
With nine new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.
-Steve, at Odeon Online-
