The Bothersome Man

IMDb Link

This is the kind of film I wish I could write.
This is the kind of film I wish I could see more often.

I have not seen the other films directed by Jens Lien, nor the ones written by Per Schreiner. I want to, but I also don't. Because they probably aren't as good as this.

Imagine a mix between Kafka, Orwell, Blier and Lynch, with a bit of Wes Craven and a hint of Wenders (well, just for the outfit at the beginning). In fact, it's such a mix of things that at this point, we can't call it a mix anymore and admit that it is its own thing.

I don't want to give anything away, because you have to discover it all on your own, but I was never bored and I was always wondering what was going to happen. Many many times, I told myself: 'What the fuck?!'
But in a good way! It's a sad film, and it's funny and it's strange and well: it's just so not typical in any way, all the way down to the very open-ended ending, where none of your questions get answered (or do they?).

This film could be about many things, I guess it depends on who's watching it, but for me it hit all of my favorite themes...

It's about a vapid society with no feelings (and therefore no kids or animals that could make you feel anything), it's a society of zombies, where we work to buy furniture, have sex (and kiss. Without pleasure), socialize with acquaintances and where we always hide our worries. Individuality is frowned upon, complaining is dangerous. Dreaming is scary. And bothersome. Escape is seen as strange and down-right illegal. Food is tasteless, booze doesn't get you drunk. Everything is scrubbed clean.
Shit, the protagonist might have ended up in Switzerland!

Anyway, not even death can deliver you. It seems to work for some, but not for our protagonist. Indeed, some people die. Some people puke. But not him. Why is that?

So is this his own version of hell? Or perhaps even heaven? Is this his own version of reality? Is this him missing his childhood and innocence? Is this him wrongly thinking things can't get worse?

I don't think I gave anything away. I am saying if you want to see an original, weird, slightly disturbing and thought-provoking film, then this is for you. If thinking is too much of a bother for you, crack open another MGD, get the popcorn going and go ahead and watch 'Twilight' for the fifth time.

This film would make film students have an orgasm while writing about what it could mean and all the symbols, from the light bulbs to the vagina-like crack in the wall, heading to a small hole and life. All the furniture and the cleanliness and... and... and it's endless.

In the end, three words: Norway: Fuck, yeah!