Marking the centennial of Norway’s independence as a country in 2005, this astonishing and humorous film look at what it means to be Norwegian. Using archival footage and revelatory commentary, the film provides an image of the “typical Norwegian” character navigating modern challenges with great seriousness and observes the small nation’s attempts to win power and glory by conquering ever more masses of snow and ice. Full of sharp humor and embarrassing insights, this film reveals sides of the seemingly quiet kingdom most foreigners would never expect existed. At the heart of this meditation on Norway and “Norwegianness” lies a more serious question: What will it mean to be Norwegian 100 years from now? Will small countries — even prosperous ones, like Norway — be able to maintain some semblance of uniqueness and identity?

Sigve Endresen has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a producer and director of documentary films. His best known productions have been commercially and critically successful and have won numerous festival awards.

Rune Denstad Langlo started working for Motly’s production company in 1998. Together with Sverre Galgum, he was nominated for an Amanda award in 2000 for the documentary film Did You Leave Us, Blake?

Producers: Rune Denstad Langlo, Sigve Endresen Screenwriters: Rune Denstad Langlo, Sigve Endresen Cinematographers: Pål Bugge Haagenrud, Torstein Nodland, Anders Flatland
Editor: Erik Anderson Music: Andreas Mjøs, Håkon Gebhardt Cast: Odd Børretzen