Elling poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Per Christian Ellefsen, Sven Nordin, Per Christensen, Jørgen Langhelle, Marit Pia Jacobsen ... see more see more... , Hilde Olausson , Ola Otnes , Eli Anne Linnestad , Cecilie A. Mosli , Joachim Rafaelson , Per Gorvel

Following up on his acclaimed debut Absolute Hangover, Petter Naess spins this feel-good drama about a pair of misfits trying to get along with each other and the outside world. Elling (Per Christian ... read more read more...Ellefsen) is a neurotic, shy would-be writer who still lives with his mother. That is at least until she dies, and poor Elling is cast of the house by the health department and sent to state institution. While Elling has no experience with the outside world -- though he has a very active interior world -- his roommate Kjell Bjarne is a sex-obsessed hulk mass of a man raring to get out. Initially, these two wildly different guys get along famously. Only when they move into public housing together do cracks develop in their relationship. Elling refuses to leave the apartment or answer the phone, and tries to restrict Kjell-Bjarne's movement as well. When the brawny lothario shacks up with the girl next door, Elling goes ballistic with jealousy. Does Elling accept his lack of control of the world or does he retreat into himself? This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

90% liked it

6,601 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

58 critics

R, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Petter Naess

Release Date: May 29, 2002

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 19, 2002

Stats: 432 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (432)

  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    I am really amazed at how much I liked this movie. At first I had my doubts, but then I just found myself unable to turn it off. These two guys were a hoot! I like how it all turned out. Very nice.
  • flixsterman
    January 24, 2009
    flixsterman
    Touching and delightful!

    Two middle-aged, mentally challenged men team up to live as roommates in urban Oslo. Somehow , their odd, symbiotic relationship allows them to cope with the day-to-day challenges of independent living. Even though their methods might be peculiar, the... read more results are frequently hilarious and sometimes inspirational.

    Thank you Norway for this wonderful gem of a film.
  • binky013
    January 21, 2007
    binky013
    As Monk says, no friendship is perfect. A kind, quirky, and quiet look at friendship and mental illness. Long live the Sauerkraut Poet!
  • tard15r06
    January 22, 2011
    tard15r06
    I went to see the stage production based on this Norwegian film in London in 2007 and due to my enjoyment, I bought the film.

    Per Christian Ellefsen stars as Elling, a man recently released from a state institution. He is shy, neurotic, obsessively neat and tidy, agoraphobic ... read moreand is unable to operate in the real world as his mother handled all of his decision making processes for the first 40 years of his life.

    As part of his release into the community, he is required to share a state funded apartment with fellow released patient, Kjell Bjarne, portrayed by Sven Nordin. Kjell Bjarne is the total opposite loud mouthed and foul mouthed, scruffy and sex obsessed. If he isn't thinking about sex, he's talking to Elling about sex and if he isn't talking to Elling about sex, he is running up phone sex bills of 4000 Krone.

    The conditions of their release are seemingly simple, they must prove to their social worker that they can operate as normal members of society or they lose the apartment, but when going to the grocery store to shop is a major challenge how can they meet their release conditions?

    Through two chance meetings, Elling with poet and author Alfons Jorgensen (Per Christensen) and Kjell Bjarn's meeting and subsequent romance with pregnant neighbour Reidun Nordsletten (Marit Pia Jacobsen), the pair look to unconventional methods to cope with the society that is unleashed on their existence.

    As this is a foreign language film, you are reliant on the subtitles. However, you can see from Ellefsen's and Nordin's performances that this is your basic "odd couple" storyline.

    Ellefsen's portrayal is that of small compact spring - a bundle of nervous energy which looks to take up as little screen film as possible. Elling's voice is that for the majority of the film as you hear his opinions of his relationship with Kjell Bjarne and of life in general.

    As befitting a man with a large personality, the portrayal of Kjell Bjarne is a big bear of a character, when he's loud he's very loud. When he swears or talks about sex it's for all the world to hear.

    This is a darkly comic script which deals with life problems. However, the script never mocks the issue of mental health and you laugh with Elling and Kjell Bjarn and not mockingly at them.

    Whilst this is a film that won't change your life and delivers quiet chuckles rather than belly laughs, please seek this out in your home entertainment store to rent. You may be pleasantly surprised.
  • lesleyanorton
    September 29, 2009
    lesleyanorton
    Gently underplayed sweet story about two men getting it together in the real world after release from a Norwegian state home, with the help of not-so-gentle prods from their care worker. I completely and utterly loved this film.
  • spaulsson
    February 17, 2009
    spaulsson
    Pretty funny but most of all heart-warming. Great acting and nice music. Unfortunately I could relate to the thoughts and actions of the asocial characters which made the movie both enjoyable and a bit disturbing for me.
  • KLFilmmaker
    October 8, 2006
    KLFilmmaker
    Funny & touching. This film may induce tears. Deserving of an Oscar nomination.
  • thereverendtholomewplague
    July 28, 2010
    thereverendtholomewplague
    Definitely an up-lifting movie. And particularly heart warming! Also very entertaining and not to mention, hilarious. Sometimes ridiculous but overall a decent and riveting film.
  • clooneyfan
    December 10, 2007
    clooneyfan
    Charming Norweigan film about two men who are in a state institution and get assigned to share an apartment together.
  • omikan27
    December 17, 2006
    omikan27
    Both lead characters drove me up a tree, but I cared about them too much NOT to worry over their fate.

View All Elling Reviews

Critic Reviews

Philip Wuntch
December 5, 2002
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

It's affectionate and optimistic without being fuzzy. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
September 13, 2002
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

A charming but slight comedy. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
September 13, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Elling, portrayed with quiet fastidiousness by Per Christian Ellefsen, is a truly singular character, one whose frailties are only slightly magnified versions of the ones that vex nearly everyone. Full Review

Ty Burr
September 13, 2002
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Touches smartly and wistfully on a number of themes, not least the notion that the marginal members of society ... might benefit from a helping hand and a friendly kick in the pants. Full Review

Roger Ebert
September 13, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is refreshingly undogmatic about its characters. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
September 5, 2002
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A witty and sophisticated sensibility brings individuality to the classic odd-couple comedy. Full Review

Susan Stark
August 23, 2002
Susan Stark, Detroit News

A film of charm, freshness and bracingly generous humanity.

Terry Lawson
August 23, 2002
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

It's thoroughly entertaining and nonpatronizing, and occasionally even insightful. Full Review

Steven Rea
July 11, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A plucky parable about mastering one's fears, and making connections.

Carla Meyer
June 28, 2002
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

Blessed with two fine, nuanced lead performances. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • As It Is in Heaven (Så som i himmelen)
    As It Is in Heaven (Så som i himmelen) (100%)
  • As Good As It Gets
    As Good As It Gets (0%)
  • Mors Elling (Mother's Elling)
    Mors Elling (Mother's Elling) (100%)
  • The Odd Couple
    The Odd Couple (0%)

More Movies like Elling

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Elling : Watch Free on TV

Elling Trivia

  • the 1999 Norwegian comedy drama Elling takes it's title from the name of one of the characters?  Answer »
More Elling Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Elling. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Elling to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?