Radio Lady Recommends: "The Bothersome Man" (Opens 8/24/07 in New York City)

[Radio_Lady]

This is Ellen Kimball for Oregon Public Broadcasting's Accessible Information Network. This movie deserves an "A-plus" on Ellen's Entertainment Report Card.

If you happen to be in New York City, you can see it on screen beginning Friday, 8/24 at Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street, New York, NY. Their website is: www.cinemavillage.com Also, you can check out www.filmmovement.com for this movie, as well as many other interesting flicks selected from juried film festivals all over the world. Well worth the price -- and once you join, you own the DVDs! (No returns required!)



“THE BOTHERSOME MAN” OPENS IN NYC FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH IN AN EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT AT CINEMA VILLAGE

Film Movement will open the multiple award-winning, pitch dark comedy from Norway, The Bothersome Man, in an exclusive engagement at Cinema Village, on August 24th, followed by a limited national release.

Director Jen Lien’s feature, made after a successful early career as a short filmmaker, has received awards at the Cannes, Hamptons, Brussels and Athens Film Festivals among others, as well as three Amanda Film Awards (Norway’s Academy Awards equivalent.) Compared in his imagery to Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson (Songs from the Second Song), and with definite influences ranging from David Lynch to Jacques Tati, The Bothersome Man is an example of “formidable assurance, a compelling look, quiet skill and impressive economy.” (Michael Wilmington)

Synopsis of The Bothersome Man:

Forty-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvåg) arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a comfortable apartment and a stress-free office job, where he is soon making friends with co-workers. He even quickly meets and moves in with a pretty interior designer, but their life together seems to be ruled by routine and mechanical sex. Before long, Andreas starts to notice that something is very wrong—everybody in this town is always content, but without passion or strong feelings; the food is tasteless, and even the alcohol has lost its inebriating effect.

Not being able to bear a life without emotions, Andreas makes several attempts to escape the city, but he discovers there's no way out, and even several attempts to kill himself prove unsuccessful. It is then that he meets Hugo, an older man living in a basement, who has found a crack in a wall in his cellar. Beautiful music streams out from the crack, as well as the smell of a freshly baked pie--maybe this hole leads to "the other side"? A new plan for escape is hatched, but will Andreas and Hugo be able to get out before they are found out by the strict city’s authorities?

2006, Norway, 95 mins , Color
Norwegian with English subtitles

(Crossposted to New York forum)