31/01/2005

For a first presence at the Rotterdam Film Festival VPRO Tiger Awards, Norway is already considered one of the most promising nominee with the film Hawaii, Oslo, Erik Poppe's second feature film (his 1998 film Schpaaa received general approval as did his work as picture director for Bent Hamer's Eggs).

Hawaii, Oslo's clever plot involves five different intertwining love stories, five different destinies which all have subtle influences on one another. The action takes place in Oslo; yet, the metaphorical scenery behind that is Hawaii. Hawaii, Oslo is nevertheless is different reality from Hawaii, Hawaii. The former is a bar in the centre of Oslo where Leon (played byJohn Gunnar), on his twenty fifth birthday and halfway between hope and anxiety, is waiting to meet is childhood love again. The latter is the paradise island where Leon's brother Trygve (Aksel Hennie) claims to live, until he can actually escape from his prison cell —the escape beeing scheduled on that same day, Leon's birthday— to fly to the destination of his dreams. But there's a rub: Vidar (Trond Espen Seim), Leon's nurse and guardian angel, has seen that day turn hellish in a premonitory dream...

Erik Poppe (who also produces the film, together with Finn Gjerdrum and Torleif Hauge by means of their company, Paradox Produksjon SA) started on a childhood memory: "My aunt regularly sent us exotic and colourful postcards from her holidays in Hawaii. Of course this island seems to be some kind of paradise of earth but it also has ugly parts. In my film, Hawaii is a metaphor for the dreams and illusions we all have and which are a key to our strength and ambition in life. I wanted my film to be full of love and hope."

This Norwegian candidate for an Oscar as best foreign film, very much impressed the audience in Rotterdam, where it has just been shown. In its own country, it has already sold 180 000 tickets. The beauty of the protagonists, the strength of the plot, and the originality of the film's construction are likely to ensure even greater success. The distribution of Hawaii, Oslo outside Norway will be handled by Denmark's Trust Film Sales.

(Translated from French)