When they were all having dinner in the cabin or fixing the Buick, etc., Reidun was smoking and no one was saying anything about it. They first find her passed out from drinking too much and has to vomit. Couldn't they choose some other quirks for her to have? Anyone else think this was a little too much?
shareIn reply, I agree with by-jupiter's earlier post entitled "If this were from Hollywood..."
shareIt's funny how no one notices that. I didn't, none of her friends Elling, Kjell Bjarne or Alfons don't, and no one I watched the movie with did. It's not mentioned in the director's commentary either.
Weird.
I also had an "Oh no, don't do that" reaction to her drinking and smoking, but then I realized that this is set in Europe where everybody smokes and drinks constantly. Unfortunately, it's an accurate portrayal of the character.
This raises a larger issue. In walking the line between creating realistic film and presenting positive role models, where does the writer and director go?
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The health care in Norway actually strongly recomends that pregnant women give up all drinking and smoking during the pregnancy and breast-feeding. But there is no law against it, so it is up to every individual to decide for themself. Reidunn in this movie seemed to don't care, and that's her choice. Don't judge the health care in Norway and all the population from this fictional film. I strongly doubt Americans like to be called idiots just because you elected one for your president. The fact that one don't care about politics doesn't make you stupid.
share"Im from Europe and i don`t drink or smoke constantly.Yes i smoke but drink only in the weekend..."
Lol
Dont think that helps your arguement
sliderd-1, are you stupid or something? Saying "I realized that this is set in Europe where everybody smokes and drinks constantly" is like saying EVERYONE in Asia eats dogs. What applies to some people doesn't define a whole continent.
I'm from Norway, and I don't drink or smoke at all, and that goes for a lot of my friends too. And drinking and smomking while being pregnant IS frowned upon here. Check your facts before you post idiotic comments like that, please.
All Singing! All Dancing! All Flesh Eating!share
Cannibal! The Musical
In walking the line between creating realistic film and presenting positive role modelsWhy go for either? Hopefully people aren't watching films for "role models", they're watching them to enjoy fictions as such, and fictions must have differences from reality to be a fiction in the first place.
Which ignorant planet do you live on, Mr. American? We have the highest standard of living in the world in Norway. People drink less than most Europeans (measured in alcohol per capita/year), less than one fifth are smokers and we have free healthcare. Ignorant prick.
shareOh c'mon people... Reidun is suppoused to represent someone's who is really at one of her absolute low-points in life. She's in a bad economical situation, she's been knocked up by some random guy and she was probably an alcoholic before the pregnancy.
Most pregnat women in Norway (and Europe) don't smoke and drink while pregnant... please remember that most of Western-Europe's got a much better developed health-care system than the US.
There's probably more crack-babies in USA then children damaged by drinking/smoking in Norway :p
I am a Norwegian and I actually just watched Elling on TV. I had not seen it for a while, probably not since 2001/2, and I had forgotten what an excellent little film this is :)
To the discussion about the drinking and smoking. Norway was no 2 in banning smoking in public areas (June, 2004) like pubs, restaurants etc - after Ireland, and there is no common acceptance for smoking that harms others, be they unborn children or other adults. Most smokers will be very considerate and most pregnant women will give up smoking while pregnant. That said, the characters in the film are all in the lower end of the social range and/or in the social welfare system - and norms are different among these. With the limited knowledge that both Elling and Bjarne has of life in general, and the philosopher life of Alfons, they may even not know or care about the effect smoking has on unborn children. The same goes for the drinking of Reidun.
Norwegian cinema rarely takes on the role of norm maker or educator, normally we would see whatever people in a given group would do rather than what we would like them to do. Personally I like that, it makes it more believable to me. Most of us do not wake up, after having stuntman sex all night, with our hair laid out nicely, makeup impeccable and shiny white teeth. Many, albeit decreasing, smoke - in their cars, while pregnant, in bed etc. while others swear, screw around on their spouse, use prostitutes or drugs, lie, steal and so on. Our films mostly depict that, be it good or bad.