MovieChat Forums > Oslo, 31. august (2011) Discussion > Norway as a country...

Norway as a country...

posted 12 years ago by mentalgod
10 replies | jump to latest

To understand why I do adore this movie above any other norse movie? Because, we are showered with thoughts and slogan as "Norway, the richest and best country in the world" ... Propaganda for the healthy and perfect people.

And here we do have a character - who have got it all: Rich parents, grew up on the "right west side" of Oslo, educated and ... does not want to live anymore.
Well, he could want to live, if you fix the inner self, that all the time is poking your soul. The inner self, that is so dark - and unfix able ... Because:
It does not get any better, this so called life.

Them others, them people who like to live, they might whisper, scream, pray and say that things will get better, but - when you never feel that inside never see that? Then there is often only one solution.

No, this is not a hail the people who do not want to live.

This is just a big up for a theme not everybody understand. Like, in Norway - the people who leave this earth by their own choice? A big taboo.
And here? We are served a beautiful movie about the taboo ...

Of course, there is also the drug problem. Norway do have a big drug problem, mainly in Oslo. But to me, as I see this movie - the drug is just added to a soul who do not see life itself as them others ...

[–] mothnm 12 years ago

Agree that the clear-sighted "life is a bust" even from the top is the strength of the film but reacted more negatively to the self-proclaimed spoiled brat failure and his beautiful, unsatisfied friends. I was glad when the movie star kicked Ander's butt for the damage he had done people. Family isn't enough and neither are drugs since you cannot stay high. The job opportunity that might offer a bit of satisfaction isn't enough, although I don't see why not since it would have given him something to do. I didn't see what you all saw in him until close to the end when he gives a big, real smile and I want to be friends with him in spite of what it would cost me. We are given life. It seems like there is an obligation to see it through. A smile like that helps.

[–] mothnm 12 years ago

You are correct that it doesn't get any better than "spoiled brat, complete failure" (as he describes himself) Anders has it. His beautiful, unsatisfied friends don't seem to feel much better off. Family doesn't work. Drugs don't keep you high. Anders rejects a job that could offer some satisfaction, and more importantly, give him something to do. We are given life. There is an obligation to see it through. You don't get to cheat by using drugs. That's the program. Film captures the glumness of it.

[–] PunchB 11 years ago

There is an obligation to see it through.

There is no obligation. Every person is free to choose his own fate, out of the options available (which might be limited). One might feel an obligation towards some people in one's life, but that depends on each individual.

You don't get to cheat by using drugs.

"You don't get to" means nothing. Some people choose drugs. For some this goes badly, others handle it. But that is irrelevant. The only way "don't get to" comes into play is if it's illegal and you get caught.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] PunchB 11 years ago

I did not say that life is nothing; it certainly isn't. I'm just saying that there is no innate "obligation" to do anything specific with it, unless you believes in a deity who has some rules regarding this obligation.

When I talked about the law, I was talking about doing drugs, not killing yourself with an overdose. But going back to suicide, there are many potential things influencing that decision, not only the law (if you do it in an illegal way), but also concern for your family and other people in your life. But one of those concerns is for yourself. Whether your life is good or even bearable is not for anybody else to say. You might be living in intense pain, whether that is physical or psychological, with no hope of it getting better. I'm not even saying that suicide is right or wrong. It depends on each person's situation how right or wrong it is. But you can't tell me what this obligation you talk about is. Obligation to whom?

[–] mothnm 11 years ago

sorry. Blew you off as a typical IMDB always right, insulting egomaniac, but this is thoughtful. Obligation is to whatever source, to me it actually would seem Divine, God, breathed a spark of life into all of our selves, that created what we would consider a life. Even if, like me, no matter how hard I tried I could barely make a difference in the human condition, for sure barely make spiritual progress, I have to concede that I feel an obligation to keep uselessly seeing it through to the end, however and whenever death manifests. It happens. No use rushing. Plus a suspicion that if you cut it short you have to repeat, starting from scratch. My childhood wasn't bad but I really don't want to redo it. With this belief it was exasperating to see the main character in this film decide life doesn't offer enough so he quit. I agree completely that day to day life isn't enough (and drugs can be a very cool experience) but not with his death solution. You probably have a different set of beliefs, which are?

[–] PunchB 11 years ago

I don't believe in any form of deity or supernatural force. At least I know that we can never know, and we have no way of knowing what happens after we die, so to me it's pointless to even speculate that it could be this or that.

I admit that when I wrote my first post, I didn't even consider the implications of a god, but I added it in my second post ("unless you believe in a deity"). Yes, that changes things for you. For me though, who see no point in considering that possibility, I see the choice of how you end your life (naturally or not) to be the choice of each individual.

To me it's obvious that every holy text is man-made. But I can't prove that there is no god. As I said, we can't know for sure. But if there is one, and he somehow judges us, it could just as well be that he digs when we do bad stuff and when we kill ourselves. We can't know anything about this guy. If he exists, he's unknowable per definition. So to me he's just ignorable in every sensible discussion.

[–] Stirchley 10 years ago

We are given life. There is an obligation to see it through.

I agree. I loved this movie, but the entire time I wanted to scream at Anders Go do some volunteer work! Volunteer in a children's hospital, for example, and you'll see kids there who really have something to cry about. Enough of the self-pity already!

He was already clean for 10 months. It was so sad he just could not get a grip on himself and do something for others. It really would have taken his mind off his own "troubles".

[–] sosiopat 12 years ago

Interesting prose. Harald Eia, is that you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPLL34qobmw

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

Them others, them people who like to live, they might whisper, scream, pray and say that things will get better, but - when you never feel that inside never see that? Then there is often only one solution.

It may present as the only solution but it rarely, if ever, is because life usually offers mutliple solutions if you/a person can see them. Anders was offered other solutions in the film: he had the possibilities of connecting to people authentically, e.g. his ex-GF who shared her anguish, and the job interviewer who seemed really interested in Anders. Even his sister's GF who cannot contain her feelings cared for him because of his sister.

Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scoot