Archive of films Art of Negative Thinking / Kunsten å tenke negativt
Norway
2006, 79 min
Section:
Official Selection - Competition
Year: 2007
A spirited psychologist accompanies a group of invalids to the house of Ingvild and Geirr, her self-destructive husband who has been wheelchair-bound for two years. Geirr, however, rebels against his wife’s attempts to rescue their marriage via positive thinking therapy. A black comedy about dealing with stifling compassion and false sincerity once and for all.
Synopsis
Geirr is thirty-three. Two years ago he was involved in a car accident and is now impotent and unable to walk. In an attempt to save a marriage in crisis, Geirr’s wife Ingvild invites a group of physically disabled people to visit them, headed by the spirited psychologist Tori. The hitherto self-destructive lover of Johnny Cash and war films rebels against this uninvited invasion of “positive” energy and, aided by his at times brutal sincerity, he tries to gain control of the situation. Inside a fine-looking house in a peaceful part of town, a single night of score-settling evinces expressions of false sincerity, stifling compassion, and seemingly reliable methods for healing the soul. The debut director mixes a familiar brew of Scandinavian psychological drama about human relationships, and sarcastic black comedy, the whole viewed as a raw, quasi-documentary. The filmmaker’s original vision is enhanced by a musical accompaniment aimed at rock gourmets (Steppenwolf, Nina Simone and the above-mentioned Johnny Cash).
About the director
Bård Breien read literary history at Oslo university, and then studied film in Copenhagen. He has written scripts for educational and short films, including Que sera, sera. His first film, Franks prolaps, was nominated for the annual Norwegian Amanda film award in 2003. The film The Art of Negative Thinking is Breien’s feature film debut.
Contacts
Norwegian Film Institute
Box 482 Sentrum, 0105, Oslo
Norway
Tel: +47 224 745 00
Fax: +47 224 745 97
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.nfi.no
Maipo Film & TV-Produksjon AS
P.O.Box 275, N - 1319, Bekkestua
Norway
Tel: +47 67 525 190
Fax: +47 67 525 196
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.maipo.no
Nordisk Film International Sales
Mosedalvej 14, 2500, Valby
Denmark
Tel: +45 331 882 00
Fax: +45 331 895 50
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.nordiskfilmsales.com
CinemArt, a.s.
Národní 60/28, 111 21, Praha 1
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 224 949 110
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.cinemart.cz
About the film
Color, 35 mm
International premiere
Section: | Official Selection - Competition |
---|---|
Director: | Bård Breien |
Screenplay: | Bård Breien |
Dir. of Photography: | Gaute Gunnari |
Editor: | Zaklina Stojcevska |
Producer: | Dag Alveberg |
Production: | Maipo Film & TV-Produksjon AS |
Cast: | Marian Saastad Ottesen, Fridjov Såheim, Kirsti Eline Torhaug, Per Schaaning, Henrik Mestad, Kari Simonsen, Kjersti Holmen |
Contact: | Norwegian Film Institute , Maipo Film & TV-Produksjon AS, Nordisk Film International Sales |
Distributor: | CinemArt, a.s. |
www: | www.maipo.no |
Guests
Stine Oppegaard
Film Institution Rep.
Bård Breien
Film Director
Fridtjov Saheim
Actor, Actor
Marian Saastad Ottesen
Actress, Actress
Synnove Horsdal
Producer
Tine Klint
Sales Agent
Nicolai Korsgaard
Sales Agent