European cinema is lucky. At a time when cinemas are struggling to survive and planning less and less variety of releases, a small Norwegian film has managed to carve out a niche within our borders. It’s about ‘Everybody hates Johan’, a black comedy from first-time director Hallvar Witzø that arrives in the cinemas of our country from the hand of Avalon.
The film follows the life of Johan Grande, an eccentric man who lives in a small isolated town in Norway. The son of two mad Communist craftsmen during World War II and an orphaned child as a result, Johan is just trying to get a job in a society that rejects him. His fundamental goal is to win over Solvor, the love of his life. But his inherited passion for explosives and his inability to adapt become two major obstacles he will face again and again.
Going into “Everybody Hates Johan”, you have to be clear that Norwegian comedy has its own idiosyncrasies. And in the film, while it is certainly accessible to all audiences, that Scandinavian personality is present. Witzø makes jokes less frequently than one would expect in a film of this genre. But when he manages to sneak one of them, he usually does it in a very abrupt, quirky and funny way.
In the end, the fact that the protagonist can be described as a poor and tender wretch is good for the work. Whenever it looks like he’s about to lift his head, he or the universe puts him in a new brown that makes life a little more impossible. And it’s a lot of fun, yes. But, in turn, the drama behind it is gradually gaining ground.
jokes that hide tears
It happens with particular assiduity when the story of the heartbreak between Johan and Solvor is on the screen. Everything is a fun no-brainer until the characters’ looks have become so sad that it’s impossible to go back. At that point, the subtle play of “Everyone Hates Johan” has already taken its toll and the heart that exists within her has permeated everything.
It’s a commendation to the work of the script to revive and maintain a story that, in reality, is still the classic development of a man who beholds a series of catastrophic misfortunes. The background of the plot has nothing particularly original, but it presents itself with taste. Witzø, as director, ensures that the car always looks forward in a low-risk but effective direction. And effective, as the landscapes are visually beautiful. This, along with a compelling cast, makes ‘Everybody Hates Johan’ a pleasant surprise.
In short, “Everybody Hates Johan” is an interesting proposition. It will not go down in the history of the comic genre, nor will it enter the list of Norwegian films not to be missed. But for those looking for a good story, far from the usual blockbuster and with a lot of heart behind them, there will be a sweet candy. with which to go out to the cinema amidst laughter and moments of considerable dramatic force.
Note: 6
The best: The depth and heart behind its quirky character.
Worse: He doesn’t propose anything that hasn’t been seen before.
Source: E Cartelera
