This is a stylistically impressive film, with a rather simple plot, allowing the characters to shine through. And it is the characters in this film that makes it such an enjoyable one. The dialog seems natural, for once, as Norwegian acting have a history of being overly dramatic and static. Especially Bjørn Sundquist does a brilliant job of portraying an ice-cold, bitter man. The character could easily have been drawn over the top, but Sundquist is remarkably believable in this role. The cinematography and mise-en-scene provide a beautiful, yet colorless platform for this person's life. A complaint could be that the symbolism in the film is somewhat obvious at times, but with such a strong sense of style and portrayal of believable, yet strange people, this is easily forgiven. I'm giving it a plus for good use of music as well! All in all it's easily the best Norwegian film since O'Horten, in my opinion (a film which it also shares several similarities with).
5 Reviews
Heartfelt and Well Done!
tobiasbkahn11 November 2009
Jernanger tells the story of cantankerous old sailor and the young man he befriends. Taking place almost exclusively on a rickety old boat in a Norwegian town, the film is simple, beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and moving.
The movie flirts with cheesiness, the angry old man develops a fatal disease where his heart grows ... and then he learns how to love again! Get it?!?! But the stark northern European minimalism, dreary mood, and great script cancels out the risks of too much sentimentalism. Also, there are a couple of moments when action is inserted into the film in an unnecessary, Hollywoodesque fashion, but even so, these characters are well-developed and authentic.
Essentially, it's a classic tale told beautifully, and its worth your time and money.
The movie flirts with cheesiness, the angry old man develops a fatal disease where his heart grows ... and then he learns how to love again! Get it?!?! But the stark northern European minimalism, dreary mood, and great script cancels out the risks of too much sentimentalism. Also, there are a couple of moments when action is inserted into the film in an unnecessary, Hollywoodesque fashion, but even so, these characters are well-developed and authentic.
Essentially, it's a classic tale told beautifully, and its worth your time and money.
A heartfelt story of life's relationships
OJT10 March 2009
Jernanger is the much awaited Pål Jackman movie after the funny, engaging and beloved "Detektor" from 2000.
We meet a hateful and disillusioned owner of a small island ferry now being used as a bar along a Stavanger peer. He hates daylight so much that he, more or less drunk, every morning fires at least one shot at the sun. One morning he wakes up a young man sleeping over after having a row with his pregnant girlfriend about having the kid or not. From there we learn to see the the similarities of the two stories, telling about mens trouble with commitment to true love.
The film is about friendship, love and some of the most important decisions in life, and the film succeeds quite well in this. There's not far from despair to belief, even on the lost opportunities in life. But you got to grab it when it comes your way.
Good acting throughout assures us believing in persons and the story. Bjørn Sundquist is great, as always, playing the main character, and newcomer and Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen is brilliant in his second feature film. The trailer of this movie is not telling much about the film, and is actually quite boring and misleading. The film will not get more viewers out of the trailer. Pål Jackman know how to tell a story, so let's hope it won't be eight years to the new celluloid we get from his direction.
We meet a hateful and disillusioned owner of a small island ferry now being used as a bar along a Stavanger peer. He hates daylight so much that he, more or less drunk, every morning fires at least one shot at the sun. One morning he wakes up a young man sleeping over after having a row with his pregnant girlfriend about having the kid or not. From there we learn to see the the similarities of the two stories, telling about mens trouble with commitment to true love.
The film is about friendship, love and some of the most important decisions in life, and the film succeeds quite well in this. There's not far from despair to belief, even on the lost opportunities in life. But you got to grab it when it comes your way.
Good acting throughout assures us believing in persons and the story. Bjørn Sundquist is great, as always, playing the main character, and newcomer and Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen is brilliant in his second feature film. The trailer of this movie is not telling much about the film, and is actually quite boring and misleading. The film will not get more viewers out of the trailer. Pål Jackman know how to tell a story, so let's hope it won't be eight years to the new celluloid we get from his direction.
Jernanger
brooks-was-here23 June 2009
As someone said somewhere before, every man has a dream about the ship. I feel like I can finally understand it after watching this film. It's a story about a man and his dream. Eivind, a stubborn old sailer, tried every way he could to realize his ambitious dream of success, however, end up lonely and miserably on his Jernanger, where his dream begins. He shoots the sun when he wakes up every morning, implying a man's powerlessness facing time and fate. It's also a story about love. Beatrice, stands for the everlasting love in human nature, is always seemingly approachable but hard to achieve. The only thing we could do is admiring and missing it in a distance away. The ending is actually the greatest part of the movie, while Eivind said keep sailing to the north and she'll know that I always love her, reminds me some old faith in love.
Great cinematography, story lacks focus
erik_kvam14 February 2021
Jernanger, a story about lost love in the style of "Love in the time of cholera". The movie follow Eivind (Bjørn Sundquist), Who lives on the ship Jernanger, and Kris (Pål Sverre Hagen) who ends up working for Eivind on Jernanger to get her ready for a long voyage.
The cinemtography in this movie is great; the brownish palette, the rust, the beer and the sea. It really sets the tone, together with the casting, where Sundquist bears most of the load, with his bitter and dry behavior. The side characters were also enjoyable, especially Pedersen (Hans Petter Hansen). Great dynamics!
I wish the storyline had stayed true to this image. It does not. Instead it finds itself poluted with clichées, melodramatism and cheap plot techniques. I also felt that the storyline lacked focus, it seemed like it didn't really know where to go. It got stuck. Which is i shame.
All in all, worth watching (as are all movies shot in Stavanger!). But could have been so much more impressive.
The cinemtography in this movie is great; the brownish palette, the rust, the beer and the sea. It really sets the tone, together with the casting, where Sundquist bears most of the load, with his bitter and dry behavior. The side characters were also enjoyable, especially Pedersen (Hans Petter Hansen). Great dynamics!
I wish the storyline had stayed true to this image. It does not. Instead it finds itself poluted with clichées, melodramatism and cheap plot techniques. I also felt that the storyline lacked focus, it seemed like it didn't really know where to go. It got stuck. Which is i shame.
All in all, worth watching (as are all movies shot in Stavanger!). But could have been so much more impressive.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
