Not joking either, I watched Norwegian TV drama 'Heimbane' around the same time as the FIFA 2018 World Cup and grew to love the series. Why aren't there more female coaches in football? Thinking about it as a fan of the game, I'm struggling to find any rational explanation?!? Ane Dahl Torp plays Helena Mikkelsen the head coach of newly promoted Varg FC (fictionalized, but most of the action is set among the fjordic landscape of Ulsteinvik in the west of the country) and really makes the part her own (particularly love all the little obsessive 'ticks' and character traits she's built into the role). The football during the series is done pretty well (which certainly makes a welcome change!), but not overdone, most of the attention is on the personal and professional lives of the characters. I wouldn't know a 'known' from an 'unknown' in Norwegian drama, but enjoyed Axel Bøyum's performance as the young football prodigy emerging from the shadow of his father, Emma Bones as Mikkelsen's supportive teenage daughter Camilla, sympathetic in the role, and former professional John Carew as Michael Engersen draws attention to the problems players often face in the twilight of their careers. Finally, Rolf Kristian Larsen gives a solid performance as Eivind, Mikkelsen's embattled boss standing up for her in the chauvinistic boardroom. There's lots going on here and a a few surprises along the way to keeps things interesting. The whole thing could easily have gone pear-shaped, but 'Heimebane' succeeds because it's a drama more about the human condition than 'The Beautiful Game'. Looking forward to another season.
15 Reviews
Decent Soccer show
endymionng18 July 2018
Although I have previously seen the topic of a female coach/manager been tackled (cough), by the British way back in 1989 ! in "The Manageress" with the always lovely Cherie Lunghi, it is safe to say that we haven't gotten much further in this development. Therefore this new Norwegian show is a welcome addition to the discussion of egalitarianism in sports management.
The female protagonist here is surely competent and well aware of all the pitfalls and opposition she faces during this first season. Personally I found the subplots involving her daughter a bit off, as if they couldn't really figure out what she wanted - which is probably realistic enough, but makes for bad storytelling. Also it is glaringly obvious that Jon Carew is a former player and not an actor :-), however most of the rest of the cast is really good and the location scenery is just beautiful. Norwegian fjords, I mean - come on... NRK (Norwegian PBS) is on a hot streak with their TV-shows these days - good on them.
The female protagonist here is surely competent and well aware of all the pitfalls and opposition she faces during this first season. Personally I found the subplots involving her daughter a bit off, as if they couldn't really figure out what she wanted - which is probably realistic enough, but makes for bad storytelling. Also it is glaringly obvious that Jon Carew is a former player and not an actor :-), however most of the rest of the cast is really good and the location scenery is just beautiful. Norwegian fjords, I mean - come on... NRK (Norwegian PBS) is on a hot streak with their TV-shows these days - good on them.
Just great!
ingroz6 July 2019
Steikje bra!
selvaag5 May 2018
Fresh, joyful, exciting, emotional, proud.
This one has it all, and set in the beautiful scenery of Norway's mountainous west coast fjords, in the small town of Ulsteinvik, the setting brings it all together. Beautifully!
Ane Dahl Torp delivers a solid, credible and relatable character in "Helena Mikkelsen" through all 10 episodes. While she starts out a bit flat and mysterious, she let's both us, the viewers, and her team mates in on who she really is and what makes her tick. There are many other good characters with great character development through this first season, which makes this show good and relatable, also for those completely uninterested in football.
The show focuses on some topics that have quite recently been in the media, with both "Me-too" relatable content, as well as stereotypes towards women and how they cope in male dominated fields of work. The show takes all of this on head-to-head without ever becoming too politically correct, educating, or in any way trying to preach any one message to the viewer. It also opens a window into the mind of someone struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder, for those of us lucky enough to never have experienced mental illness first hand.
Heimebane made me laugh, cry and stand up and cheer. Objectively it's probably an 8,5 or something, but who ever heard about an objective supporter? As the locals in Ulsteinvik would have said: "Great", or "Steikje bra" 10/10 !
Ane Dahl Torp delivers a solid, credible and relatable character in "Helena Mikkelsen" through all 10 episodes. While she starts out a bit flat and mysterious, she let's both us, the viewers, and her team mates in on who she really is and what makes her tick. There are many other good characters with great character development through this first season, which makes this show good and relatable, also for those completely uninterested in football.
The show focuses on some topics that have quite recently been in the media, with both "Me-too" relatable content, as well as stereotypes towards women and how they cope in male dominated fields of work. The show takes all of this on head-to-head without ever becoming too politically correct, educating, or in any way trying to preach any one message to the viewer. It also opens a window into the mind of someone struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder, for those of us lucky enough to never have experienced mental illness first hand.
Heimebane made me laugh, cry and stand up and cheer. Objectively it's probably an 8,5 or something, but who ever heard about an objective supporter? As the locals in Ulsteinvik would have said: "Great", or "Steikje bra" 10/10 !
From the Land Downunder
akewin11 May 2021
Heimebane has just been shown in Australia and I really enjoyed each episode. I found one part of the musical score to be outstanding and I wonder how I can hear it again. There is a 20 second grab in one episode where the home crowd in the stands all hum the tune in saluting the efforts of the local team and I was instantly drawn to it . Alan - Sydney,Australia.
TV-series about a female soccer coach in Norway
nickkram23 April 2018
I'm not a football fan but I still loved this show
pastafrolla8 July 2018
Marvelous cast, very well scripted and directed, delivers on every level with a diverse, fascinating cast of characters. There is also the extra bonus of the show being filmed in the magnificent town of Ulsteinvik, Norway
The only thing I found a bit tiresome was the predictable adolescent drama of Helena's daughter which was by no means the fault of the actress. Everyone involved did a stellar job. Would love to see a second season!
Ane Dahl Torp is an amazing actress
tarnow-391818 July 2021
Where do you even learn to play like this? Her character is amazing, strong, credible, real and so human. I think this is one of the best tv series of course in line with Queen's Gambit and Godless. Just really good drama. I would love to see season 3 but I think 2 made it whole. Loved the last locker room speech. Ane is just plain great.
Goal!!!!!!!.
pigsmiceandmen18 January 2021
I had this series on my watch list for a year and just kept giving it a wide birth for some reason. Then came the awful lockdown. Man, what a fantastic series. You don't need to like fottie, I do, to really enjoy this. I binged it all and felt sad when the final of the last season ended.
Only watched the first season
kikkula6 March 2020
First season was very enjoyable and well written. That in mind I'm going to skip the second season. It looks like that original writer had nothing to do with the second season and reading the reviews and watching the episode scorings, it's safe to assume that this show suffers from the same faith as the Goliath. Luckily the first season was conclusive so there was really no need for the second season.
Hats off to Mr Johan Fasting and actors for the marvelous first season.
Hats off to Mr Johan Fasting and actors for the marvelous first season.
Second Season Disaster.
torfly27 March 2019
Second season turned a great prospect from first season with good politics and roles of sex in sports on the agenda. Sexond season turned it all into a soap opera!!!! The coaches daughters character is npthing short of a nuisance and annoyance.
Fantastic
clevidence17 May 2020
Loved it!
rsumpter-8091814 December 2021
Bland Harmless Timepass
aew-1031 March 2020
What to say - bland - a bit like the scenery, not awful so that you yell at the television screen, not super good - all in all a time pass.
Annoying aspect - a scene is developing with some tension, then before it is resolved the story cuts to a totally unrelated scene and the previous one is left hanging.
If you want to see a good film about football and the workings of a club, watch "The Club" (Australia, 1980).
Annoying aspect - a scene is developing with some tension, then before it is resolved the story cuts to a totally unrelated scene and the previous one is left hanging.
If you want to see a good film about football and the workings of a club, watch "The Club" (Australia, 1980).
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