Plot
Family is the most important thing in the world to Kaja. She is an eternal optimist in spite of living with a man who would rather go hunting with the boys...
Release Year: 2010
Rating: 6.7/10 (765 voted)
Critic's Score: 59/100
Director:
Anne Sewitsky
Stars: Agnes Kittelsen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Joachim Rafaelsen
Storyline Family is the most important thing in the world to Kaja. She is an eternal optimist in spite of living with a man who would rather go hunting with the boys, and who refuses to have sex with her because she isn't particularly attractive anymore. Whatever. That's life. But when the perfect couple moves in next door, Kaja struggles to keep her emotions in check. Not only do these successful, beautiful, exciting people sing in a choir; they have also adopted a child - from Ethiopia. These new neighbors open a new world to Kaja, with consequences for everyone involved. And when Christmas comes around, it becomes evident that nothing will ever be like before - even if Kaja tries her very best.
Writers: Ragnhild Tronvoll, Mette M. Bølstad
Cast: Agnes Kittelsen
-
Kaja
Henrik Rafaelsen
-
Sigve
Joachim Rafaelsen
-
Eirik
Maibritt Saerens
-
Elisabeth
Oskar Hernæs Brandsø
-
Theodor
Ram Shihab Ebedy
-
Noa
Heine Totland
-
Dirigenten
Hans Martin Austestad
-
Mann i dress 1
Nils Christian Fossdal
-
Mann i dress 2
Mattis Myrland
-
Mann i dress 4
Håkon Rasmussen
-
Mann i dress 3
Opening Weekend: $7,125
(USA)
(18 September 2011)
(4 Screens)
Gross: $44,947
(USA)
(20 November 2011)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
USA:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Norway's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards 2012.
User Review
Tragical and awkward black comedy
Rating: 7/10
Sykt Lykkelig (in English translated to "happy happy") is a black
comedy where a couple with an adopted kid move to a very rural part of
Norway in the winter, after a decision from the husband. She has had an
affair. They are overly welcomed by the main character Kaja, which is
helplessly stupid when it comes to deal with her own problems, having
been a girl with a troubled parent-less background. That seems also to
be the reason she has married a high school boyfriend which obviously
is the wrong match for her. These two couples, living in two
neighboring houses soon is to ruin what is left to mess up in the new
relationships.
"Sykt lykkelig" is the debut of director Anne Sewitsky, well played by
all actors. The film is chosen to attend Sundance Festival 2011, where
it's likely to get praise due to it's oddness. It resembles some of the
awkward moments in Sundance-acclaimed Little Miss Sunshine, though this
film has less charm and is a much blacker comedy.
A lot of comedy's love to give you awkward moments, though they often
tend to be severely over-done. In Sykt Lykkelig the awkward moments
pile up so that you hate it, while wanting to laugh. Funny? yes! But
with a severe undertone. The film is light hearted, but is so often
seriously meant, so it actually is a little problem for the viewer. I
found myself mostly the only one laughing in the theater seeing it, in
a crowd surprisingly mainly male, whilst the trailer seem to tell us
this is more of a woman's movie.
The film is advertised as a comedy about adultery, cottage cheese, blow
jobs and elk-meat. Not a very good tag-line, if you ask me. I, however,
choose to see the film as a black comedy taking up the problems of
adultery, homosexuality, racism, love, loneliness, marriage-problems as
well as the lack of understanding between men and women.
A male gospel quartet gives us both the deeper thoughts, as well as
giving an uplifting feeling when the characters in the movie pile up
problems along the line.
Thank God this is film. In the end the film gives hope, but loses track
in it's own try of giving credibility. Even though this film gives
mixed feelings, I can't help see some great acting here, as well as an
interesting director. It has been a difficult film to act for the six
persons. A kind of understatement humor, with a very black edge, giving
a need for serious touch all the way.
Sykt Lykkelig is a different film, and a film for those who'd like to
be a fly on the wall, or a Peeping Tom.
0