Norway, Sweden, Denmark
Synopsis
Love for the advanced.
Five powerful stories about love are weaved into one another and end at a junction in Griinerlekka on the hottest day of the year. A dying man lies on the ground, but those who stand around him are more alive than ever.
For eleven years, Leon has dreamt about turning 25. At the age of fourteen he and Asa made a pact to meet again on this day. For ever. Now he is frightened that she will not come, but maybe even more frightened that she actually will. And when the world seems difficult, Leon flees from reality by running.
The nurse Vidar who sees future events in his sleep flees from his dreams by keeping awake. He is a night watchman at the institution where Leon lives and has dreamt that Leon and Asa never meet.
The people in Hawaii, Oslo cross each other's paths and meet one another - like the streets in a city. Everyone is running from something, searching for something or dreaming of something else on this destined day.
One wants to go to Hawaii, Hawaii.
One wants to go to Hawaii, Oslo.
Everyone is looking for love.
And everything is tied together.
Five powerful stories about love are weaved into one another and end at a junction in Griinerlekka on the hottest day of the year. A dying man lies on the ground, but those who stand around him are more alive than ever.
For eleven years, Leon has dreamt about turning 25. At the age of fourteen he and Asa made a pact to meet again on this day. For ever. Now he is frightened that she will not come, but maybe even more frightened that she actually will. And when the world seems difficult, Leon flees from reality by running.
The nurse Vidar who sees future events in his sleep flees from his dreams by keeping awake. He is a night watchman at the institution where Leon lives and has dreamt that Leon and Asa never meet.
The people in Hawaii, Oslo cross each other's paths and meet one another - like the streets in a city. Everyone is running from something, searching for something or dreaming of something else on this destined day.
One wants to go to Hawaii, Hawaii.
One wants to go to Hawaii, Oslo.
Everyone is looking for love.
And everything is tied together.
Director's Statement
I wanted to make a film about hope and love. The desire to kiss the one you love, the need to call someone you like. This is the reaction I wished to create for the audience. Fighting for the three most difficult words and say: I LOVE YOU.
My own cry for love is in the movie, and it is not an exaggeration to say that I made the movie as an effect of this!
I grew up having an aunt who lived in California. She always took her vacations on Hawaii, and we got her exotic and colourful postcards. Hawaii is an illusion about the ultimate, an island of love with Aloha, floral wreaths and everything. But in reality, some parts of Hawaii are also some of the worst places on earth. A horrible bad trip! In the movie, the island Hawaii expresses the dreams and illusions we all have in us. Some people still dream of coming to Hawaii and as we all know, it's our dreams that give us strength and direction in life.
My own cry for love is in the movie, and it is not an exaggeration to say that I made the movie as an effect of this!
I grew up having an aunt who lived in California. She always took her vacations on Hawaii, and we got her exotic and colourful postcards. Hawaii is an illusion about the ultimate, an island of love with Aloha, floral wreaths and everything. But in reality, some parts of Hawaii are also some of the worst places on earth. A horrible bad trip! In the movie, the island Hawaii expresses the dreams and illusions we all have in us. Some people still dream of coming to Hawaii and as we all know, it's our dreams that give us strength and direction in life.
Director's Biography
Director Erik Poppe, born in 1960 in Oslo, Norway. Married. Father of two girls and one rabbit.
Grew up in Norway and Portugal.
Educated as a still photographer in Oslo in 1982.
Worked actively as a pictorial journalist for the news agency REUTERS, and the newspaper Verden Gang in Norway from 1983 until 1987. Covered news, politics and sport worldwide.
Educated as a cinematographer at Dramatiska Institutet in Stockholm. 1987-1991.
Cinematographer on several features. Was awarded with "The Kodak Award" at the Moscow IFF for cinematography on EGGS by Bent Hammer (1994) and as Cinematographer of the Year in Norway in 1995.
Erik Poppe has directed commercials, documentaries, music videos and short films during the period 1991 – 2003.
His debut feature film was SCHPAAA in 1998, the story of a criminal gang of boys aged 12-14 years. The film was picked by the Panorama section of the Berlin IFF 1999. He was the main director of the TV series BRIGADEN for NRK (2001-2002), a drama series about life in a fire station.
Filmography:
2004 – HAWAII, OSLO
2001-2002 – THE BRIGADE, 23-episode TV drama
1998 – BUNCH OF FIVE
1997 – BRATTS, short
1994 – AFTENLANDET, doc.
1991 – DET VAKRE I DET BRUTALE, doc.
1990-2003 – approx. 100 international commercials and 20 music videos
Grew up in Norway and Portugal.
Educated as a still photographer in Oslo in 1982.
Worked actively as a pictorial journalist for the news agency REUTERS, and the newspaper Verden Gang in Norway from 1983 until 1987. Covered news, politics and sport worldwide.
Educated as a cinematographer at Dramatiska Institutet in Stockholm. 1987-1991.
Cinematographer on several features. Was awarded with "The Kodak Award" at the Moscow IFF for cinematography on EGGS by Bent Hammer (1994) and as Cinematographer of the Year in Norway in 1995.
Erik Poppe has directed commercials, documentaries, music videos and short films during the period 1991 – 2003.
His debut feature film was SCHPAAA in 1998, the story of a criminal gang of boys aged 12-14 years. The film was picked by the Panorama section of the Berlin IFF 1999. He was the main director of the TV series BRIGADEN for NRK (2001-2002), a drama series about life in a fire station.
Filmography:
2004 – HAWAII, OSLO
2001-2002 – THE BRIGADE, 23-episode TV drama
1998 – BUNCH OF FIVE
1997 – BRATTS, short
1994 – AFTENLANDET, doc.
1991 – DET VAKRE I DET BRUTALE, doc.
1990-2003 – approx. 100 international commercials and 20 music videos
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Erik Poppe
Written by: Harald Rosenlow Eeg
Produced by: Finn Gjerdrum
Cinematography: Ulf Brantås
Editing: Einar Egeland
Production Design: Astrid Sætren
Costume Design: Maria Bohlin
Make-Up & Hair: Anja Dahl
Original Score: John Erik Kaada, Bugge Wesseltoft
Sound Design: Erik Watland, Hugo Ekornes
Cast: Silje Torp Færavaag, Petronella Barker (Bobbie), Stig Henrik Hoff (Frode), Trond Espen Seim, Jan Gunnar Røise, Evy Kasseth Røsten, Trond Espen Seim (Vidar), Stig Henrik Hoff, Jan Gunnar Røise (Leon)
Nominations and Awards
- Feature Film Selection 2005
