19-year-old Polish immigrant Robert (Hubert Milkowski) starts working at a fish factory in Norway alongside other immigrants. With an unfair work contract and few choices, Robert tries to keep his head down but Ivar (Karl Bekele Steinland), the openly gay son of the factory owner who is an aspiring drag artist, catches his eye. As Robert tries to hold down his job and not raise any suspicions about his sexuality, he is pulled between his head and his heart.
‘Norwegian Dream’ from director Leiv Igor Devold tells a familiar story that’s often central to LGBTQ+ cinema. The film explores closeted sexuality and the societal pressures that come with being gay in a place where it’s not widely accepted. Robert has escaped the homophobia of Poland with the hope of pushing down his true self so he can earn some money and get by. Sharing a room with a fellow immigrant worker, he’s keen to keep his head down but meeting Ivar threatens all of that. Robert sees how Ivar is treated by their co-workers, and that instantly puts him on the defensive.
We learn a bit about Robert’s past and why he left Poland but in contrast we learn next to nothing about Ivar. Other than being the son of the factory owner and aspiring to become a drag artist, the character is somewhat under-developed. Ivar is there to threaten Robert’s quiet new existence rather than to exist as a character in his own right. There’s some attempt in the latter half of the film when the workers form a union and strike against their employer, but it’s too little too late by that point.
Where the film could have dug a bit deeper is around the area of immigration. Robert’s new life is threatened by the arrival of his mother Maria (Edyta Torhan). Not only does he have the added burden of looking after her as she has no job or prospects, he also now has someone else to hide his sexuality from. While the film does touch upon the challenges of immigration, and the appalling contracts workers sign due to have no other options, there’s a lot more to the issue than is explored here.
There’s a chemistry issue between the two leads. Hubert Milkowski is excellent as Robert, and you really root for him to succeed, but he has next no chemistry with Karl Bekele Steinland’s Ivar. That’s a shame as a large part of their relationship hinges on temptation, and while the film does go where you expect it to, the central relationship lacks that spark that this kind of story needs.
‘Norwegian Dream’ is a solid film. It may not do anything particularly fresh or original but there’s enough here to enjoy. As a coming-of-age film it works well but a deeper dive around the issues it touches upon would have made it stronger. Despite a lack of chemistry with the two leads, Robert’s story is compelling enough to keep you hooked. ‘Norwegian Dream’ could have been stronger but as it is, it’s a pleasant enough watch.
Cast: Hubert Milkowski, Karl Bekele Steinland, Edyta Torhan Director: Leiv Igor Devold Writers: Justyna Bilik, Gjermund Gisvold & Radoslaw Paczocha Certificate: 15 Duration: 97 mins Released by: Peccadillo Pictures Release date: 29th April 2024 Buy ‘Norwegian Dream’ now
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