1001 Grams, 2014.
Directed by Bent Hamer.
Starring Ane Dahl Torp, Laurent Stocker, Stein Winge, Hildegun Riise, Per Christian Ellefsen, Peter Hudson, Dinara Droukarova, Christian Erickson, Didier Flamand, and Magne Håvard Brekke.
SYNOPSIS:
A recently divorced, work-obsessed lab technician finds herself encountering a whole new world of experience when she attends an important scientific conference in Paris.
While working in a profession where measurements need to be precise, Marie has to deal with her personal life unravelling; her ex-husband keeps on returning to take items from their former house together and worse of all is the death of her beloved father. An international gathering of scientists involving creating prototypes that weigh exactly a kilogram sets into motion the opportunity for the depressed Norwegian to regain a sense of balance in her life.
Plot is not necessary a major element in play but rather a series of incidents which are carefully composed and crafted. The colour blue is prominent whether it’s the mini car or a series of umbrellas while after the death of Marie’s father an earth tone pallet starts to appear more frequently. Despite the quirkiness and absurdity of some of the situation everything is performed straight which adds to the surreal nature. Ane Dahl Torp (Cold Lunch) who is in practically every shot is able to portray Marie as a believable human being; the wavering in her voice when responding to words of sympathy about her father strikes the right note of genuineness.
Filmmaker Bent Hamer (Kitchen Stories) certainly has an eye for designing interesting visuals though the stylized approach at times can be distracting. The movie is neatly assembled, however, fades in and out of black are used as transitions between some scenes that come across as filler. The romantic coupling is quaint, in particular, the closing sequence involving the discussion of various measurements in a bathtub but it is hard to imagine that a blonde beauty would fall for a shorter and scruffier partner. 1001 Grams embraces the absurdity of life and lifts the weight that goes along with it with a light touch.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Originally published September 8, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
