Aldri mer 13! (Goodbye 13!) (1996)

What's it like to befriend someone? First you challenge the person to determine whether they're tough or gentle enough. Then you verify if you can trust them. And finally... well, you've become friends already! But here comes the most troublesome part: quarrels, betrayals, or simply disappointment. Can these obstacles ruin the friendship? Or do they build it up actually?

Quite unusual, this story depicts relationship between two schoolgirls Rikke and Bea. One would never guess that girls can be as crazy as boys: they play with matches setting a school building on fire, come running through the opposite sex locker room, and what not! Besides at the age of 13 they start to become sort of obsessed with boys which only complicates the story. Not to mention their relations with siblings and parents.


I like Scandinavian (and Northern European in general) realism: they tend to present people and situations in movies much like they're found in real life. Just take the father of the family for example: oh, there's some problem at home? He puts on his cycling suit and goes ride a bike. "I need some fresh air" - that's the only answer to Rikke's question on "what's the matter with my mom and sister?" Adults complicate teens' lives so very often...

The title of the movie doesn't mean, of course, that making friends is any different at other age. It's just that teenagers first realize how complex and multi-layered relations with other people are. Going through all the difficulties, Rikke and Bea end up being the best friends. They've learned a good lesson. Now it's time to move on. So, goodbye 13! :)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182690/
My vote: 6 of 10

The Danish Poet (2006)

This is a beautiful exploration of the question "whether our life is a coincidence or not" which I've mentioned in my recent review for Ikiru (Living) (1952). And a possible answer to it.

Watch the movie in two parts from YouTube in the "Read more" of this post.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0933357/
My vote: 7 of 10

Blodsbånd (Mirush) (2007)

 The movie tells a dramatic story about two people searching for a brighter future in a foreign country. There's a lot in common between the two: the same blood, the same genes. And as such, they're both similarly cruel toward their family when/after they leave.

However, there's differences as well. Mirush moves to Norway and wants to start a new life. He believes that Bekim, his father, remembers him, thinks about him all the time, and is going to help his son. Basically, Mirush expects to be literally fed by his father. Or, at least he wants to turn the situation into that state. After all he's just 15 which sort of explains this.

On the contrary, Bekim relocated to Norway long time ago. He had to start his life completely anew and forget his roots all together because otherwise he wouldn't be able to stand all the difficulties that obviously arise when a foreigner comes to another country illegally. He wouldn't be able to reach the level of independence and prosperity that he managed to acquire. And afterwards he had to protect this level further integrating into the society of his new home country.

Soon Mirush's naive hopes shatter on the severe reality. However, his extreme cruelty in the final episodes of the movie exceeds all reasonable expectations. The question remains: is that in his blood, or emotions were just running wild? The title of the movie (which is literally translated from Norwegian as "Blood Ties") suggests the former...


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0899216/
My rating: 7 of 10