Buddy (2003 film)
Encyclopedia
Buddy is a Norwegian film from 2003. It was directed by Morten Tyldum
after a script by Lars Gudmestad. The music was composed by Lars Lillo-Stenberg
, known from the band DeLillos
. The film was well received by critics, and was awarded two Amanda Awards
in 2004.
in Oslo
with his friends Geir (Aksel Hennie) and Stig Inge (Anders Baasmo Christiansen). Geir likes to live dangerously, while Stig Inge is a more cautious and uncertain type. Kristoffer and Geir work as billboard hangers, and in his spare time Kristoffer makes a video diary with Geir and Stig Inge, containing stunts of a Jackass
-nature. When Kristoffer's girlfriend, Elisabeth, leaves him, his life seems to fall to pieces. Then his videos are featured on Norway's most popular talk show, "God morgen Norge" on TV 2
, and Kristoffer becomes famous.
of text in January 2002, from which it developed quickly. The creators described it as a love declaration for the city of Oslo
, a city they believed was under-represented on film. The choice of composer for the score – Lars Lillo-Stenberg – was in the same spirit; in the words of Tyldum: "He is Oslo".
Buddy received support from Norsk Filmfond – the Norwegian government body for film funding – on 12 June 2002. Neither the script writer, the director, the producer or the actor for the main character had worked with feature-length films prior to this project. The director, Morten Tyldum, had worked with television, music videos, commercials and short films before, and he had been named "Film talent of the year" by the newspaper Dagbladet
in 1999, but this was his first full-length motion picture.
gave it five out of six points, and remarked that in spite of a simple story, the movie was "damn well made". Dagbladet was less impressed, and gave the film four out of six points. The reviewer concluded that the film makers had succeeded in what they set out to do: to create an essentially "harmless" "feel-good-movie" after an American
model. The movie was also released internationally, and reviewed by the American magazine Variety
. Eddie Cockrell, as opposed to the Norwegian reviewers, thought the film was "overly plotted". He found the movie to be "on the sweet side", but commended its "solid, sympathetic characterizations from the five leads".
The film was awarded two Amandas
in 2004: for "Best Film (Norwegian)" and "Best Actor" (Christiansen). It was also nominated in the category "Best Screenplay". It also received the "Audience Award" and the "Most Enjoyable Film" (awarded by Theatre Owners) at the Norwegian International Film Festival
, the festival where the Amandas are awarded. At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
in the Czech Republic
it won the "Audience Award" in competition with 200 other films.
Morten Tyldum
Morten Tyldum is a Norwegian film director. He had his feature film debut with Buddy in 2003, a film that won great popular and critical acclaim. Previously he had worked with television, music videos, commercials and short films, and he had been named "Film talent of the year" by the newspaper...
after a script by Lars Gudmestad. The music was composed by Lars Lillo-Stenberg
Lars Lillo-Stenberg
Lars Lillo-Stenberg is a Norwegian rock musician. He is the man behind the Norwegian band deLillos, but he also played in The Last James and still plays in the band Young Neils. He has also recorded many solo albums. He is the son of the actors Per Lillo-Stenberg and Mette Lange-Nilsen. He grew up...
, known from the band DeLillos
DeLillos
deLillos is a Norwegian rock band formed in Oslo in 1984. They are regarded as one the "Four Greats" in modern Norwegian pop music, i.e. one of the four 1980s groups that founded a new tradition for rock music with lyrics in Norwegian...
. The film was well received by critics, and was awarded two Amanda Awards
Amanda (award)
The Amanda Award is an award given annually at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, Norway, to promote and improve Norwegian film. The award originated in 1985, and has since 2005 been exclusively a film award...
in 2004.
Plot
The film is about the 24-year-old Kristoffer (Nicolai Cleve Broch), who lives in TøyenTøyen
Tøyen is a residential area in the central parts of Oslo, Norway, part of the borough of Gamle Oslo.-Location:It is noted for its high concentration of immigrants. The multicultural atmosphere makes Tøyen very trendy and popular with continually rising cost of housing.There are two different...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
with his friends Geir (Aksel Hennie) and Stig Inge (Anders Baasmo Christiansen). Geir likes to live dangerously, while Stig Inge is a more cautious and uncertain type. Kristoffer and Geir work as billboard hangers, and in his spare time Kristoffer makes a video diary with Geir and Stig Inge, containing stunts of a Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
-nature. When Kristoffer's girlfriend, Elisabeth, leaves him, his life seems to fall to pieces. Then his videos are featured on Norway's most popular talk show, "God morgen Norge" on TV 2
TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
, and Kristoffer becomes famous.
Main cast
- Kristoffer Haukeland – Nicolai Cleve Broch
- Geir – Aksel Hennie
- Stig Inge Otnes – Anders Baasmo Christiansen
- Henriette – Pia Tjelta
- Elisabeth – Janne Formoe
Production
The idea for the movie started with two A4 pagesPaper size
Many paper size standards conventions have existed at different times and in different countries. Today there is one widespread international ISO standard and a localised standard used in North America . The paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents...
of text in January 2002, from which it developed quickly. The creators described it as a love declaration for the city of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, a city they believed was under-represented on film. The choice of composer for the score – Lars Lillo-Stenberg – was in the same spirit; in the words of Tyldum: "He is Oslo".
Buddy received support from Norsk Filmfond – the Norwegian government body for film funding – on 12 June 2002. Neither the script writer, the director, the producer or the actor for the main character had worked with feature-length films prior to this project. The director, Morten Tyldum, had worked with television, music videos, commercials and short films before, and he had been named "Film talent of the year" by the newspaper Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
in 1999, but this was his first full-length motion picture.
Reception
Buddy was generally well received by the Norwegian press. The newspaper Verdens GangVerdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
gave it five out of six points, and remarked that in spite of a simple story, the movie was "damn well made". Dagbladet was less impressed, and gave the film four out of six points. The reviewer concluded that the film makers had succeeded in what they set out to do: to create an essentially "harmless" "feel-good-movie" after an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model. The movie was also released internationally, and reviewed by the American magazine Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. Eddie Cockrell, as opposed to the Norwegian reviewers, thought the film was "overly plotted". He found the movie to be "on the sweet side", but commended its "solid, sympathetic characterizations from the five leads".
The film was awarded two Amandas
Amanda (award)
The Amanda Award is an award given annually at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, Norway, to promote and improve Norwegian film. The award originated in 1985, and has since 2005 been exclusively a film award...
in 2004: for "Best Film (Norwegian)" and "Best Actor" (Christiansen). It was also nominated in the category "Best Screenplay". It also received the "Audience Award" and the "Most Enjoyable Film" (awarded by Theatre Owners) at the Norwegian International Film Festival
Norwegian International Film Festival
The Norwegian International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Haugesund, Norway. The festival goes back to 1973.In 1985, the Amanda award was instituted. The Amanda is awarded every year at the festival in different movie categories...
, the festival where the Amandas are awarded. At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary , Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival gained worldwide recognition over the past years and has become one of Europe's major film events....
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
it won the "Audience Award" in competition with 200 other films.