I've been aware of the movie and it's caught my eye but I've bypassed it thus far with other priorities (so many movies; so little time). It first hit my radar when it was nominated for Best Foreign Picture by the Academy and the Golden Globe. This will get a second look and go onto the Wish List. You may see the same film with a 2012 release year as that's when it was first screened in Norway . . . this occurs with numerous foreign films as they don't hit the US theaters or Academy Award and Golden Globe considerations until a year later.
I'm very aware of Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 balsa raft expedition. My father was fascinated with the sciences including archeology and anthropology. One of his favorite books was Richard Leaky's Origins. He didn't live to see the sequel, Origins Reconsidered. He also had a very old copy of Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki (English translation) from the 1950's, and the Ra Expeditions from the early 1970's. I remember him talking about it. There was also a documentary done in 1950 that won the Academy's Best Documentary Award, and a second Ra Expeditions documentary in 1972 that was nominated for the Academy's Best Documentary (did not win).
As you're into Norwegian films? If you've not seen the original 1997 Norwegian Insomnia, it is excellent. Christopher Nolan's 2002 U.S. remake with Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank, unlike many U.S. remakes, is excellent as well (unlike most U.S. remakes; The Vanishing U.S. remake comes to mind immediately). Nolan is one of the best currently working directors in the UK and U.S. (dual citizenship).
As for Christopher Nolan, not on my list as it won't be out on home media until December is Nolan's 2017 movie, Dunkirk, which hit the IMAX theaters in the U.S. during the summer. I predict numerous Academy and Golden Globe nominations.
As an aside, for a movie to be considered for an Academy Award in any of the main competition, it must be screened to the public in a L.A. County theater for a week (seven days). There have been films screened in a L.A. County theater rented and open to the public (for paid admission) specifically for that purpose just before the end of a calendar year to slide it under the deadline wire. It cannot have been shown on TV (or cable/satellite TV channels) before that, a rule made to specifically preclude "made for TV" movies from being nominated for any Academy Award (the Emmy's and Golden Globe categories are for TV). The Foreign category need not be screened in the U.S. Documentary Features and Shorts have slightly different rules. The producers of O.J.: Made in America pulled an end-around by barely meeting the screening rules in L.A. County and NYC, and then broadcasting it in parts on TV. That has since been blocked off from ever happening again with new rules prohibiting multi-part and series documentaries from nomination. All the major studios game the Academy's rules to the max.
John
), Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, and Dr. Strangelove. The fourth was to have been Major T.J. "King" Kong, the B-52 pilot. He sprained an ankle early in the shooting of that role and couldn't get into the cramped cockpit set. That role was replaced with Slim Pickens who played the southerner to perfection (Sellers had much trouble with the accent). President Kennedy was assassinated the day it was to be test screened. That was immediately canceled and the release delayed until January. One of Kong's lines regarding the survival kit was dubbed to change "Dallas" to "Vegas" when he discusses where someone could have fun with its contents. A very young and skinny James Earl Jones has a bit part as the B-52 bombardier, Lt. Lothar Zogg. You may not recognize the face, but the voice is unmistakable (only has a few lines). The line quoted is my favorite. Another is at the very end from General Turgidson (Scott): "Mr. President, we must not allow . . . a mine shaft gap!"
