[/slash Filmfestival.]

Kommandør Treholt & ninjatroppen is the first movie by Thomas Cappelen Malling. It stars Mads Ousdal, Jon Øigarden, Trond-Viggo Torgersen and Amund Maarud.

Plot:
In 1985, politician and diplomat Arne Treholt (Mads Ousdal) was convicted of high treason and espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union in Norway. Now, the movie finally uncovers what actually happened: At the beginning of the 80s, Treholt was charged by King Olav V (Trond-Viggo Torgersen) to build up a ninja troup to defend the country. But unfortunately, they cross path with the CIA-financed group “Stay Behind” who are out to blame the communists for everything. And Treholt can’t stand for that.

Norwegian Ninja is a weird film. But it’s incredibly funny in its strangeness. I probably wouldn’t have seen it if it hadn’t been the surprise movie at the /slash Filmfestival, but I would have completely missed out on so much awesomeness…

The movie isn’t entirely coherent and not all of it makes sense. [It could have been the translation, though.] But it didn’t really matter because it made me laugh so hard.

It’s not only the crazy ideas (like the Feng Shui shield), but all these small little weirdnesses: The film was announced with “fans of Wes Anderson will love it” and that’s a pretty apt description. [Even though it made me guess for a moment that the surprise movie would be Michel Gondry’s Green Hornet. But that’s neither here nor there.]

The visuals were really awesome, too. The costumes… I mean, look at King Olav in the picture above. Or at Humla. Or Ragnhild. And the Special Effects (super-campy, with the strings clearly visible and it was epic). And the general set design.

The actors were really good. Especially Jon Øigarden and Mads Ousdal were amazing.

And and and … I’ll stop gushing now.

Summarising: It’s Ninjas. In Norway. You better watch it! ;)