Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: ARNE GOES TO SPACE [Toronto International Film Festival - Toronto, Ontario]
"Arne Goes To Space" [World Premiere/Discovery] is a simple tale of two men living in Norway trying to keep their heads above water chopping firewood in a small town. Arne (Rollf Lassgard) has his head in the clouds reading comic books and waxing poetic while still keeping things from Stefan (Lennart Jenkel), his sour but practical brother. One day Arne brings home a friend who crashed in their backyard but looks like one of the old local accountants (but is actually an alien). The great thing about this concept is that no one thinks any real difference of this new stubby creature in overalls helping out with the firewood. Stefan just thinks he is a freeloader. This is done with simple matter-of-fact comedy so there is no wonder to the proceedings. But that said little details especially Arne understanding the person even if it is just a “bleep bleep” is great. When a trauma happens, the creature doesn’t jump to help...he seems as surprised as anyone. Stefan starts spending time with the creature and he again starts understanding what is being said but it is never drawn attention to (and there are no subtitles). Arne, when he is in the hospital, only is concerned with getting the firewood cut because that is what their father taught them to do.
The comedy again plays very matter-of-fact. When a hunting party in town is called, there are different details that are beautifully realized like Stefaan fixing a lifter on a truck with bubble gum. There is also Tweedledee/Tweedledum type twins that run the local store. There is a sense of chicanery in these caricatures that are being displayed and yet never done meanly but simply with a matter-of-fact realism. Stefan has a crush on Trucker Ingrid and it again plays very innocently though the jokes on both ends could be considered derogatory. But that said there is a different cultural and political correctness in these proceeding that are not necessarily a way of life for these people. But when push comes to shove people in this community put their differences aside and come together. Of course there is still a drunk in a wheelbarrow lifting wood...but no one gives a second look at the would-be alien. The creature does have a sense of understanding even if he does look like a slow turtle. But that is part of the point: to not judge a book inherently by the cover it is presenting. The eventual resolution of "Arne Goes To Space" is that. Arne wants to care for the community more than he cares for himself. Sometimes that can be the crux of existence. But sometimes the options are limited. Life goes on. It is simply about time…or lack of it. 87%/B/B+
By Tim Wassberg
