Being Ola at The Electric Palace
The documentary Being Ola, the second feature film from Award winning Norwegian filmmaker Ragnhild Nøst Bergem, is set to release in UK and Irish cinemas on 3 April; it previews at the Electric Palace here on 29 March
Scene from Being Ola
Beloved by Norwegian audiences, Being Ola is an honest and heartwarming portrait of a thoughtful and gracious man. Through Ola, a 30-year-old man living with a mild learning disability, and his reflections, Bergem tells a universal story of inclusion, diversity, and independence; it shows how being supported will always bring out the best in people.
An impactful film that helps bridge the gap between ‘us’ and ‘them’, the film explores the community that allows Ola and its inhabitants to flourish. A microcosm of what could be if more people around the world were afforded the same opportunity.
In conjunction with the upcoming release, Bergem will embark on a short screening tour of the UK, where she will be hosting Q&A sessions alongside the film’s subject, Ola Henningsen. The film marks the debut UK and Irish cinema release for Oska Bright Film Festival and will be released in partnership with UK distribution and exhibition agency, Tull Stories.
SYNOPSIS
Ola Henningsen is a 30-year-old man who lives in a small village in Norway with a very diverse group of people. They try to live life at a slower pace in harmony with nature, and their community is founded on values such as empathy, respect, and mutual interdependence.
Ola spends his days working in the workshop, pulling carrots from the ground and chatting for hours with his best friend, Lasse. He generally enjoys his life and is a witty and sincere man who talks openly and honestly about his condition. Conversations and cordial friendships in the village are a highlight of Ola’s daily life, but in the background there’s always the threat of Lasse moving back to Denmark…
Being Ola received universal praise following its release in cinemas across Norway in October 2023 before screening on national broadcaster NRK in 2024. The festival run has included screenings at Denmark’s CPH:DOX, Poland’s Krakow Film Festival, and the Tromsø International Film Festival in Norway. The project has gone on to win several prestigious Scandinavian awards.
Reviews have been glowing, with national outlets like Klassekampen calling the film “a real sunshine story”.
THE DIRECTOR
Ragnhild Nøst Bergem (b 1990) is an award-winning and award-nominated filmmaker (National Norwegian film Award) and cinematographer. She communicates with a distinct and brave voice, with an intimate approach to examining her often vulnerable characters through a lens of warmth and humanity. Through Bergem’s work, we get closer to people who normally remain silent. Her ambition is to help create change in society. Her other documentaries have played in theatres, on television and at film festivals, both in Norway and abroad.
Watch the trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=mOUmJKTKh5o; Film showing: Electric Palace Cinema, Sunday 29 March, 3pm: electricpalacecinema.com/whats-on/being-ola
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