Norway 2014
Opening June 23, 2016
Directed by: Gunnar Vikene
Writing credits: Gunnar Vikene
Principal actors: Lena-Pia Bernhardsson, Björn Granath, Olaf Heggdal, Björn Sundquist
Norwegians Harold and Marny Lunde have run their business, Lunde Furniture, successfully for 40 years and a comfortable retirement awaits them. This expectation takes a nasty turn for the worse, when a huge IKEA store opens right next door. The competition is too keen and suddenly Harold is bankrupt. He loses not only his business, but also the family home. He has nothing left, except much free time to view IKEA sweeping in all of the money, which he considers should be his. Harald is also lonely as his wife retreats into Alzheimer’s and his only son never visits except to beg for financial support. The sweeping snow over the countryside adds to the loneliness. His life grows darker each day until he has no thoughts but revenge and a pressing need for action. He climbs into his old automobile, after first acquiring a gun, and sets off for Sweden, the home of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad. What are his intentions? Perhaps murder? A forced discussion? Money? Actually, he intends to kidnap Kamprad and bring him back to Norway to view firsthand the misery he caused with this explosive expansion into Harold’s neighborhood. Once back in Norway Harold and Kamprad slowly become acquainted and the story takes a positive turn.
One valuable characteristic of the film is that we can all identify with Harold. How often have we wanted to compel someone to face responsibility for making our lives more difficult? We think about revenge; Harold actually seeks it – a single man against a giant, or as the press information says, “a lonely Don Quixote fighting against windmills.” Who hasn’t bought a bookshelf or a vase or met friends at IKEA? Wikipedia explains the successful rise of Kamprad’s vision to become the largest household furniture market in the world. IKEA stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (the last two being Kamprad’s boyhood farm and village respectively). Based on a book by Frode Grytten, Nowegian film awards went to Sundquist for best actor and Simon Pramsten for best cinematography. Now all we need is some remark from Kamprad, i.e., whether he gave permission to use his character and whether he has ever seen the film. ()