Norwegian Ninja

Norwegian Ninja (Norwegian: Kommandør Treholt & ninjatroppen) is a 2010 Norwegian action comedy film, directed by Thomas Cappelen Malling. The film, based on a 2006 book, presents real-life espionage-convicted Arne Treholt as the leader of a ninja group saving Norway during the Cold War and stars Mads Ousdal as Treholt.

Norwegian Ninja
Theatrical release poster
Directed byThomas Cappelen Malling
Produced byEric Vogel
Written byThomas Cappelen Malling
StarringMads Ousdal
Jon Øigarden
Linn Stokke
Amund Maarud
Henrik Horge
Music byGaute Tønder
CinematographyTrond Høines
Edited bySimen Gengenbach
Distributed byEuforia Film
Release date
  • 13 August 2010 (2010-08-13)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryNorway
LanguageNorwegian
BudgetNOK 17,900,000 [1]

The film is loosely based on the story of Norwegian politician and diplomat Arne Treholt, who in 1985 was convicted of high treason and espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union and Iraq.[2] In 2006, Thomas Cappelen Malling wrote the book Ninjateknikk II. Usynlighet i strid 1978 ("Ninja Technique II: Invisibility in combat 1978").[3] The book was presented as a military manual written by Treholt in 1978. It achieved a certain cult status, and was considered a success at 5,000 units sold.[4]

Plot

The story, set during the Cold War, involves the conflict between the Norwegian ninjas, King Olav V's secret army tasked to maintain Norway's independence, and a clandestine stay-behind group who carry out false flag operations that get blamed on Communists.

Cast

Production

In December 2008 it was announced that the Norwegian Film Institute would support a film made by Cappelen Malling with NOK 10.5 million, in spite of the fact that the author had no previous experience from the movie industry.[4] The book forms the basis for the film, where an alternative universe-Treholt leads a group of ninjas set up by then-King Olav V to combat the Soviets.[5] The original working title was Nytt norsk håp ("New Norwegian Hope"), and the total budget was NOK 19 million.[4] The producers describe the story as taking place directly before Treholt's arrest in 1984, presenting "the true story of how Commander Arne Treholt and his Ninja Force saved Norway during the Cold War."[6] Cappelen Malling himself describes the film as "alternative history", but only in the sense that all history is alternative.[7] Treholt himself has allegedly given his consent to both the book and the movie.[8]

The absurd premise of the film secured a great deal of media attention for it ahead of its release. Aftenposten, in January 2010, predicted it would be one of the most absurd works of Norwegian cinema.[8] Verdens Gang quoted producer Eric Vogel, saying "Something like this has never been made in Norway before. Or in the world, as far as I know!" They also interviewed Mads Ousdal, who portrayed Treholt in the film, describing the role as very different from anything he had done previously.[7] Comedian Trond Viggo Torgersen played the part of King Olav V.[5]

Reception

Although the movie was not a big box-office success, it did receive some very good reviews. J.S. Marcus of The Wall Street Journal: "Hilarious and menacing, absurd and insightful, and an accomplished work of genre film making that authoritatively upends the cold-war spy thriller."[9]

See also
  • Operation Gladio, an anti-communist stay-behind operation that ran in a number of NATO countries as well as neutral states after WWII

References
  1. Filmfond, Norsk (18 December 2008). "Nytt norsk håp" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  2. Halvor, Elvik (14 December 2008). "Treholts svik, på nytt" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  3. Tore, Rem (16 October 2006). "Parodi for spesielt interesserte" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  4. Jappée, Gjermund (19 December 2008). "Treholt som norsk ninja" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. Thorkildsen, Joakim (26 March 2010). "Sjekk Trond Viggo spille kong Olav i ny film" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  6. Vogel, Eric (30 September 2009). "Cast and release date!". Tordenfilm AS. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  7. Selås, Jon (13 August 2009). "Mads Ousdal er "Arne Treholt"" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  8. Furuly, Jan Gunnar (10 January 2010). "Rekordmange norske kinofilmer i 2010" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  9. Marcus, J+S+ (23 July 2010). "Norway in Action". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
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