THE WAVE/ BOGEN
Norway, 2015, 104 minutes, Colour.
Kristoffer Joner, Ane Dahl Torp, Jonas Hoff Oftebro.
Directed by Roar Uthaug.
The Wave is a Norwegian disaster film, taking its cue from other disaster films but making it local.
The film has a historical introduction explaining rock slides, rock instability in Norway and the possibility for falls. This is the background for the story, an expert and his family going to move from the fjords to the city but indications showing that there could be a rock slide. The authorities are hesitant at first, going out to the crevices to see the damage. Eventually, there is a drop in the water with the rock slide and the formation of a giant tsunami. Locals try to drive and then run to higher ground. The guests in the tourist resort are urged to get out.
The film focuses on the expert, his contribution to finding out what was happening, his saving his young daughter by driving and running to higher ground, his return to find his wife and son who have taken refuge in the bomb shelter in the resort. He is able to save them – and, while there is a happy ending, there is a final warning that this kind of thing could happen again, unpredictably.
1. A Norwegian disaster film? Local geological issues? Tourist resorts? Coping with disaster?
2. The Norwegian settings, the fjords, the rocks in the mountains? The roads? Lake? The special effects for the rock collapse, the tidal wave? The musical score?
3. The introduction, photos of previous rock disasters and their toll? The warning at the end about further rock slides?
4. Kristian, driving along the roads, the mountains, the lakes? The fjords? The beauty of the countryside? His work, his family, their moving? His skills and his work? Going to the headquarters, the discussions, the statistics, the warnings? The hesitation of the group? Going out to check, the crevasse is? The further warnings, the dangers? Kristian, his involvement?
5. The family, Julia, Sondre, Kristian and his wife? Packing? His taking Julia for the drive, his concern, leaving her for hours? Taking Julia to the house, the night? His wife and her work, at the hotel, the guests?
6. The danger on the crevasse, the rocks, injuries and deaths? The alert? Kristian and his taking Julia, attempting to drive to higher ground, finally running? His returning to help, leaving Julia to look after the little girl?
7. In the hotel, rousing the guests, the bus and the driver? Sondre being lost, his mother searching for him? Maria and Philip? The wave, Maria drawn to her death? Philip and his panic, the basement, the bomb shelter, closing the door? The rising waters? Kristian and his return after staying in the car and being overwhelmed, saved? Searching the hotel, hearing the sounds, his wife swimming, opening the door, Philip and his panic and holding Sondre’s head, Kristian coming in, Sondre panicking, eventually swimming out, saved?
8. The popular ingredients for this kind of disaster film – in the Norwegian context?
