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The Bothersome Man (2006) Certificate 15

The Bothersome Man
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Rated 3.5 stars
Average rating
(67%)
 
Starring: Trond Fausa Aurvaag | Petronella Barker | Per Schaaning | Birgitte Larsen | Johannes Joner | Ellen Horn | Anders T. Andersen
Director: Jens Lien
Studio: ICA FILMS
Run time: 95 mins
Genres: Drama | Thriller
Languages: Norwegian
Subtitles: English
Released: January 28, 2008

40-year-old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvag) steps off a bus into a strange city, with no memory of how he got there. It all seems familiar: people are polite, go to work, have dinner parties, go out and have sex, but no-one seems to connect or even enjoy themselves. It isn't long before Andreas marries attractive interior designer Anne-Britt (Petronella Barker), and as the pair settle into a comfortable if emotionally vacant routine, the newly arrived citizen gradually begins to question why everyone and everything seems so superficial. As the ubiquitous "Caretakers" who preside over the city take note that their latest arrival just doesn't seem to fit in, Andreas begins to concoct a plan to escape.

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Highest rated reviews

16 out of 16 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
Very Bothersome indeed

Jace from , 9th August, 2007

I've just watched this at the cinema, what a fantastic film, The Norwegians certainly do have a black sense of humour, in places this film has you recoiling in horror and almost wetting yourself laughing at the same time, which was a first for me. Very black, very subtitled, very funny, but be warned, Hollywood it aint. Highly recommended (if you like this sort of thing)!

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
What a fabulous film

A Customer from St Leonards on Sea, 5th May, 2008

One of the best films I have seen in a long time. Beautiful, moving, intelligent.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
Still bothersome

A Customer from Harwich, 17th August, 2008

This is a really engaging film..some people would brand it as slow and difficult to comprehend. The truth is that it is a great film because you have to do most of the work, you decide on the circumstances of his life in the city and you decide on his eventual fate. Good digs at banality, consumerism and our shallow culture. Dont watch this film if you want adventure, guns, shoot outs or everything explained to you. One star missing because I felt the ending could have been slightly better. This is a film for fully formed and thoughtful adults.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

*** May contain spoilers ***


Rated 5.0 stars
Fascinating

A Customer from Sheffield, 4th August, 2008

This film has stayed with me for weeks after viewing. Is he dead? Is he alive? So many questions left to ponder from this film that pokes at the superficial world that we all live in now. Wonderful

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Most recent reviews

Rated 2.0 stars
Avoid

Robbiedjude from , 13th November, 2009

This film seems to be a victim of its own success. Using a great location and filming it in a way that gives it a washed-out look they successfully create a city where nothing has any emotional resonance, there is no joy or sorrow, anger or fear and that is exactly how I felt watching the movie. The protagonist slowly goes insane because everything is so muted and emotionless, sadly the same has be said for his performance. As he is the heart of the piece this is a major flaw the film never really recovers from. A sadly disappointing effort.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3.0 stars
The Bothersome Man

Ragmule from , 29th July, 2009

I couldn't really engage with this film. I couldn't connect with the central character suffering from memory loss, which seems to be a condition which I am suffering from in trying to recall anything memorable or worthwhile to say about this film. Sorry.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
Battle Against The Bland

A Customer from London, 13th June, 2009

From the opening scene featuring cinema's most dispassionate snogging session, 'The Bothersome Man' was to be humorous, thought-provoking, and above all original. The specially erected 'Welcome' sign and the sparse cold apartments and offices personify the same sense of uneasiness we all seem to feel when commencing a new job. The film portrays neutrality as a perpetual state of horror - much as being 'neutered' must feel to any formerly virile cat. Compelling, addictive, and darkly hilarious.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 0.0 stars
Utter Rubbish

CTM from , 23rd March, 2009

Had no patience for this rubbish film. Do not waste your time.

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