"The Troll Hunter" - a comedy horror film that's a homage to a beloved artist

If this had been an American film, I wouldn't have bothered watching it. But it's Norwegian, so I gave it a go: partly out of loyalty; partly because of the shameful knowledge that I have only  seen two Norwegian films in the last quarter century (Pathfinder and Insomnia - both brilliant); partly because the land of my forefathers has been so comprehensively overshadowed by its neighbours, Denmark and Sweden, in terms of its film and TV output; and partly because it has garnered some very decent reviews.

Honestly, it's very funny (intentionally). A group of students are trying to bring a bear killer to justice by filming his activities - only to discover that their suspect is in fact a troll hunter appointed by a government which denies the monsters' existence. The main actors are all comedians, apparently, and that's probably why it works so well. The scene where the students and the troll hunter are trapped in a cave with a family of enormous, farting trolls is particularly amusing. I also enjoyed the scene where the students are informed that they have to smear themselves with "troll stench" (especially the groin) to remain undetected (it's the squidgy crud produced by  squeezing a dead troll, apparently). And the theory that electricity pylons in an unpopulated part of the country serve no purpose except to act as a gigantic electrical fence to keep the largest strain of trolls - Mountain Kings - penned in is clever. The CGI effects aren't exactly James Cameron-level, but they're good enough.

Obviously the scenery is quite stunning throughout (I must get back to Norway soon).

Sea Troll, Theodor Kittelsen

The most delightful thing about the film, for me, is that it's basically a 90-minute homage to the Norwegian artist/illustrator Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914). Born into grinding poverty as one of eight children whose father died young, his natural talent - and the generosity of a patron - led to attendance at a school of drawing in Oslo (then Christiania), and susequently to further study in Munich and Paris, resulting in a career as a painter, and  as an illustrator of books of Nordic folk tales. He wasn't the most technically-gifted of artists, and the quality of his output was variable - but he certainly possessed an original vision, and developed a unique style based on his profound response to the beautiful, frightening, haunting, massive landscapes of his homeland.

  

Kittelsen images are fairly ubiquitous in Norway - he's one of those national artists who shape the way people actually see their country. My brother has several Kittelsen troll prints on his walls. I have a collection of his troll-work in book form, and as I sit typing this post, I can look up to see this on the wall directly in front of me:

But, of course, Kittelsen didn't only do monsters, and he didn't only capture the wild, scary aspects of his country. As I ascend the stairs to my eyrie each morning here at Grønmark Towers, I pass this delightful painting:

If you're ever in Norway, do keep an eye peeled for Kittlesen's work - it isn't hard to find. And if you fancy an amusing feel-good movie, give The Troll Hunter a go - you will enjoy it, despite the title and the genre.