Uno (2004)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
David	Aksel Hennie
Morten	Nicolai Cleve Broch	½
Jarle	Bjørn Floberg	½
Mona	Liv Bernhoft Osa

Review

Aksel Hennie, one of Norwegian film's bright new stars, has his name all over the credits list for this film - his first as a filmmaker. And Hennie proves that his talents aren't limited to what goes on in front of the camera. Even though Uno is an extremely pessimistic tale, it also is a very realistic rendition of life on the streets (more or less) in a north-European big city. For all the issues it poignantly addresses, Uno is at its strongest as a portrayal of the lacking prospects young, uneducated men could find themselves with in today's urban society. David thus is a very recognizable character, but Hennie still manages to make him nuanced and vibrant through his fine acting.

Apart from a somewhat stilted opening dialogue between David and Morten, Hennie's best achievement with Uno is the fine writing. Not only does he depict interaction between youngsters in a genuine way, he also writes a highly suspenseful, intricate and powerful story and builds it up shrewdly. The acting is fine too, particularly Bjørn Floberg who is in explosive form. Definitely one of the best Norwegian films in some time.