Hockeyfeber

Hockeyfeber (Hockey Fever) is a Norwegian sports drama film from 1983 directed by Oddvar Bull Tuhus.[1][2][3] The main roles are played by Rune Dybedahl, Liv Bernhoft Osa, Jörn Donner, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Per Theodor Haugen,[4] and Rolf Søder.

Hockeyfeber
Directed byOddvar Bull Tuhus
Written byOddvar Bull Tuhus
Bjarne Rønning
Produced bySvein H. Toreg
Ola Solum
StarringRune Dybedahl
Liv Bernhoft Osa
Jörn Donner
Sverre Anker Ousdal
Per Theodor Haugen
Rolf Søder
CinematographyHalvor Næss
Edited byBjørn Breigutu
Music byGeir Bøhren
Bent Åserud
Distributed byNorsk Film A/S
Release date
October 7, 1983
Running time
104 minutes
CountryNorway
LanguageNorwegian

Plot

Hockeyfeber is a story about not only clashes on the ice, but also about life as it fades in the harsh environment in which amateur sports take place. The film depicts the sports environment in good and bad ways, and it shows how tough and cynical the demands on the athletes become when winning the sponsors' favor is most important.

The ice hockey team Manglerud Star is moving down from the first division. Ricky (Rune Dybedahl)[5] is one of the players on the team, and he falls in love with Vera (Liv Bernhoft Osa),[6] who is involved with horses. It is not easy for Ricky to combine his relationship with Vera with the intense training needed to qualify for the next season. In addition, the difficult situation makes the players depressed, and both friendship and the joy of the sport are at stake. However, the managers have many ideas, and they are eager to adopt new methods of raising funds for the club. They also want to acquire a coach with an international profile. Recruiting players, sponsorship, and increasingly tougher competition make it difficult to maintain the team spirit and the community between the team members.

Problems related to money, violence in sports, and private life are touched upon in this film, in which the hockey environment is presented realistically.[7]

Background

Hockeyfeber is the last of three youth films directed by Oddvar Bull Tuhus in the early 1980s. In 1980 he released 1958, which was about the Sinsen gang, and in 1982 Fifty-Fifty, a film about broken dreams, boring jobs, and dance band success. Tore Torell was engaged as a consultant for the film.[7][8]

Reception

Aftenposten's Øyvind Thorsen wrote the following: "At first, it is somewhat annoying that the players are amateurs at repartee and expression, and their words are often lost in mumbling, but eventually the film becomes so focused that you forget this. Liv Bernhoft Osa and Jørn Donner also add weight to the film. Donner, as the Finnish coach, is unyielding, strong-willed, and arrogant, but well aware of his capacity, and that those that follow his orders will win." Dagbladet's Thor Ellingsen was more enthusiastic in his review, and wrote the following: "With Hockeyfeber, Tuhus continues the thread from 1958 and Fifty-Fifty, in which he portrayed Norwegian youth cultures and tackles subjects that filmmakers have traditionally neglected in Norway. He has gotten better with each of these films, and I think Hockeybefer is simply the best of his seven feature films to date. The cinematographer Halvor Næss and editor Bjørn Breigutu contribute significantly to the successful result."[9] Jan Simonsen in the film magazine Z was more mixed in his views and wrote the following in 1983: "Young people are affected by a number of diseases these days. We have noted both Saturday Night Fever, Flashdance fever, and several other variations. Now they are also exposed to a Norwegian virus: Hockey fever! Z's reviewer finds it natural to continue the diagnosis tradition from the blessed Filmavisa. He finds the film's theme interesting, but sees weaknesses in the dramaturgy and the representation of the ice hockey game itself."[10]

The film received a "die throw" of 4 from Dagbladet in 1996.[11]

Cast

References

  1. Haddal, Per. "Oddvar Bull Tuhus". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  2. Nestingen, Andrew K.; Elkington, Trevor Glen (2005). Transnational Cinema in a Global North: Nordic Cinema in Transition. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 265.
  3. Cowie, Peter (1984). International Film Guide 1985. New York: Tantivy Press. p. 248.
  4. Haddal, Per. "Per Theodor Haugen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  5. "Norsk 'Hockeyfeber'". Laagendalsposten. No. 225. November 17, 1983. p. 2. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  6. Søgård, Tom (October 7, 1983). "Godt bilde av norsk hockey". Hamar Dagblad. No. 232. p. 10. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  7. "Hockeyfeber". Norsk filmografi. Nasjonalbiblioteket. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  8. Arntsen, Thomas (October 7, 1983). "'Hockeyfeber' bør få herje". Fredriksstad Blad. No. 232. p. 5. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. Braaten, Lars Thomas (1995). Filmen i Norge. Oslo: Ad Notam Gyldendal. p. 395.
  10. Simonsen, Jan (1983). "Hockey feber". Z. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  11. "Filmer på TV". Dagbladet. March 28, 1996.
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