From the producers:

As young children, half-siblings Axel and Yanne are adopted to Norway. They are separated on arrival, he to material wealth on Oslo’s west side, she to an average family on the east side. In contrast to her younger brother, Yanne remembers their journey to Norway, but she has no idea where he might be now. All this is about to change, however, as Yanne’s Polish friend Maria starts working as a maid for Axel’s parents, there discovering a photograph of a young boy. Maria has seen the same picture on the wall of Yanne’s flat. She decides to reunite them. But before having time to realize the consequences, she sets in motion a chain of events which throws many people into emotional turmoil.

The Karate Kid, by film director Harald Zwart.

In Norway he is more famous for directing Lange Flate Ballær, a film about football fans in his hometown of Fredrikstad, which was a big hit at the box office, and its sequel, Lange Flate Ballær 2, about a group of Norwegian misfits who undergo a week of National Guard training. Zwart’s latest film, The Karate Kid, a remake of the 1984 movie of the same name, tells the story of a young boy from Detroit who moves to China with his mum and starts learning kung fun after getting a thrashing by the local bullies. The movie, which stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith (the son of actor Will Smith), has been very well received in the US, and will premiere in Norway at Fredrikstad Cinema on 23 July.

Did you know? Harald Zwart always adds props that represent Fredrikstad and its football club, FFK, in his movies. And he also owns a cafe, Zwart Cafe, in Gamlebyen.

A more light-hearted retelling of the WW2 years in Oslo by Oscar-winner Torill Kove, a Norway-born Canadian director and animator. She was nominated for an Academy Award for it in 2000.

‘November 1989. The Berlin wall collapses. In Stavanger, Jarle Klepp (17) has no idea that everything is about to change. So far he has got everything; the best girlfriend in the world, and the world’s coolest buddy. Together they will soon launch Stavanger’s toughest punk band, “Mattias Rust Band”. But then the new boy in class, Yngve, appears. He is not like anyone else, and Jarle is confused. He does not know what to do. All he knows is that he cannot stop meeting Yngve, even if it involves doing things he really hates, like listening to Duran Duran and playing tennis. Slowly but steadily Jarle lets everyone around him down, and finds out what it means to stand alone.’ (Motlys AS, Production Company)

Directed by Stian Kristiansen, with Rolf Kristian Larsen in the main role. More info on the movie, in English, here http://www.nordiskfilmogtvfond.com/index.php?sid=60&ptid=3

And for readers in the UK: The film will be screened in London during the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival later this month (BFI Southbank, 27 and 29 March, 8.30pm).

- Orion’s Belt: Espionage thriller set in the fishing community of the Svalbard archipelago. (1985)

- Flåklypa Grand Prix: Ivo Caprino’s much loved animated puppet movie was a huge box office hit when it was released in 1975. (1975)

- The Pathfinder: Fast-paced Sami adventure by first-time director Neils Gaup, nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film. (1987)

- Insomnia: Personal thriller featuring a couple of policemen from Oslo who travel to Northern Norway to investigate the death of a 17-year old girl. (1997)

- Cross my Heart and Hope to Die (Ten Knives in the Heart): Award-winning, atmospheric coming-of-age story following the adventures of 12-year-old Otto after he meets an enigmatic man twice his age. (1994)

See also http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/12/top-5-best-norwegian-movies-of-the-past-decade/ for the best Norwegian movies of the noughties.