WFG RATING: A

Uncork’d Entertainment presents a Spætt Film production in association with Solo Film, Riva Film, ActivEast, and Match&Spark. Directed by Leiv Igor Devoid. Produced by Håvard Wettland Gossé. Written by Justyna Bilik, Gjermund Gisvold, and Radoslaw Paczocha. Cinematography by Patryk Kin. Edited by Øyvinn Haugrud Kastnes, Ida Kolstø, and Tomasz Maczka.

Stars Hubert Milkowski, Karl Bekele Steinland, Edyta Torhan, Øyvind Brandtzæg, Jakub Sierenberg, Izabella Dudziak, Simonas Dovidauskas, and Jakub Nosiadek.

Runtime: 97 minutes. 

An immigrant’s attempt at a new life in a foreign country is threatened by both a strike and a secret in this LGBTQ drama. 

Emigrating to Norway from his native Poland, Robert finds a job at a fish factory in an attempt to pay off his mother’s debts. On his first day, he meets Ivar, a veteran in the field who mentors Robert. Robert meets a group of fellow Polish immigrants who are trying to start a new life in the country as well. He soon falls in with them and feels a feeling of acceptance for the first time in a long time. However, Robert harbors a bit of a secret.

Robert is gay and he starts to have feelings for Ivar, who is also gay. When Ivar brings Robert into the heart of Oslo, Robert learns more about Ivar’s aspirations. Ivar wants to be an actor and moonlights as a drag queen. As Robert and Ivar grow closer to each other, tensions are raised at work when a union threatens a strike when salaries are forced to be cut to keep the business afloat. When Ivar joins the union, Robert is forced to face a decision that could threaten both his job and his new relationship, especially when his mother comes to Norway.

This LGBTQ drama is more than it appears to be. It is also a look at starting a new life in a different land that has its obstacles. As it pertains to the lead character of Robert, it is about his attempt to repay his mom’s debts by leaving his native Poland and moving to Norway to make ends meet at a factory where he finds not only acceptance within his fellow Polish co-workers but unexpectedly finds love in the process with Norwegian worker Ivar. 

Hubert Milkowski is great in the lead role of Robert, who struggles with his identity in a new land, both from a foreigner and sexual orientation viewpoint. At first, we see him try to adapt to life in a new country. What is great here is that director Leiv Igor Devold has Milkowski speaking English for a good amount of the film and his native Polish when he is with the group of fellow workers who like him, are trying to start life anew. There are some characters who are sympathetic towards him but when the strike becomes imminent, they turn on him with the exception of one. 

Karl Beleke Steinland is also great as Ivar, who starts out as Robert’s mentor before they engage in a relationship. The relationship juxtaposes with the “fish out of water” story for Robert. Robert feels he must hide his identity from his fellow workers as well as his mother, who joins him later in the film. Played by a scene stealing Edyta Torhan, Robert’s relationship with his mom is very complicated and it is when he makes a decision that will change the course of his life that he finally is where he must do the impossible to finally be “free” with no remorse. 

Norwegian Dream is more than an LGBTQ film, but more of living the life of a foreigner in a new land with excellent performances by its two leads and a scene stealing Edyta Torhan. Definitely worth seeing. 

The film will be released in select theaters on January 2, then on Digital January 9.