Film: The art of negative thinking, regi Bård Breien, Norway 2006

Kunsten å tenke negativt. Regi: Bård Breien, Norway, 2006. Manus: Bård Breien. Foto: Gaute Gunnari. Musikk: Stein Berge Svendsen. Medv: Fridtjov Såheim, Marian Saastad Ottesen, Kjersti Holmen, Henrik Mestad, Kari Simonsen m.fl. Norwegian language, English subtitles. 35mm, colour, 1 hour 19 minutes. The Art of Negative Thinking The Art of Negative Thinking is a burlesque drama about 33 year old Geirr, who has become severely handicapped in a traffic accident. In an attempt to show everyone how terrible he feels, he has hit a dead end. Given his isolation, weapons fixation, self medication and limitless bitterness, his girlfriend Ingvild doesn't know how to handle him any longer. She therefore invites a municipal positivity group to their home. Faced with the threat of a possible break-up with Ingvild, Geirr agrees to join the meeting. Consequently, the stage is set for 24 intense hours at Geirr and Ingvild's place. Geirr is the only one who refuses to see anything in a positive light. Gradually, he is joined by all the positivity group members. Not only must the leader of the group be vanquished; everyone must also confront their own negative inferno. Geirr forces everyone through a tunnel of desperation, anguish and hopelessness, before the day dawns and they once again catch sight of light, if only as a faint glimpse of hope. Bård Breien studied history of ideas and literature at the University of Oslo, before his three year film education in Copenhagen. He has written several educational films and short films, among them Que sera, sera. He made his debut as a director with Franks prolaps, which was nominated for an Amanda Award in 2003. This film is his feature film debut, both as script writer and director. It has won several international awards. NFI/red.