The Norwegian Christmas countdown calendar The Christmas King was well received when it aired on NRK in 2012. Does it still hold up? Written by Bjørn-Åge Borger Kevin is 9 years old and lives in a village called Silverwood. Dad is an accountant who works for Randi Krohn (practically “Randi Coyn”), who rules the community. Mum…
For years, the Norwegian Blue Mountain franchise has entertained children of all ages in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This is the first feature film. Written by Bjørn-Åge Borger Magic Silver is based on the TV series Christmas on Blue Mountain (original title: Jul i Blåfjell) and Christmas on Moon Peak (original title: Jul…
Today, TV channels across the Nordic region launch the annual highlight for many children; the TV calendars. The tradition has become a spearhead for fantasy based children’s entertainment. For almost 60 years, televised advent calendars in the form of short 24-episode drama series for children have aired in the Nordic region between December 1st and…
After wilderness stalkers and trolls, Christmas may be the new Norwegian horror theme. Reinert Kiil’s Juleblod is the second Christmas related horror film in three years. Have you been naughty or nice? Coming from the director of The House, the horror comedy Juleblod is this year’s most twisted genre entry in Norwegian cinema. Reinert Kiil, a…
In a few days, the Nordic public broadcasters unleash some of their biggest efforts throughout the year; the Christmas Calendars, aimed mostly at children and airing every day from December 1st to 24th. The Nordic region has a long tradition of Christmas countdown TV drama for children, so-called Christmas calendars, which are the TV equivalent of…
Right in time for Christmas comes The Christmas King: In Full Armor, a feature film sequel to the 2012 TV drama The Christmas King. Norway has a long tradition of Christmas countdown TV drama for children, so-called Christmas calendars, which are the TV equivalent of the daily opening of a tiny present or a candy…
Today is the 20th day of Christmas, and according to Nordic traditions, it’s the day when the Christmas three is trown out, the last of the gingerbread cookies are eaten, and families enjoy another batch of stills from Christmas Cruelty, the first Nordic Xmas horror film. These pics are by photographer Karoline Emilie Folland Sæter.…
For some people, Christmas is the most terrible time of the year. No family, no friends, pressure of buying and everyone is oh so happy. In Christmas Cruelty however, Santa Claus is the least happy person of them all. Coming from a group of enthusiastic Norwegian amateurs, Christmas Cruelty (original title O’Hellige Jul, meaning O Holy Christmas) takes…
Santa: -I need something for a guy in a wheelchair. Shop clerk: -Did you have anything special in mind? Santa: -I was thinking perhaps a chainsaw. This Christmas will be friendly and warm, as long as you’re not asking this Santa to hand out surprises… Christmas horror is a small but established genre, although in…
One of the most beloved franchises in Norway is getting its third feature movie this month. Solan and Ludvig – Christmas in Flåklypa is based on the characters of Kjell Aukrust and the film promises to be both familiar and mysterious. Kjell Aukrust (1920 – 2002) was a Norwegian author and illustrator who created numerous…
The 2012 remake of Journey to the Christmas Star was a massive theatrical success, and the home video release on November 6 is just in time for the next Christmas rush. With 440.000 theatrical tickets sold in Norway, Journey to the Christmas Star was one of the big hits of 2012 and the DVD and…
It has just been December, that special time of the year. The landscape transformed, and children looking forward to the magic of Santa. No wonder then, that fantasy entertainment is closely linked to Christmas in the Nordic region. In many countries around the world, science fiction movies, horror films and fantasy franchises make up some…
In spite of being a Norwegian movie, Journey to the Christmas Star (now in cinemas) was filmed almost entirely in the Czech Republic in central Europe. The small country has become an attractive venue for foreign film productions, due to the low cost of labour and skilled crews. Earlier this year, Czech crews assisted Norwegian…
Unless you live in Norway, you have not seen Journey to the Christmas Star yet, so why not enjoy these wonderful conceptual artworks? Concept art is not only a way to convey ideas, imagination and concepts, but also serve as design guidelines for the set decorator, wardrobe department, CGI artists and the props crew. Even…
On november 9th, this year’s biggest Nordic fantasy film opens in Norway. Journey to the Christmas Star is a family friendly and Christmas themed adventure, previously known as a stage play and a 1976 feature adaption. It’s been almost a year since we reported on the 2012 version of Journey to the Christmas Star, but…
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