The Almost Man

An affable 35-year-old with a serious case of arrested development, Henrik is a constant source of laughs. Trouble is, he’s got a new job in marketing and a great girlfriend named Tone, both of which require him to be a grownup. Henrik is constitutionally unable to take anything seriously, and as a result his colleagues think he’s weird since he doesn’t get adult social cues. He plays squash with a bunch of bros who tell booger jokes and whack each other with towels, and he goes to frat-level parties where guys pee off the balcony. He and Tone engage in supermarket theater, making loud ridiculous announcements to shock the placid housewives. But now that a baby’s on the way, Tone has had enough of Henrik’s hijinks, especially after she catches him hiding at a publisher’s party defacing a Peter Pan book. It’s time for Henrik to start facing life unironically. THE ALMOST MAN won Best Film and Best Actor at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival for Henrik Rafaelsen’s engaging, often hilarious performance. (In Norwegian with subtitles) – B.B.