After seeing the film last night, I totally see why critic Peter Hartlaub of the SF Chronicle labeled it the "The standout..." as I too found it such an odd juxtaposition exploring dying and living combining the angst of death and human comedy. If you are to see one single movie up for an Acadamy Award Oscar, see Tuba Atlantic. Your first view of the Death Angel at death's door sets the pace of tears and laughter. I found the film similar to an earlier piece of work from that region titled "Kitchen Stories" - another of my favorites. This movie blew my socks off and because so few actually get an opportunity to view "shorts", I am purchasing a copy of the film to share with friends.
6 Reviews
Extremely refined quality short film
henrik-thuesen-275-35505525 January 2012
This film is overlayed with a deep and gloomy atmosphere.
From the beginning to the end, one gets the feeling of watching a good feature film, and both the image and sound quality surprises in a matter of professionalism.
The camera action and movements are really refined, and the story likewise.
I really enjoyed this film, and when it finished I was stunned for a moment or two, reflecting about its plot. It's deep, sad and at the same time filled with a discrete happiness.
But it doesn't end here, I recently read that it has been nominated for an Oscar. This is what drew my attention to the film. The crew has done a magnificent job, and I would recommend it to everyone that enjoys a film with an euphoric underlying meaning.
From the beginning to the end, one gets the feeling of watching a good feature film, and both the image and sound quality surprises in a matter of professionalism.
The camera action and movements are really refined, and the story likewise.
I really enjoyed this film, and when it finished I was stunned for a moment or two, reflecting about its plot. It's deep, sad and at the same time filled with a discrete happiness.
But it doesn't end here, I recently read that it has been nominated for an Oscar. This is what drew my attention to the film. The crew has done a magnificent job, and I would recommend it to everyone that enjoys a film with an euphoric underlying meaning.
Oskar-worthy
yochai2619 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
All the 2012 Oscar-nominated shorts show a strong sense of place - but none as strong as "Tuba Atlantic". A wind-lashed Norwegian coast evokes the shore between life and death; a haunting Nordic-fiddle score drives the feeling home.
When Oskar finds out he has only six more days to live, he doesn't let up on his holy war against seagulls. Instead, he deputizes the teenage girl who has come to be his "death angel". But he has other matters on his mind: before he dies, will he hear from his estranged brother?
Teetering on a surreal stylistic edge, the film's writer and director tuck a whimsical card into their hand right beside the gallows-humor. And it's a pretty winning hand. "Tuba Atlantic" is a crotchety memento mori that leaves just enough unsaid to mean a lot. And, unlike a lot of shorts that leave you wondering how the characters changed...
When Oskar finds out he has only six more days to live, he doesn't let up on his holy war against seagulls. Instead, he deputizes the teenage girl who has come to be his "death angel". But he has other matters on his mind: before he dies, will he hear from his estranged brother?
Teetering on a surreal stylistic edge, the film's writer and director tuck a whimsical card into their hand right beside the gallows-humor. And it's a pretty winning hand. "Tuba Atlantic" is a crotchety memento mori that leaves just enough unsaid to mean a lot. And, unlike a lot of shorts that leave you wondering how the characters changed...
Absolutely insane...but fun!
planktonrules18 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I just completed my yearly pilgrimage to see the Oscar-nominated Live Action Shorts--tomorrow it's the Animated Shorts. This was a very unusual crop of shorts this year, as three of the five nominees were comedies--and usually the films are mostly deadly serious. Only two films are serious this year and NONE are about death, Nazis or other sad stuff! As I said, it's an unusual year. Now I am not complaining--this might just be the most enjoyable group of films I've seen in years.
"Tuba Atlantic" begins with an elderly man doubling over in pain. He goes to the doctor who tells him he only has six days to live--exactly six days. Don't worry that this diagnosis makes no sense--it only gets weirder! Soon, a very perky young lady arrives at his home. She announces she's been sent to help him die. This confused me--who was this woman exactly?! I'd love for some help from any Norwegians who can explain her to me. But it doesn't matter--what follows is hilariously bizarre and involves killing seagulls and contacting the United States with a giant tuba!!! Don't try to understand all this--just watch and laugh.
This is the funniest and most enjoyable of the five nominees. Now I am NOT saying it's the very best (I think that's "The Shore") but it sure made me laugh the most. I should warn you, though, much of the film is a bit surreal and weird...just plain weird!! And, probably a film that most NRA members would deeply enjoy!
"Tuba Atlantic" begins with an elderly man doubling over in pain. He goes to the doctor who tells him he only has six days to live--exactly six days. Don't worry that this diagnosis makes no sense--it only gets weirder! Soon, a very perky young lady arrives at his home. She announces she's been sent to help him die. This confused me--who was this woman exactly?! I'd love for some help from any Norwegians who can explain her to me. But it doesn't matter--what follows is hilariously bizarre and involves killing seagulls and contacting the United States with a giant tuba!!! Don't try to understand all this--just watch and laugh.
This is the funniest and most enjoyable of the five nominees. Now I am NOT saying it's the very best (I think that's "The Shore") but it sure made me laugh the most. I should warn you, though, much of the film is a bit surreal and weird...just plain weird!! And, probably a film that most NRA members would deeply enjoy!
Norwegian wood
lee_eisenberg23 December 2016
Hallvar Witzø's "Tuba Atlantic" initially received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film, but the nomination got rescinded when it came out that the movie originally aired on TV. Nevertheless, this story of reconciliation is worth seeing, as the elderly protagonist seeks to make amends with his estranged brother, through the help of an "angel of death". I haven't seen many Norwegian movies, but I've liked the ones that I've seen. "Tuba Atlantic" is one of the most interesting short films that I've seen. It's not a masterpiece, but worth seeing.
So the next time that you hear a noise coming from across the ocean, you know what it means.
So the next time that you hear a noise coming from across the ocean, you know what it means.
Engagingly comic but with a gruff fantasy heart
bob the moo7 February 2016
Discovering he has only six days left to live, Oskar plans to reconcile with his brother – although the last he knew his brother was in New Jersey, a long way from Norway. Determined to have closure before he dies, Oskar spends his remaining days preparing to use a massive tuba structure to broadcast across the Atlantic. In the meantime, he is joined by an Angel of Death – a religious volunteer who will stay with him until he dies; and spends a lot of time killing seagulls.
It is hard to put a finger on what Tuba Atlantic is as a film, however seeing the 25 minute running time, and knowing it was a Norwegian film about death, I did not hold out too much hope of it being a fun experience. Truth is that the film manages to be grounded in this tale of a dying man and his estranged brother, but yet also brings in a lot of comedy and fantasy elements. I'm not wholly sure how much narrative importance the slaughtering of seagulls played in the overall film, but it was a very funny constant, and will resonate with anyone who has lived by the sea – or even tried to eat chips outdoors within 5 miles of coastal waters. The character of Inger plays well alongside Oskar, and the two performances do well to balance the absurd with the heartfelt – and in the end there is a gruff heart which provides a quite satisfying conclusion in the midst of the comedic and the fantasy of the tuba itself.
It is hard to put a finger on what Tuba Atlantic is as a film, however seeing the 25 minute running time, and knowing it was a Norwegian film about death, I did not hold out too much hope of it being a fun experience. Truth is that the film manages to be grounded in this tale of a dying man and his estranged brother, but yet also brings in a lot of comedy and fantasy elements. I'm not wholly sure how much narrative importance the slaughtering of seagulls played in the overall film, but it was a very funny constant, and will resonate with anyone who has lived by the sea – or even tried to eat chips outdoors within 5 miles of coastal waters. The character of Inger plays well alongside Oskar, and the two performances do well to balance the absurd with the heartfelt – and in the end there is a gruff heart which provides a quite satisfying conclusion in the midst of the comedic and the fantasy of the tuba itself.
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