Viking Magazine - Jul/Aug 2023 - 35

AMBASSADOR INSIGHTS
Norwegian Blockbusters
BY ANNIKEN KRUTNES
I
n quiet moments of relaxation,
there's nothing like sitting back
and watching a great film or TV show.
Over the past few years, a number of
Norwegian productions have made
their way onto the world stage. " The
Worst Person in the World, " for example,
made it all the way to the 2022
Oscar nominations, and last year's
" Troll " was a huge hit on Netflix.
While that's been exciting in its own
right, Norway has also had a second,
soſter presence in Hollywood recently-
a trend that shows no signs of slowing
down. Here's a hint: what do " No
Time to Die, " " Tenet, " " Black Widow,
" Dune " and " Succession " have in common?
If you guessed using Norwegian
nature and landmarks as scenery, you
are spot on!
Dramatic films oſten call for a dramatic
backdrop-so it should really be
no surprise that Norway is a location of
choice for directors. Highlighting natural
beauty, like that of our mountains
and fjords, is an intuitive way to reflect
the importance of a story's themes.
I've always felt privileged to be from a
nation with so much to offer hikers and
sightseers, and I love that many of my
favorite locations are now being shared
with movie-goers.
" Succession, " of course, has been one
of the biggest TV successes of the past
few years, becoming especially popular
during the lead-up to its finale this
spring. But did you know that part of
its fourth season was filmed in Norway?
The fiſth episode highlights the Juvet
Landscape Hotel (pictured above) on
Norway's northwestern coast, close to
the Geirangerfjord and not far from the
lovely town of Ålesund. The characters
are also seen driving down the Atlantic
Road-named by some as the world's
most beautiful drive.
If you've never heard of the Atlantic
Road, I highly recommend a visit! It
@sonsofnorway
wraps its way over an archipelago in the
northwest, in Møre og Romsdal county.
It features islands and skerries, the
distant peaks of mountains, and ocean
on all sides. And " Succession " isn't the
only mega-hit to have used it.
The latest James Bond movie, 2021's
" No Time to Die, " includes a full-on
car chase across the Atlantic Road. The
location is perfect for this moment-
the peacefulness of the area contrasts
strikingly with the desperation of the
moment, and the high stakes are
symbolically represented by the seastruck
landscape.
Elsewhere in Norway is also popular
for blockbuster filming. The beach that
Timothée Chalamet's character walks
along in the 2021 science fiction movie
" Dune " can be found on the Stadlandet
peninsula beside Nordfjord on the west
coast. It's further south than the Bond
and " Succession " scenes, but no less
stunning-there's a reason why the area
is a favorite for nature-lovers!
Meanwhile, 2020's " Tenet " was
filmed in a number of notable Norwegian
locations, including the roof of the
sloping, iceberg-like Oslo Opera House
and the city's Tjuvholmen neighborhood.
And the Marvel hit " Black Widow "
included scenes at the Hjørundfjorden,
surrounded by sharp-angled mountains,
and the idyllic village of Sæbø, Vestland.
Seeing Norway show up in films
never gets old, and I hope the pattern
continues. There are still many Norwegian
places that have yet to be highlighted
by Hollywood, but I'll be keeping an
eye out-it seems like the film industry
has discovered the secret of our country's
landscape, and I'm sure there will
be more to come.
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Anniken Krutnes
is Norway's
Ambassador to the
United States. An
expert in security
policy, the law of
the sea and Arctic issues, she has previously
served as Deputy Director General of the
Department of Security Policy, as Norway's
Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic
Affairs and as Norway's Ambassador to
the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
facebook.com/
NorwegianEmbassyinWashington
@NorwayAmbUSA
Jul/Aug 2023
35
ILLUSTRATION: RANDALL NELSON; PHOTO: WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY
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Viking Magazine - Jul/Aug 2023

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