What it’s about
Elling (Ellefsen) has been living in a Norwegian psychiatric facility since his mother's death, having seldom left the apartment they'd always shared. At the mental home, he meets burly, sex-starved Kjell (Nordin), his opposite in every respect, and they become fast friends. Soon it's decided these two societal misfits are ready to make a go of it in the real world, and the film follows their respective adjustments in “normal” society.
Why we love it
This warm, original, daffy film consistently delights and surprises, thanks to a pair of deliciously drawn oddballs. Central characters Elling and Kjell make the duo from Neil Simon's “The Odd Couple” look like well-adjusted identical twins! Yet to its credit, “Elling” never strains too hard to be zany, and leavens the humor with real emotion so we actually care about these people. You'd be crazy to pass on this quirky, winning comedy.