The film “In Order of Disappearance” (“Kraftidioten,” original title), sets us in the remote and cold Norwegian landscape, where everyday Nils (Stellan Skarsgård), an esteemed and diligent countryman plows the roads. Life goes on smoothly and routinely; until the day he receives news of his son’s death under rather unexplained circumstances. Not trusting the forensic expert, he decides to find the reasons for his son’s death. This brings him deep into the Norwegian criminal underground; Nils, however, is willing to avenge his son honourably.
Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland once again proves to be one of the more prominent Scandinavian filmmakers when we speak about an intermediate production that is neither Hollywood nor bare artistic creation. He is able to capture that crucial feeling of suspense and serve it in a nordic way. For anyone who wants to get away from the aforementioned extremes and enjoy a film product that still carries high quality and a unique message, “In Order of Disappearance” should please well.
Landscape as Character
The northern coldness as an unavoidable tool and character closely connects with the intimacy of man and nature. The filmmaker’s help this by the picture’s relatively slow pace of events. Nils throughout the movie doesn’t say much. The pace within the movie builds a considerable tension, especially in terms of framing the whole story. The narrative is simple and at the same time dynamic enough. I’d also add extremely exotic from our point of view. The main actor, Stellan Skarsgård, delivers an exceptional performance of Nils, which connects the perfection of today’s society and the right of an emotionally depressed individual. You could say that in certain cases he flirts with the characters of the legendary Charles Bronson.
But during the movie we witness the emergence and confirmation of a kind of national genre, related to criminal themes. It’s a matter of establishing surrealism, as ‘perfect’ Scandinavia is not supposed to cultivate an organized crime identity. Maybe it’s just a matter of playing around and honestly using the imagination that you tie to actual society.
