🇳🇴 Home for Christmas 🇳🇴
Home for Christmas is a Norwegian Netflix Original Series. Comedy Drama Romance. 6 x 26-31 min episodes. 15 Cert U.K. Subtitles and dubbing available.
Premise:
“The constant comments on single life of 30-year-old Johanne and society’s expectations of the perfect family Christmas finally gets to her. Johanne starts a 24 day hunt for a partner to bring home for Christmas.”
Cast:
Ida Elise Broch as Johanne
Felix Sandman as Jonas
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as Stein
Gabrielle as Jørgunn
Kingsford Siayor as Thomas
Arthur Hakalahti as Sebastian
Oddgeir Thune as Henrik
Line Verndal as Eira
Ole Christoffer ErtvĂĄg as ErtvĂĄg
Dennis Storhøi as Tor
Bjørn Skagestad as Bengt Erik
Stian Blipp as Bente
Nader Khademi as Paul
Crew:
Idea: Amir Shaheen and Kristian Andersen
Writers: Miriam Larsen, Mattis Herman Nyquist, Julie Skaufel, Fredrik Høyer
Director: Per-Olav Sørensen
Review:
In the spirit of full disclosure I am not usually a fan of romcoms. In fact I usually try to avoid them, if I can. I have actually watched Love, Actually which is clearly and frequently referenced in this show, so that helped. However, being willing to “take one for the team” I ventured into dangerous territory and watched the Norwegian romcom, Home for Christmas. And I LOVED it (I know, no one is more surprised than I!)
What I particularly enjoyed, from my limited previous experience with the genre, is that many of the expectations and tropes are subverted in this.
Also refreshing are the intergenerational aspects of the drama, no mere ciphers here for the older characters. Attitudes towards them, their lives, romantic and sexual encounters are skilfully handled.
The exploration of the social pressures put upon women to find a “suitable” partner is explored in a variety of highly entertaining ways and there are many laugh out loud moments. There are at least as many other events that make you cringe. Quite clearly also is that the person who is completely unbearable to one person can be the perfect fit for another. Too old? Too young? Too needy? To stalkerish?
That appearances can be deceptive is also a strong thread running through this show, along with the aftermath of broken relationships on others and “being dumped”.
Many hilarious incidents, set within a story that has poignant emotion and sadness makes this a very enjoyable and entertaining show. I am very much looking forward to watching S2. Who would I like to see Johanne with? Do I even think that she needs to “be with” someone? Time will tell…
Not sure a cross-country skiing session would be my idea of a great first date.
S2 of Home for Christmas arrives on Netflix December 18, 2020. We will be reviewing S2 here at Reel 2 Reel Talk.
Official Netflix Trailer:
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Other Links:
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Great review and i’ll certainly be watching this over Christmas.
Thank you for the great feedback! Enjoy!