NORWEGIAN NINJA Proves That Art Imitates Life Imitates Art.
Behold the awesome power of political satire on film.
Thomas Cappelen Malling's Norwegian Ninja - a title regular readers of the site should be well familiar with by now and attendees of Fantastic Fest are about to get the chance to see - is based on the true story of Arne Treholt, a high ranking Norwegian diplomat who, at the height of the Cold War, was tried and convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. The entire case took place under suspicious circumstances and details have been kept locked down ever since, despite Treholt's insistence on his innocence and the pardon granted by a later government.
The actual case was so fishy, in fact, that it led Malling to speculate on whether the 'true' events were true at all and, considering the incredible amounts of propaganda and media manipulation prevalent at the time, whether it was any more far fetched to picture Treholt as the leader of a secret ninja force rather than as a traitor to his country. And so the film was born.
Well. With Norwegian Ninja freshly released in its home country the Treholt case just took a surprising turn as - more than twenty five years after his conviction - secret service agents involved in the investigation against him have come forward and confirmed that they fabricated and planted key evidence that was used to convict him in the first place. Does their coming forward have anything directly to do with the release of the film? I doubt it but it's a pretty bizarre coincidence. And, personally, I'm hoping that Malling's next film uncovers my hidden roots as a wealthy prince of some small country with no responsibilities.
Check the trailer for the film below.
Thomas Cappelen Malling's Norwegian Ninja - a title regular readers of the site should be well familiar with by now and attendees of Fantastic Fest are about to get the chance to see - is based on the true story of Arne Treholt, a high ranking Norwegian diplomat who, at the height of the Cold War, was tried and convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. The entire case took place under suspicious circumstances and details have been kept locked down ever since, despite Treholt's insistence on his innocence and the pardon granted by a later government.
The actual case was so fishy, in fact, that it led Malling to speculate on whether the 'true' events were true at all and, considering the incredible amounts of propaganda and media manipulation prevalent at the time, whether it was any more far fetched to picture Treholt as the leader of a secret ninja force rather than as a traitor to his country. And so the film was born.
Well. With Norwegian Ninja freshly released in its home country the Treholt case just took a surprising turn as - more than twenty five years after his conviction - secret service agents involved in the investigation against him have come forward and confirmed that they fabricated and planted key evidence that was used to convict him in the first place. Does their coming forward have anything directly to do with the release of the film? I doubt it but it's a pretty bizarre coincidence. And, personally, I'm hoping that Malling's next film uncovers my hidden roots as a wealthy prince of some small country with no responsibilities.
Check the trailer for the film below.
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