For studying Norwegian, Books and courses are not the only things you should pay attention to all the time.
Watching flicks from Norway can be immensely beneficial too. So, here are 12 entertaining movies to learn Norwegian.
Learning a foreign language has intrinsic advantages.
And suppose you are decided to learn Norwegian, for whatever reason. In that case, you might search for some resources to dive further into this Scandinavian language.
And what is a better language learning method than viewing movies?
Sitting at the top of the United Nations Human Development Index is the beautiful country Norway.
Continuously ranked as the best for the quality of life of its inhabitants, Norway has been attracting more tourists or migrants.
And to live in Norway, the best way to get a sense of belonging is to learn the local language.
Almost all of the Norway population, i.e., 5 million of them, speaks Norwegian. And to mingle with them while in Norway, Norwegian goes a long way.
Cinema has always proved itself to be the best teacher and language learning process.
If a language course promises you to teach Norwegian in 12 months, cut that period short to a maximum of 9 months if you are learning the language with films.
Where to Watch Norwegian Movies?
Unfortunately, the availability of good Nordic movies and Tv-series is limited.
Thanks to the advent of online streaming media and platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, you can view plenty of content anytime and anywhere!
To save your time exploring movies and television shows on Netflix, you can use secret genre codes. Replace the last few digits XXXX (Netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX) with the below-mentioned codes to explore the wealth of content.
Movies & TV-Series – 107464, TV Shows – 78373, Norwegian Wood – 70144559, Movies – 62510, Audio & Audio description in Norwegian Bokmål – 1400290 / 1500290, Talk More – 70091967, Norwegian Ninja – 70153425, Black Metal (Norwegian Legacy) – 70114835, and more.
You can also try Amazon Prime video, YouTube, Vimeo, and other online streaming channels. So you could enjoy getting that Norwegian flair in your life.
12 Must-Watch Movies to Help you Learn Norwegian
And all with context by relating each word to the real emotion.
These films would do the same wonder for your Norwegian-learning experience. While Norwegian isn’t a hard language to study, these cinemas can make it simpler yet enjoyable.
View with Norwegian subtitles before trying with no subtitles.
Without further ado, here are the twelve best movies to learn Norwegian.
1. Headhunters (2011)
The action-thriller Headhunters is based on the novel of the same name.
A successful headhunter steals art for funding his lifestyle. The film revolves around his robbery of a valuable painting that gets him into trouble.
The unexpected twists and turns in the storyline add to the thrill. The movie was a turning point for Norwegian cinema.
Simple vocabulary makes it an ideal choice for a beginner to learn the Norwegian language.
2. Max Manus: Man of War (2008)
Directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, the 2008 biographical war film is about a resistance fighter, Max Manus, during World War II. It is one of Norway’s most successful movies so far.
The flick tells an adventurous story about Max Manus, a Norwegian resistance fighter who was involved in freeing his country from the occupying German forces.
They captured Manus twice, but both times he escaped from the clutches of the Nazis.
The stunning visual, moving storyline and gripping thriller will keep you hooked throughout the film.
Although the dialogue is fast-paced, it will allow you to learn something interesting, primarily military and war words.
3. Trollhunter (2010)
Troll hunter justifies its name as the story revolves around three students on a journey to find the hunter of bears in Norway, who later happens to be a Troll hunter.
The film portrays the Norwegian culture and carries a lot of dark humor.
This wild comedy displays the giant trolls, creating chaos across the countryside.
With funny and straightforward language, the film is suitable for all levels of Norwegian language enthusiasts.
4. Kon-Tiki (1950)
This Oscar-winning documentary revolves around the journey of a Norwegian explorer.
He set sail in a wood-raft from Peru to Polynesia to prove that his theory of South American natives has been settled in Polynesia.
The language and tone used in Kon-Tiki belong to Norway in the 1940s.
The Anglo-ethnocentric approach takes you back in time and introduces you to old-world Norway.
It is a good learning experience for intermediate Norwegian language learners.
5. King of Devil’s Island (2010)
Directed by Marius Holst, King of Devil’s Island (Norwegian: Kongen av Bastøy) is a 2010 French-Norwegian action drama film.
It is a true story of a violent uprising against the pitiless regime at the Bastøy Prison in Norway.
It all started when a 17-year-old Erling came to this prison for alleged murder.
The clash begins with the governor, who believes strict discipline, hard work, and ruthless punishment are the only ways to change these boys into good humans.
Erling resisted and encouraged other boys to fight. Finally, he leads the rebellion against all the odds.
How far is he willing to go to attain freedom?
Well, I guess you will need to watch to find out. If you want to see a prison escape, this is the film to watch.
The flick has uncomplicated conversations but some tricky vocabulary making it suitable for intermediate and advanced students.
6. Pinchcliffe Grand Prix (1975)
This talkie is a motion-animated sports adventure that displays the story of a brilliant mechanic. Unfortunately, the idea of his racing car gets stolen by his ex-colleague.
To take revenge, he is on a mission of creating an even better design. Based on the characters of a book series by a Norwegian cartoonist, the film satisfies the inner child in you.
The easy vocabulary in the movie will help even the children to understand.
The film is best suitable for beginner-level Norwegian language learners.
7. Elling (2001)
Based on Ingvar Ambjornsen’s 1996 novel Blood Brothers, Elling is one of the three Norwegian films ever nominated for an academy award.
The movie gives a glimpse of the good life through comedy scenes and splendid performances.
Elling, a 40-year-old, has lived his entire life with his mother.
After the death of his mother, he was afraid of going out because of his anxiety. Thus, the authority sent him to an institution where he lives with a new roommate, Kjell.
Eventually, both were released, and they set up in a small apartment in Oslo.
Elling is a mix of humor and heart, a movie you will surely like. It is one of the best movies to learn Norwegian, especially for students of intermediate proficiency.
8. Insomnia (1997)
Insomnia is a mysterious drama displaying an investigation of a murder in a city’s 24-hour daylight circle.
The research goes horribly wrong when the sleep-deprived police detective accidentally shoots his partner.
The killer now knows his truth, and a double-sided cat-and-mouse play begins.
The film has simple and easy dialogues but a little advanced vocabulary making it suitable for intermediate and advanced-level learners of the Norwegian language.
9. Oslo, August 31st (2011)
This critically acclaimed film represents a free day in the life of a recovering drug addict.
Inspired by a 1931 novel Le Feu Follet, the movie displays the dark journey of a drug addict confronting his demons.
He is out of the rehab center for a job interview but feels too old to start something new. With the use of routine-life language, the film is apt for intermediate-level pupils.
You can watch the cinema using Norwegian or English subtitles, depending on your level of competence.
10. Kitchen Stories (2003)
Kitchen Stories is a comedy-drama about real-life social experiments conducted in Sweden in the 1950s.
It is a delightful piece, making it a true masterpiece of Norway Cinema.
After WWII, the Swedish researchers came to Norway by observing a handful of Norwegian bachelors.
The humor comes from the stereotypical Swede as uptight and organized and the Norwegian as slow but stable.
Kitchen Stories is a must-see movie from Norway. With vernacular tongue and some advanced vocabulary, the film is suitable for everyone.
11. In Order of Disappearance (2014)
In Order of Disappearance, the vengeance thriller is a dark comedy with the story revolving around a snowplow driver.
The man provokes a full-blown underworld gang war while seeking revenge for his son’s murder for something he didn’t do.
The action drama involves creative and brutal killings by the man, with the body count rising high.
The dialogues are repetitive and simple to understand, making it the best choice for beginner-level Norwegian language lovers.
12. The Wave (2015)
The Wave is the story of a natural disaster experienced by a Norwegian village.
It portrays a family’s sight for survival from a high tidal wave caused by a massive landslide.
The spectacular scenes and the sustained tension throughout the film keep you glued till the end.
The film uses a local language with some advanced vocabulary, making it an apt choice for those who already know Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages like Swedish or Danish.
Takeaway on Learning Norwegian with Films
We all know the benefits of languages.
And If you want to study Norwegian – or curious about the culture of Norway – you can watch the 12 movies mentioned above to improve your command of the Nordic language, i.e., Norwegian.
Did I miss any film you think should be on the list?
If you want more suggestions concerning movies to learn Norwegian, you can always ask in the comment session below.
Have Fun! Ha Det Gøyİ!
