Norwegian cinema has been a staple of Scandinavian culture for decades now. The aim of the film is to provide a sense of reality but also excitement to the everyday life of Scandinavians. The altered sense of presence in films creates an environment where audiences can experience the symbolism of life in their own unique way. O'Hort en is a Norwegian film that seeks to explore the life of a sixty-seven year old named O'Horten, his retirement background and the realizations that come with retirement. The opening scene is of a train passing by a blue apartment in Oslo, which we later realize is Odd Horten's house. The opening scene is fast paced compared to the following scene where we are first introduced to Odd in his small apartment as he prepares for his last day of work. This scene in particular sets a melancholy tone. The opening tones of Scandinavian films set up the rest of the film for the audience. In these specific works, it all depends on how the audience sees the film and what they take away from it. These tones prepare them for their experience and guide them on the right path to what the director is trying to convey. In the previous scene, Odd's colleagues invite him to celebrate his job and retirement. Everyone in this scene is dressed in white button-down shirts, while Odd stays in his normal clothes that he normally wears. While sitting around the table, everyone stands up to applaud Odd. The camera pans closely to Odd's character who continues to sit without saying anything. This close-up better shows the character and the depth the director is trying to achieve in human lives. The director, Bent Hamer, addresses several themes throughout the film: loneliness... middle of paper... .m gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the film "is what you might call dry" ( Seaver). While both reviewers point out the film's flaws, they still admire the unique style used by Hamer. Reviews from abroad are more optimistic and favorable to the film. Critic Frederic Brussat of Spititualityandpractice states that "in the end, this quirky, slow-moving Norwegian film turns into a late-life adventure drama" (Hammer). Alissa Simon of Variety calls the film "warm and gently humorous that should be enjoyed around the world", giving the film 4 out of 5 stars (Simon). Although the film received good reviews, it did not perform as well as expected at the box office. The film ranked 55th the week it was released, earning approximately $41,000. Works Cited http://classes.dma.ucla.edu/Fall10/161A/projects/molly/portfolio/ohorten.pdf