THE MIDDLE MAN
2021, Bent Hamer, Drama
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2014 1001 Gram
2010 Home For Christmas
2007 O’Horten
2005 Factotum
LENGTH: 95 min
COUNTRY: Norway, Canada, Germany, Denmark
YEAR: 2021
GENRE: Drama
LANGUAGE: English
FORMATS: TBD
DIRECTOR: Bent Hamer
CAST: Pål Sverre Hagen, Tuva Novotny, Paul Gross, Don McKellar, Nicolas Bro, Nina Andresen-Borud, Rossif Sutherland, Trond Fausa Aurvåg, Aksel Hennie, Kenneth Welsh, Sheila McCarthy
CREW: SCREENWRITER: Bent Hamer; CINEMATAGRAPHER: John Christian Roselund; EDITOR: Anders Refn; SOUND DESIGNER & MIXER: Steve Munro; PRODUCER: Bent Hamer
SYNOPSIS
THE MIDDLE MAN is a darkly humorous social satire which takes place in a small town that is experiencing an epidemic of accidents and deaths. The town is run by “The Commission” – the Sheriff, the Doctor and the Pastor – who decide to hire a ‘Middle Man’ whose sole responsibility will be to inform the family when an unfortunate incident occurs. Frank Farrelli is a quiet, thoughtful man who proves perfect for the job. He takes his new role on with gusto and quickly becomes the town’s beacon of bad news. But the pressures of the job and a budding new romance overwhelm Frank. To ease his burden, he calls in a ‘favour’ that ends up in a horrifying yet oddly amusing murder.
TRAILER
PHOTOS
REVIEWS
“An intriguing film which maintains an air of mystery”
“The theme is grief, not normally a subject for mirth. But just watch Norwegian actor Pal Sverre Hagen go as Frank, the absurd “middle man” tasked with being the bearer of bad news.”
“Fans of the Coen brothers will enjoy the casually abrupt developments and blank-faced absurdity.”
“Its dark tone is eased somewhat by an office romance subplot, and a little goofball comedy.”
“The Middle Man won’t be for everyone, but viewers with a taste for unconventional but restrained absurdism will find much to enjoy.”
FESTIVALS / AWARDS
- Toronto International Film Festival – Official Selection
- Helsinki International Film Festival
- Geneva Film Festival
- Norwegian International Film Festival