Head Above Water (1993)

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Remakes... what is that? More than the concept of "remake", remakes are a way to make "easy money" and, of course, a way to overshadow the originals and cover their true identity. In the end, we think the Americans are so great and original when they lack ideas and originality, remaking the others's works instead and claiming as theirs. If before knowing that the remake was a remake it seemed alright, in comparison it pales.I don't know more norwegian movies, even though Norway is a gorgeous country. But this moment of glory in norwegian cinema is one to be treasured.Hollywood, beware: this norwegian is a lesson in originality and how to make a movie as it should be. There is a lot to be appreciated. The story is unlike anything else, the norwegian cinematography is stunning, the film is intriguing, the acting by the actors is authentic and the film-making is a good school of film-making.Lene Elise Bergum is a lot more serious than the funnier Cameron Diaz, but it's the norwegian actress who is superior (and far more authentic). Although Cameron Diaz was still beautiful and hot back then, Lene is hotter because of the several nudity scenes.Svein Roger Karlsen is phenomenal as the judge. Every weird behavior of his character seems so authentic that it only means that the actor is awesome. Morten Abel and Reidar Sørensen have good performances too, but they're in a different league because their roles are much simpler.This should definitely be on Top 250.

This Norwegian movie called "Hodet Over Vannet" from 1993 is one the best Norwegian movies ever made and the movie was also popular in United States that Hollywood made an own American version "Head Above Water" in 1996. The movie was the first movie to the huge Norwegian sing star Morten Abel and he made also the movie title song. The song "Hodet Over Vannet" is a real popular music hit in Norway and are still often playing on radio. The actress (Lene) who playing in this movie have also playing a huge popular role in the largest Norwegian soap TV series "Hotel Cæsar" where she played from 2000 to 2004. In 2004 Morten Abel played in his second movie "Alt For Egil", a really good Norwegian movie with a lot of singing dialogs with songs, nearly something like a half musical movie. Morten Abel made most of the music and songs to that movie too. The DVD version of "Alt For Egil" released in April 2005. "Hodet Over Vannet" released on DVD from the end of June 2005.Both DVDs should have subtitles in English for the DVD market in Europe and maybe United States too. Check out the DVD net shops from Norway.

This movie, "Hodet over vannet", has later been remade in the Hollywood-version "Head Above Waters". Usually, originals tend to be better than remakes. From what I heard, that is exactly the case with this one. I wish I could confirm just that, but I can't since I haven't seen the Hollywood version. Now, back to this movie. Norwegian movies tend to stink big time, but this is an exception to that. The story is really good, and there are lots of surprises as it proceeds. The surroundings is south Norway in the summer, and it really fits to the movie and the plot. The especially interesting part about the plot, is that you never really know who's the bad guy, if there's any bad guy at all.

People went crazy in '96 when Head Above Water hit the movies in the us. Not so many people know, but it's actually "Hodet Over Vannet" that came before the English version. One of the best norwegian movies ever made. If you speak English, and have seen this version, and liked it, I surly recommend "De dødes tjern" as well. It's from the 60, and are definitely one of norways tresures as well:) One of the things I also like; Is that my all time fave norwegian singer Morten Abel is acting in it. He might be best known from the pop group The September When, but he also has a huge acting talent. He also sings the title song, whitch is an all time classic in norwegian music, I think:)