Oslo’s grumpiest resident is back – and this time he’s singing

When low-cost flights to Europe ended up being a thing around 20 years back, me and a lot of mates utilized to delight in city breaks in random locations. The very first such experience took place to be Oslo. Back in the early 2000s, it wasn’t a location anybody actually thought about. For some factor, we were captivated. Common that we selected such a costly location where pints were a tenner, making it nearly difficult to get intoxicated on a junior account executive wage.

I was working for a Manchester PR firm at the time, eager to get away the grey drizzle and check out the wonderful Norwegian capital. I envisioned tidy air and blanketed snow. Cosy cafés and winter season pursuits. There was much of that, bar the white things. I was instantly struck by how reserved everybody was, too.

Which is why Halfdan feels so familiar. If you missed him the very first time round, he’s the star of VisitOSLO’s Is It Even a City? project from summertime 2024. He’s the bleak regional who roamed the capital discussing, with outright genuineness, why you should not trouble going to. Naturally, everybody wished to go. Reverse psychology, or something like that. The type of technique you pull on persistent young children. The initial movie had more than 25 million natural views throughout numerous platforms and put Oslo on the map for individuals who had actually never ever provided it a doubt. A bit like me and my mates, twenty years back.

Now he’s back. It’s Totally Even a City is the project name. And it sees Halfdan still residing in Oslo. He’s still doubtful, however this time he’s providing his truthful take on winter season, the city’s low season that ranges from November to March. Has the movie been simply as effective? You might state so, yes. It’s had more than 5 million natural views in its launch week.

“Audiences have been asking for more Halfdan, so it felt right to bring him back,” states Thea Gunnes, head of interactions and marketing at VisitOSLO. “His view of Oslo is as gloomy as ever, but this time we see the city in a different season. We wanted to focus on the winter months, traditionally seen as a less popular time to visit.”

The movie is produced by Oslo-based firm NewsLab and directed as soon as again by August Jorfald. The difficulty with following the exact same winning format is that the component of surprise has actually gone. The group didn’t attempt to recreate it. They turned it into a scary Christmas musical rather. “The first film worked because it did something unexpected, so we didn’t want to simply remake it with a winter backdrop,” discusses Linn Isaksen, handling director at NewsLab. “We wanted the sequel to take a new turn, and we agreed that one of the funniest things we could do was turn it into something of a musical. We’ve been humming the song for months, so we’ll see if the rest of the world joins in.”

You’ll need to view the movie yourself to see whether Halfdan’s sensations about his home town have actually altered, however I will state this: it’s perfectly shot and framed. Bendik Aunan, as Halfdan, is wonderful. The humour and peaceful love for the location. It’s all still there, simply with an accompanying tune.

“Sequels are often harder to make,” admits Thea. “Luckily, Oslo has far more stories than we could ever tell in a single campaign. With this film, we wanted to show that Oslo is a fantastic winter destination, while keeping the humour, understatement and affection for the city that so many people loved in the first film.”

While Halfdan still isn’t encouraged, the advertisement makes a good argument for a winter season city break that does not follow the typical clichés of Christmas markets. In Oslo you can anticipate joyful lights and cosy cafés, naturally, however likewise drifting fjord saunas, winter season swimming and cross-country snowboarding and sledging in the snow-covered forests on the city’s doorstep. And kid, is the air tidy.

What recommendations can I offer from my own memories of Oslo in winter season? Take great deals of layers and some good mittens. Have great deals of cash. Be gotten ready for a peaceful, reserved population– however understand this is a stunning city with a mild generosity running beneath it. Everybody will look easily created while you shuffle about in 6 jumpers. You’ll feel a mess however warm.

Hey, do not listen to me. VisitOSLO has actually released Halfdan’s Winter Guide to OsloYou can even find out the lyrics to his tune. Lured? I understand I ‘d like to return.