What happens when the “Big One” finally hits Norway?
At first glance, The Wave looks like yet another Hollywood disaster flick, but director Roar Uthaug (who will soon direct the Tomb Raider reboot) is less concerned with showcasing spectacle and more interested in raising awareness about the very real cataclysm that threatens Geiranger, Norway. While that might not sound like the most cinematic premise, the fact that it will actually happen one day definitely lends some weight to it.
In actuality, Geiranger is a popular tourist spot nestled under the Åkerneset mountain, which is constantly on the verge of collapse, and Uthag’s film presents one outcome of that impending event.
Meanwhile, the filmmaker invests in original characters so that, when the time comes, we might care what happens to them — and, by extension, the real-life settlers of Geiranger.
The film follows geologist Kristian (Kristoffer Joner), who is leaving his quiet job at the Geiranger Warning Center to pursue a new gig at a prestigious oil company. But the very day his family decides to move to the city, Kristian gets the feeling that his hometown may be in danger, as the substrata begin to shift deep within the village mountain.
Before they know it, the Big One hits, and all of Geiranger has 10 minutes to get to high ground before a tsunami consumes them. Unfortunately, Kristian’s wife and son are not with him when the countdown begins.
One thing that immediately sets The Wave apart from typical Hollywood disaster pics is how much it hones in on the family dynamic, without any of the “president’s speeches and megacity mayhem” we’re used to seeing (per the director’s statement). In fact, almost the whole first half centers on the family’s move and Kristian reluctantly parting ways with his warning center team. In that sense, The Wave is really more of a drama that just so happens to feature a natural disaster.
Luckily, the performances are very compelling, even to someone like me who doesn’t speak Norwegian. (Yes, The Wave is subtitled. Take that for what you will.) Joner and Ane Dahl Torp, who plays Kristian’s wife Idun, do a wonderful job with both their quieter scenes leading up to the move and during the major set-pieces. Meanwhile, the actors playing Kristian’s teenage son (Jonas Hoff Oftebro) and young daughter (Edith Haagenrud-Sande) are fine in their roles but not particularly memorable.
Of course, the proverbial “10 minutes” make up the most heart-pounding moments in the film, and with a budget of just $6 million, Uthaug and his effects team deliver an impressive display rivaling most American disaster epics. Needless to say, the natural landscape of Norway’s Sunnmøre region is also breathtaking.
Ane Dahl Torp as Idun in The Wave
At the same time, The Wave features an art-house vibe, specifically the way it’s shot and edited. Even in the film’s most action-packed moments, the camera tends to linger on the character’s faces and how they react to what’s happening around them. That’s not to say there isn’t any emphasis on the disaster. Once the wave hits, the film shifts into high gear, as Kristian sets out to find the rest of his family.
As a result, The Wave can feel disconnected from itself at times, especially in terms of the tone. Ultimately, it doesn’t quite nail the merging of indie trappings and blockbuster flair, but both elements work well on their own.
Roar Uthaug’s The Wave is unique in that it shows what might happen when the real-life Åkerneset mountain collapses and floods the Norway village of Geiranger. While the film definitely draws inspiration from Hollywood disaster flicks like Armageddon and Twister, it also comes with an art-house flavor that centers around one family’s harrowing journey through catastrophe. Not surprisingly, these two disparate styles clash at times, resulting in some tropes and unintentional humor, but overall The Wave delivers a unique take on the natural disaster genre.
