The world of Sofie-Sofies verden (1999)

Directed by: Erik Gustavson | 105 minutes | drama, fantasy, history | Actors: Silje Storstein, Tomas von Brömssen, Andrine Sæther, Bjørn Floberg, Hans Alfredson, Nils Vogt, Minken Fosheim, Edda Trandum Grjotheim, Arne Haakonaasen Dahl, Sullivan Lloyd Nordrum, Kjersti Holmen, Ingar Helge Gimle, Giorgos Floros, Mark Sven Henriksen tandy

Philosophy for beginners. And especially for youth. Who am I? Who are you? Where does the World come from? Questions to which the main character, Sofie, tries to get answers and where she, strangely enough, carefully avoids a creator in all his manifestations. The answer comes closest to Descartes: ‘I think, therefore I am’ and is more fun and fanciful in elaboration than necessarily philosophical, that is. ‘The World of Sophie’ by the Norwegian writer Jostein Gaarder has already been translated into forty-six languages ​​and can be called an international bestseller with 15 million copies sold. Now also performed as a musical. Well, that’s the way it goes with successful literary works these days: they are milked to the last drop. So the movie is based on the book and it’s a bit of a slog but the book is better. Of course it’s still comparing apples to oranges and there are people who would rather see the film, maybe they don’t like to read, that’s possible. The fact is that the book contains so much more that the film cannot offer. And then we are talking about the informative, educational content, the deepening, which is what this story is actually about. After all, it’s all about (mainly Western) philosophy. A subject that is difficult to summarize in a book, let alone in a movie. Important thinkers who still receive reasonable attention in the book, disappear in the film in the setting of a somewhat messy adventure and are mentioned more in passing than actually treated. Of course, because the story of Sofie, her curiosity, missing her father and the adventures she experiences with the mysterious clarinet player, are given a lot of emphasis, it is nicely accessible for the kids. And in the end, if you don’t expect too much from the informative and educational content, if you judge it separately from the book, it still turns out well. After a confused start, it gradually unfolds mainly as an ode to fantasy and the viewer is challenged to go along with it. The sets that take Sofie back in time and to other countries and continents look good, without computer fuss and probably without mega budgets, but with authentic looking environments, with beautiful costumes and many extras; as it should be in a fantasy movie. That is kudos to director Erik Gustavson, who delivers a pleasant youth film, which you have to get into, but which ultimately takes you on a nice journey, with pleasant characters, portrayed by a credible cast. With a supporting role as Sophie’s father for the well-known Norwegian actor Bjørn Floberg, (from ‘I Am Dina’ (2002) among others). Read the book, watch the film, but don’t compare them. Both are definitely worth it.