The Art of Negative Thinking (Kunsten å tenke negativt)

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The Art of Negative Thinking
Original title	Kunsten å tenke negativt
Type	Features
Genre	Drama, Comedy
Director	Bård Breien
Short summary	The Art of Negative Thinking is a burlesque drama about Geirr (33), who has become severely handicapped in a traffic accident.Given his isolation, weapons fixation, self medication and limitless bitterness, his girlfriend Ingvild (30) doesn't know how to handle him any longer. She therefore invites a municipal positivity group to their home. Consequently, the stage is set for 24 intense hours at Geirr and Ingvild's place. Geirr is the only one who refuses to see anything in a positive light. Gradually, he is joined by all the positivity group members. Geirr forces everyone through a tunnel of desperation, anguish and hopelessness, before the day dawns and they once again catch sight of light, if only as a faint glimpse of hope.
Summary	The Art of Negative Thinking is a burlesque drama about Geirr (33), who has become severely handicapped in a traffic accident. In an attempt to show everyone how terrible he feels, he has hit a dead end. Given his isolation, weapons fixation, self medication and limitless bitterness, his girlfriend Ingvild (30) doesn't know how to handle him any longer. She therefore invites a municipal positivity group to their home. Faced with the threat of a possible break-up with Ingvild, Geirr agrees to join the meeting. Consequently, the stage is set for 24 intense hours at Geirr and Ingvild's place. Geirr is the only one who refuses to see anything in a positive light. Gradually, he is joined by all the positivity group members. Not only must the leader of the group be vanquished; everyone must also confront their own negative inferno. Geirr forces everyone through a tunnel of desperation, anguish and hopelessness, before the day dawns and they once again catch sight of light, if only as a faint glimpse of hope. At this point, even Geirr realizes the banal truth: One has to try to think positive, however lousy one feels.
Cast	Marian Saastad Ottesen (Marte), Fridtjov Såheim (Geirr), Kirsti Eline Torhaug (Ingvild), Per Schaaning (Asbjørn), Henrik Mestad (Gard), Kari Simonsen (Lillemor), Kjersti Holmen (Tori)
Screenplay	Bård Breien
D.O.P	Gaute Gunnari
Editor	Zaklina Stojcevska
Sound	Gisle Tveito
Producer	Dag Alveberg
Line producer	Jan Erik Gammleng
Production company	Maipo Film & TV Produksjon AS \| Box 275 \| N-1319 Bekkestua \| Tel: +47 67 52 51 90 \| Fax: +47 67 52 51 96 \| E-mail: mail@maipo.no \| www.maipo.no
Country of origin	Norway
Release date (national)	2006-11-03
Release date (international)	2007-06
Technical information
Format	35mm
Screen ratio	1:1,85
Colour	Colour
Sound System	Dolby SRD
Length in min's	79
Length in meters	2151
No. of reels	5
International sales	TrustNordisk \| filmbyen 12 \| DK-2650 Hvidovre \| Tel: +4536868788 \| Fax: +4536774448 \| info@trustnordisk.com
Distributor (Norway only)	Columbia Tristar Nordisk Film Distributors AS
Festival participation	2007 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2007 Montreal World Film Festival 2007 Copenhagen International Film Festival, Denmark 2007 Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland 2007 San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain 2007 Pusan International Film Festival, South-Korea 2007 Nordic Film Days, Lübeck, Germany Competition 2007 AFI Fest, Los Angeles, USA Competition 2007 Black Night Film Festival, Tallinn, Estonia Closing Film 2007 Torino Film Festival, Italy Competition 2007 Rencontres Internationales de Cinéma à Paris, France Competition
Prizes received	2007 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Crystal Globe for Best Director Award 2007 Nordic Film Days, Lübeck, Germany: Main Award \| NDR Prize 2007 Torino Film Festival, Italy: Scuola Holden Award for Best Script 2007 Rencontres Internationales de Cinéma à Paris, France: Prix de la Presse
URL	http://www.nfi.no/film/theartofnegativethinking

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Director biography:
Bård Breien studied history of ideas and literature at the University of Oslo, before his three year film education in Copenhagen. He has written several educational films and short films, among them Que sera, sera. He made his debut as a director with Franks prolaps, which was nominated for an Amanda Award in 2003. This film is his feature film debut, both as script writer and director.