It’s the little things that kill, or so the old saying goes. In Norwegian filmmaker Bent Hamer’s latest film, 1001 Grams, the little things are what we choose to make them: death, life, misery, joy, and everything in between. Unfortunately for Hamer, the little things are also what his film is missing most.

Ane Dalh Torp is Marie, a lonely, quiet divorcée trying to reassemble the pieces of her life. When her father (Stein Winge) unexpectedly passes, Marie fills his place at an important French convention, bringing with her a 1kg weight to which all things in Norway are measured. More twists abound, forcing Marie out of her comfort zone and towards happiness.

The message of 1001 Grams is clear enough: The more we allow our troubles to weigh us down, the further away we pull ourselves from happiness. And while this philosophy is sound, Hamer assumes it’s enough. Rather than showing us Marie’s gradual awakening, he jumps from milestone to milestone, as if simply knowing that it happened will satisfy us. There’s little in the way of discovery, conflict, or any of the elements that make a romantic film enjoyable. It’s ironic that a movie can focus so much on weight, yet still come up feeling too light.

1001 Grams, making its North American debut at TIFF14, is also Norway’s official selection for Best International Picture at the Academy Awards.

Nimy Leshinski