Bitter Flowers (2007 film)

For the 2017 Belgian drama film, see Bitter Flowers (2017 film).

Bitter Flowers (Norwegian: Varg Veum: Bitre Blomster) is 2007 Norwegian crime thriller film directed by Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen. It is the first in a series of twelve films about the private detective Varg Veum, based on the books by Gunnar Staalesen. The film stars Trond Espen Seim as Veum.

Bitter Flowers
Teaser Poster for the Varg Veum film series
Norwegian	Varg Veum: Bitre Blomster
Directed by	Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen
Screenplay by	Thomas Moldestad
Based on	Bitter Flowers by Gunnar Staalesen
Produced by	Jonas Allen Peter Bose
Starring	Trond Espen Seim Kathrine Fagerland Bjørn Floberg
Cinematography	Gaute Gunnari
Edited by	Wibecke Rønseth Erik Thv. Aster
Music by	Ginge
Release date	28 September 2007 (2007-09-28)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	Norway
Language	Norwegian / English
Box office	$4.8 million[1]

Plot

A man vanishes without a trace. His lover, a married, successful politician, discreetly contacts private investigator Varg Veum for assistance. Varg finds her lover murdered, and the politician's husband is arrested for the murder. However, Varg accuses the police of miscarriage of justice and gets involved in an international murder case branching out far beyond Norwegian borders, with adversaries who will stop at nothing.

Cast

• Trond Espen Seim as Varg Veum
• Kathrine Fagerland as Anna Keilhaug
• Bjørn Floberg as Hamre
• Endre Hellestveit as Isachsen
• Anders Dale as Odin
• Øyvind Gran as Trygve
• Ove Andreassen as Monrad
• Per Jansen as Harald
• Trine Wiggen as Vibeke
• Håvard Bakke as Bård
• Nicholas Hope as Warren Donaldson

Reception

The film was reviewed with a "die throw" of 4 in VG,^[2] Dagsavisen,^[3] Bergens Tidende,^[4] Bergensavisen,^[5] Adresseavisen.^[6] Stavanger Aftenblad,^[7] Klassekampen,^[8] Fædrelandsvennen^[9] and Fredriksstad Blad;^[10] 3 in Dagbladet^[11] and Hamar Arbeiderblad;^[12] and 2 in Aftenposten,^[13] Dagens Næringsliv, which gave no "die throw," called the main character "dime-a-dozen" and the plot somewhat cliché.^[14]