Cool and Crazy (Norway/Sweden; 105min.) directed by: Knut Erik Jensen documentary

Janet says: "THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB with snow. This documentary about a men's choir in the small fishing village of Belgevad, Norway, starts out seeming like it will be short, skimpy, funny, then goes much deeper than you'd ever expect. With quiet intimacy and some deft comic touches, the filmmaker follows this group of men at home and at rehearsal, culminating in a banquet and concert in Murmansk, Russia (where they are called "Norwegian Choir Collective"). Marred only by tiny flaws such as a bad title and too many close shots inside the men's homes, the film offers deep characterizations of several of the men (a recovering drug addict who resembles Peter O'Toole, a Russian emigre, a pair of brothers 87 and 95, a communist sympathizer) and captures the men's attachment to the sea and to their landscape, even showing them singing staunchly in a blizzard as snow gradually covers their features. "We all complain about the way women are depicted in film, but what about men? This film offers fascinating images of men different from what we usually see in the U.S. For instance, although they're accomplished singers, it's a given that they smoke, and they drink too, although for the most part they're not dissipated. Smoking seems almost sociable and wholesome in Belgevad. The men who live alone are neat and have pictures, plants, and decorative plates around; they can cook and decorate. Shot intimately in bathtub or barbershop, they all have a sense of dignity about themselves. You see their relationship to their town and their religion. Aging men express sexuality or thoughts thereof. "A good post-film conversation is guaranteed with this moving and affectionate profile."

Michael says: "COOL AND CRAZY is a fun documentary by Norwegian filmmaker Knut Erik Jensen. It takes place in Berlevag, a small fishing village in Norway near the North Pole. Billed as a docu-musical, COOL & CRAZY profiles the 30-odd members of Berlevag's colorful male choir. "Jensen does a terrific job profiling the members of the choir while tying in love, politics, a depressed economy and fish! The shots of the men performing against the remote backdrop of the ferocious Barent Sea, or in the midst of a blizzard are surreal and comical. The men themselves are fascinating... lovers of women and song. A thoroughly enjoyable film experience." 3 1/2 cats