Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
crime
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...
and action
drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
, also described as Nordic Noir. The film is written by
Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen
Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen (born 4 May 1972) is a Norwegian film director, producer and writer. He is best known for his action drama ''IZZAT'' (2005), his TV series ''TAXI'' (2011) as well as documentary films ''Voluntarily Forced'' (2014) and '' Rec ...
and Leon Bashir and directed by Ulrik Imtaiz Rolfsen. The film is set in
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
during the late 1980s and early 1990s during the main characters childhood, and the mid 2000s when the characters have grown up to be adults, with the film being narrated in periodical flashbacks. The name of the film comes from the word " Izzat", found in the languages of
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
,
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
North India
North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...
and in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
as well as in their
diaspora
A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...
communities. The concept of izzat is a theme that is portrayed in the film, but is not the main theme of the movie.
Izzat portrays the lives of young second generation
Pakistanis
Pakistanis ( ur, , translit=Pākistānī Qaum, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. According to the 2017 Pakistani national census, the population of Pakistan stood at over 213 million people, making it the w ...
boys and the film draws inspiration from the lived lives and experiences of Leon Bashir and Ulrik Imataiz Rolfsen who are
Norwegians with Pakistani background
Pakistani Norwegians are Norwegians of Pakistani descent, around half of the Pakistani population in Norway are Punjabis and 65.23% of Pakistanis in Norway live in the capital Oslo. First-generation Pakistani Norwegians, who migrate from Pakista ...
that grew up in Oslo around the time of the film's depiction. The Pakistani Norwegian community in Norway constitutes the oldest and largest non-wester/non-European Immigrant community in Norway. The Pakistani criminal gangs that are depicted in the film is inspired by the real Pakistani gang from Norway in the late 80s called The Young Guns which later merged into a new gang called the A-gang.
Plot
During the 1980s and 1990s, a new wave of criminals is emerging in Oslo. They are more international and more dangerous than the capital has ever witnessed before. Norwegian drug kingpins are attacking the new immigrant criminal gangs who wish to get the profits of selling heroin to themselves. A battle where a lot of blood is to be shed before it could stabilise is on the horizon. Amid this, three immigrant boys by the name of Wasim, Riaz and Munawar all coming from the Norwegian Pakistani community are growing up on the east side of Oslo. They feel like Norwegians and expect the same respect any other Norwegian would have. However, they soon learn that with their immigrant background they are far away from getting a good job that pays well. Life is also boring growing up in the safest city in the world, and the boys find school to be a drag. The three boys would rather do more exciting things than school. They decide to take a shortcut in gaining respect by joining the gang of East Side Crew, which is led by the local petty criminals Sadiq and his brother Khalid.
Wasim and his two friends find their status in the local community to be rising and their peers giving them more respect as they suddenly get money from their gang activities. Something the three boys had never experienced before was having their own money. Suddenly Wasim's father discovers what his son has been doing in his spare time and the father decides to send Wasim to a distant aunt who lives in Pakistan so that Wasim can attend
Madrasa
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , pl. , ) is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary instruction or higher learning. The word is variously transliterated '' ...
in her village. After two years Wasim returns to his family in Norway, he finds out that the family situation has bettered, and they have more material possessions. Wasim quickly finds out that the middle-class life in
Stovner
Stovner is a borough located to the far north east of the city of Oslo, Norway. Historically, Stovner was the name of a farm in the municipal borough "Østre Aker". Østre Aker merged with Oslo in 1948, both instigated and followed by a massive ex ...
is too boring for his taste and resumes his criminal life with Riaz and Munawar and the rest of the East Side Crew.
As an adult Wasim has transformed into a tough gangster and is now a grandiose heroin dealer. Wasim and the gang is importing their own heroin to Norway from Pakistan. This import business creates many new enemies to the East Side Crew. It is discovered that Wasim's friend Riaz has snitched on Khalid and gone on the run, the two remaining friends of the gang Wasim and Munawar must join the manhunt for their beloved childhood friend Riaz. The manhunt puts Wasim in a conflicting position, he does not know where he should put his loyalty, his friend Riaz or the gang, East Side Crew. The manhunt sets up a string of brutal events and eventually Wasim tries to think of a plan where he can get the ultimate revenge without getting himself killed or caught by the authorities.
Production
The film had a budget of around 20,263,733
Norwegian krone
The krone (, abbreviation: kr (also NKr for distinction); code: NOK), plural ''kroner'', is currency of the Kingdom of Norway (including Svalbard). Traditionally known as the Norwegian crown in English. It is nominally subdivided into 100 '' ...
NOK of which 16,910,233 was, used on the film's production. The remaining 3,353,500, was used on print and advertisement including, the film distribution. The Norwegian Film Fund granted about 45% of the money for the production and 35% for print and advertisement. Another 10% of the production and 5% of the print and advertisement cost were sponsored by the Nordic Film and TV fund.
Cast
The cast of ''Izzat'' includes an international cast with Norwegian, Norwegian Pakistanis, British and Swedish actors present in the film.
*
Emil Marwa
Emil Marwa (born 1974) is a British actor, known for his acting in films like '' Izzat'', '' East Is East'', and '' The Guru''.
Early life
His father is an Indian Kenyan Sikh and his mother is of Norwegian descent. Emil was brought up in London, ...
as Wasim
* Khawar Gomi Sadiq as Munawar
* Assad Siddique as Riaz
* Daud Mirza as Saddiq
* Jan Sælid as Kula (The bullet)
* Harald Lönnbro as Svensken (the Swede)
* Leon Bashir as Hamza
* Bente Wethal as Robina
* Sudhir Kumar Kohli as Pappa Mohammed (Dad Mohammed)
*
Abubakar Hussain
Abū Bakr ( ar, أبو بكر ) is an Arabic given name meaning "Father of a Young Camel" (Abu meaning 'Father of' and Bakr meaning 'Young Camel') that is widely used by Sunni Muslims.
Other transliterations include Abu Bakar, Abu Bekr, Ebubekir, ...
as Amiir
* Bibi Razia as Mamma Khaldia (Mother)
* Habib Ur-Rahman as Manzoor Wasim som liten (young Wasim)
* M. Rehman Ahmed as Riaz som liten (young Riaz)
* Nohman Janjua as Munawar som liten (young Munawar)
* Elyas Mohammed as Khalid
* Amir Malik as Farooq
* Ove Andreassen as Grisen (The Pig)
* Danish Khan as Sajjad
* Shaheen Khan as Rashid
* Hege Marie Aanby as Svenskens dame 1 (The Swede's lady 1)
* Hege Merete Wangsmo as Svenskens dame 2 (The Swede's lady 2)
* Rolf Isaksen as Harry Doptester
* Ingrid Maria Holth as Wasims Kjæreste (Wasim's girlfriend)
* Isabel Algard Tysnes as Riaz' kjæreste (Riaz's girlfriend)
* Marte G. Christensen as jenta i hytta (girl in the cabin)
* Finn Schau as Butikkekspeditør (Shop forwarder)
*Nasrullah Qureshi as Babar
* Henrik Rafaelsen as Lærer (teacher)
* Marit Hamdahl as Rektor (Principle)
* Josefine Reiermark as jente i klasserom (girl in classroom)
* Asia Begum as Mamma Shamina (Mother Shamina)
* Zakir Hussain as Aslam
* Yrsa Ulriksdottir as Robina som liten (young Robina)
* Fahran Mahmood Butt as Amiir som liten (young Amiir)
* Ayaz Hussain as Omar
* Ruhallah Shan Quershi as Imran
* Mehran Iqbal as Barkat
* Lars Berteig Andersen as norsk gutt (Norwegian boy)
* Jenny Cecilie Grahm as norsk jente (Norwegian girl)
* Gunnar Lien Holsten as Politimann (police man)
* Ina Ringstad as Line
* Anderz Eide as Toller
* Zahid Ali as Elvis
* Jennifer Bråthen as Kulas kjæreste (Kula's girlsfriend)
*
Chris Bisson
Christopher Paul Bisson (born 21 July 1975) is an English actor, known for portraying the roles of Vikram Desai in ''Coronation Street'' (1999–2002), Kash Karib in '' Shameless'' (2004–2007, 2009), and Jai Sharma in ''Emmerdale'' (2009– ...
as mann i telefonkiosk (man in the phone booth)
* Maryon Sylte as jente på disko 1 (girl on disco 1)
* Ina Bye-Hansen as jente på disko 2 (girl on disco 2)
* Rebekka Karijord as Elin
* Khalid But as Lege (doctor)
* Tasneem Kosar as tante (aunt)
* Malik Imran as gutt på motorsykkel (boy on motorcycle)
* Benazir Awan as lærer i Pakistan (teacher in Pakistan)
* Yngvild Støen Grotmol as Renate
* Remi Jakobsen as Bad guy, bodyguard
* Kai Kolstad Rødseth as Drive by shooter
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of ''Izzat'' comprises 17 different song tracks, although Izzat is a gangster film with Pakistani youths as the main protagonists the film uses Rock ,
Hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
,
Pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
,
Alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
in most of its tracks in the music of the film. The music in the soundtrack all comes from known Norwegian rock bands with songs that are made from the late 70s to the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. The bands that are included in the soundtrack are
Amulet
An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word amuletum, which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects ...
, Anal Babes,
Backstreet Girls
Backstreet Girls are a Norwegian Rock music, rock band. Formed in 1984, they have released 16 albums.
History
Backstreet Girls formed in 1984 and were influenced by the Ramones and Rose Tattoo.
The band was formed in 1984 by brothers Pål Kri ...
, Bonk, Brut Boogaloo,
Cato Salsa Experience
Cato Salsa Experience was an indie rock band from Oslo, Norway. The group formed around jam sessions at lead singer Cato Thomassen's house. Cato Salsa Experienceat Allmusic.com The group began playing locally and released a vinyl EP before Empero ...
Gluecifer
Gluecifer is a Norwegian hard rock band based in Oslo. Formed in 1994, they produced several underground releases during their first years of existence and soon claimed to be "kings of rock".
History
In 1997, the album ''Ridin' the Tiger'' ...
Raga Rockers
Raga Rockers is a Norwegian rock band from Oslo with Michael Krohn on vocals. The band was formed in 1982 by front man Michael Krohn. The other original members were Livio Aiello on bass, Bruno Hovden on guitar, Jan Arne Kristiansen on drums, Hugo ...
, Ricochets and So Much Hate. The most known bands are Glucifer and Raga Rockers and with Glucifer having two song on the Izzat soundtrack.
The soundtrack of ''Izzat'' was also made into a separate album which was released in September 2005 by Columbia Records which is owned by Sony. The soundtrack is sold as a CD or for digital download.
Release
Theatrical
The movie had its domestic premiere in Norway on 7 October 2005 and was one of the first films in the immigrant made and non-children movies category to be a box office success in the theatrical release in Norway. The film also got ranked 24th of the best grossing films in Norway in the year 2005. ''Izzat'' managed to gather 129 774 ticket sales for its theatrical release in Norway in the year 2005 and an additional 1442 tickets in 2006 with an additional screening in 2009 gathering 104 ticket sales, 2.9% of the Norwegian population saw the film during the theatrical release of it in 2005. ''Izzat'' was only commercially released theatrically in Norway and did not see any theatrical release within the EU.
Home media
''Izzat'' was released on DVD and
Universal Media Disc
The Universal Media Disc (UMD) is a discontinued optical disc medium developed by Sony for use on its PlayStation Portable handheld gaming and multimedia platform. It can hold up to 1.8 gigabytes of data and is capable of storing video games, ...
after its theatrical screening. Izzat was also available for streaming on NRK nett TV and is currently available for streaming on Netflix in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. The film is purchasable and rentable through the steaming services of Google Play Movies, Apple TV and Microsoft Movies and TV.
Reception
''Izzat'' is considered part of the Norwegian diasporic cinema scene and has been compared to the American action film ''
Goodfellas
''Goodfellas'' (stylized ''GoodFellas'') is a 1990 American biographical crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Nicholas Pileggi and Scorsese, and produced by Irwin Winkler. It is a film adaptation of the 1985 nonfiction book '' Wis ...
''. The film is significant in that it was the first major commercially successful diaspora film in Norway. The film is also considered a forefront runner for diasporic cinema in Norway as it is the fifth diaspora film made in Norway. ''Izzat'' was the first ever Norwegian film to be subtitled into Urdu in hopes to reach a double audience, with a visioned release in Pakistan in addition to the release in Norway. The film did not gather any significant reception in Pakistan and Izzat remained mostly a success within Norway.
''Izzat'' was well received by the general public, not because of the ethnic theming of the movie, but rather for its engaging action and thriller suspense. The film was also met with some criticism from the public with the main criticism being that the film did not provide as satisfactory and slick action as a typical Hollywood film of the same genre which Norwegians had grown accustomed to. ''Izzat'' also received critical reception as being a successful movie made by immigrants. The movie was praised for its theming and handling of social issues in Norway regarding non-western and Islamic immigrants growing up in Norway. The film has a current score of 74% on
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...
.
''Izzat'' is considered part of the new wave cinema that emerged in Norway after 2001 when the Norwegian government created a new national film policy. The policy was to remove municipality film funding and create a single state sponsored film agency from a decision made by the Norwegian Minister of Culture. The motivation was to get more Norwegians to go see Norwegian made films rather than making Norwegian films for a single elite cinemagoers group. Norwegian films constituted 5–10% of market shares in the cinema industry in Norway, while the rest was made from Hollywood films. The new system was modelled after the successful Danish model and it was created to have Norwegian film makers take advantage of the established genres from Hollywood. ''Izzat'' was the most successful movie that came out of this new model national film policy during its time.
Awards
''Izzat'' was nominated for five nominations after its release in the 2006 Amanda Award (Amandaprisen), which is held annually at the Norwegian international film festival in
Haugesund
Haugesund () is a municipality on the North Sea in Rogaland county, Norway. While the population is greater in the neighboring Karmøy municipality, the main commercial and economic centre of the Haugaland region in northern Rogaland and southern ...
. The movie got nominated for:
* Årets mannlige skuespiller (Best Actor) – Emil Marwa
* Årets barne og ungdomsfilm (Best Youth Film) – Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen
* Årets norkse kinofilm (Best Film) – John M. Jacobsen and Sveinung Golimo
* Årets filmmanuskript (Best Screenplay) – Leon Bashir and Ulrik Imtaiz Rolfsen
* Best Debut – Ulrik Imtiaz Rolfsen
The film did receive two Kanonprisen awards (the canon prize) from
Kosmorama
Kosmorama is the annual international film festival in the city of Trondheim, Norway first held in 2005.
Festival name
The word “kosmorama” (in English: cosmorama) means an exhibition of perspective pictures of (usually) landmarks of the worl ...
the international film festival held annually in
Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...
in 2006. The film was nominated and awarded:
* Best supporting actor – Jan Sælid
* People's Choice award
Sequel
Izzat received a sequel in 2014 with the film ''Haram'', also made by Ulrik Imtaiz Rolfsen. The film takes place in the same canonical universe as ''Izzat'' being about a young Pakistani boy growing up in Oslo, although ''Haram'' is not a direct sequel and the story follows a new protagonist Omar played by Elias Ali. There are some recurring characters from ''Izzat'' appearing in ''Haram''.