TORONTO, Canada (TV 2): It’s not every day Norwegian films are selected for North America’s biggest film festival, but Saturday night it happened to the team behind Krigsseileren.

– Now we’re going to show the film to the world and it’s absolutely crazy, delighted lead actor Kristoffer Joner told TV 2, minutes before the film’s international premiere in Toronto.

Joner plays wartime sailor Alfred in the big drama, which has so far garnered rave reviews from Norwegian critics.

Now the film crew is eager to see what American critics will say, but Ine Marie Wilmann, who plays Alfred’s wife Cecilie, is optimistic.

– I think from foreigners who have seen the film, it resonates a lot and it is a moving story. That it’s a great epic work that a lot of people recognize, Wilmann tells TV 2.

Joner, on the other hand, is more relaxed about judging critics.

– If they don’t like it, that’s their problem, he smiles.

Trample Kick

The Toronto movie theater was packed when the Norwegian film was shown on Saturday night at Norwegian time, and the audience received the cast and producers with a standing ovation when they took the stage afterwards. .

Producer Maria Ekerhovd thinks it might have something to do with many Canadians recognizing the film’s themes.

– Parts of the film are set in Canada and in many ways Canada has the same wartime shipping history that we had in Norway. So it will be incredibly exciting to talk to the public, Ekerhovd tells TV 2.

There will be more opportunities for the Norwegian film crew, as Krigsseileren will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival throughout the weekend.

However, it won’t be until September 23 that Norwegian moviegoers will get a chance to see the two-and-a-half-hour war drama.