An ordinary, unusual film
What is Ola - En helt vanlig uvanlig fyr?
Being Ola is a film I hope to see.
According to IMDB, “Ola - En helt vanlig uvanlig fyr” is “warm-headed, honest and passionate about equality and belonging. Ola is 30 years old and lives with many different people in the village of Vidaråsen in Vestfold.” The full film, directed by Ragnhild Nøst Bergem (Norwegian), the 72-minute film tells the story of Ola Henningsen (played by himself) and his village in Norway. He apparently loses a friend. How does he react?
Here’s a trailer (from Vimeo):
Here are notes from the Web site of Tull Stories, a film distribution company that is releasing Being Ola in the UK.
30-year-old Ola lives in the small Norwegian village of Vidaråsen, where the 150 residents are a mix of people with and without disabilities. In the village the residents aim to live life at a slower pace and in harmony with nature. Their community is founded on empathy, respect, and mutual interdependence.
Ola, who has a mild learning disability, spends his days working in the workshop, pulling carrots from the ground and chatting for hours with his best friend, Lasse. He generally enjoys his life and is a witty and sincere individual who talks openly and honestly about his condition. Conversations and cordial friendships in the village are a highlight of Ola’s daily life, but in the background, there’s always the threat of Lasse moving back to Denmark…
Over on IMDB, Being Ola only has an average rating of 7.7, but some reviewers really like it. For example, Victoria Arruda of Action Magazine1 provided a pretty positive review 24 March 2026 emphasizing both the community living angle and, especially, the lead character:
At the heart of the film is Ola himself. He is, simply put, a beautiful soul. His openness and willingness to share his life with audiences is what gives the documentary its emotional core. Through his reflections and daily experiences, viewers begin to understand not only the challenges faced by the community but also the joy, resilience, and strength that exist within it.
Other reviews and comments:
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, 25 March 2026, “Being Ola review—a sweet and gentle film about disability friendship and abandonment”;
James Learoyd of UK Film Review for 24 February 2026, “Being Ola: Film Review”; and
There is a list of additional reviews in languages I don’t read at IMDB .
Tull Stories, the distribution company, has a list of cinemas in the UK where Being Ola is being shown. I haven’t found showings in the US. Regardless, at the risk of redundancy, let me say that Being Ola is a film I hope to see. I suspect some Dear Readers of Special Education Today will want to see it, too.
Footnote
Rewind and catch Ola holding and then moving his arms like a clapper board at the beginning of the trailer.