The Tunnel 2019

A review. The Tunnel is a Norwegian movie which came out somewhere around the Christmas 2019, or at least, I think so because the events of it take place on the Christmas Eve. It's a disaster film with a more or less predictable story line, though we still enjoyed it.

The main character called Stein Berg is a widower with a teenage daughter Elisa. He works as a technician maintaining a 10 km mountain tunnel but apparently used to be a part of the rescue squad/fire brigade before his wife's death. Three years have passed since she died and he wants to move on and begins a relationship with a woman called Ingrid who is a waitress in a nearby road restaurant.

His daughter can't accept what she perceives as the betrayal of her mother, and when Stein suggests that they spend Christmas with the three of them, she runs away and unbeknownst to him, takes a bus to Oslo to spend the holidays with her Granny.She has to go through the same tunnel she visited so many times with her father. Little does she know that in a couple of minutes a horrible accident will happen.

One of the trucks which carries petrol will crush against the wall and explode. While the tunnel is being filled with smoke and people around are panicking and losing their minds, the specialised fire brigade is delayed by an avalanche and the rescue squad coming from the opposite side isn't allowed to enter without them. But when Stein (who was called up by his former boss as the best of his team) hears that Elisa is inside, nothing can stop him...

Another plot twist deals with a couple and their two daughters who are going home for Christmas and are stuck in the same tunnel and several other minor characters.

The movie is a typical European drama, and is quite different from an average Hollywood production. It doesn't have superheroes, and in some aspects is more like a documentary than an action flick, with the result that it's much more realistic and believable. It does have some liberalism in it (I hardly expected otherwise) but it's not overtly obnoxious. The rescue brigade consists of all men, btw.

It touches upon the modern destruction of the family and loneliness it brings, and praises self-sacrifice, courage, and women standing by their men. The bonus point is some beautiful views of Norway. Would recommend to anyone.

Here is the trailer.