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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Over Besseggen på motorcykel remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you enjoy watching people do things that are objectively a terrible idea just for the sake of a cool shot, you’ll probably find this weird little film fascinating. It is not for anyone who gets nervous watching people stand near ledges. Or anyone who thinks tobacco marketing has gone too far.
Honestly, you just sit there wondering how he didn't plummet off the side of the ridge within the first thirty seconds. It’s a very specific kind of anxiety.
The whole thing feels like it belongs in a different dimension. You have these sweeping, gorgeous Norwegian vistas that look like they were pulled from a postcard, and then suddenly, there's a guy in heavy gear fiddling with a motorbike engine. It's jarring, but in a way that keeps you glued to the screen.
You can't talk about this without mentioning the cigarettes. They are everywhere. It’s produced by a tobacco company, and they make sure you don't forget it for a single frame. It’s almost funny how they try to weave the smoking into the 'rugged adventurer' aesthetic. Like, is the nicotine helping him balance on the rocks? Probably not.
It’s definitely more interesting than the stiff performances in His Forgotten Wife. There is a weird, raw energy here that you don't get in polished studio stuff. Sometimes, you just want to see a man defy gravity for no reason other than corporate sponsorship.
I found myself zoning out during the narration and just staring at the texture of the rocks. Then, he'd kick the bike again, and I'd snap back to attention. It’s a strange, disjointed, and oddly hypnotic experience. 🚬⛰️
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a time capsule. You walk away wondering if this guy was a local hero or just a guy who lost a very strange bet.