A-HA, THE MOVIE, a doco by THOMAS ROBSAHM

 |   |  1 min read

A-HA, THE MOVIE, a doco by THOMAS ROBSAHM

When the Norwegian band A-ha topped the charts in the mid 80s they arrived on the wings of their soaring synth-pop single Take on Me, its animated sketch-pad video and the Bowie-like cheekbones of singer Morten Harket.

If only that hit, its follow-up The Sun Always Shines on TVand a couple of early albums made an impact here, the band were always feted in Europe (a series of number one albums in Norway) and until they retired in 2009 were playing stadia.

Inspired by dramatic but melodic 60s rock and the darker side of Velvet Underground and Joy Division, the musicians who became the three-piece existed in the musical backwater of Oslo but possessed ambition, endured a few missteps (the idea of a harp player seemed perverse in post-punk London) and with style-conscious Harket out front signed to Warner Music in 83.

Then came Take on Me– the first version doing nothing outside Norway – but which, when re-recorded, became one of synth-pop's most enduring songs.

Fame – focused on Harket – took its toll and we get the career arc of internal tensions and differences, side projects and the inevitable reunions which weren't exactly joyous.

With archive footage and photos, current interviews as they record again and the early narrative filled in with animation like Take on Me, here we see a professional, disciplined and determined band which, as with Abba, had darker undercurrents in their relationships and lyrics.

.

This film screens in the DocEdge Festival which runs in various cinemas from June 1 to July 10.

For details of the full programme and bookings go here.

Screen_Shot_2022_06_03_at_9.14.43_AM


Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Film at Elsewhere articles index

THE WRECKING CREW, a doco by DENNY TEDESCO

THE WRECKING CREW, a doco by DENNY TEDESCO

While no one would doubt the genius of Brian Wilson, he – like Duke Ellington and classical composers – needed others to realise his music. Initially (and remarkably briefly when... > Read more

FRONTERA, a film by MICHAEL BERRY (Anchor Bay DVD/Blu-Ray)

FRONTERA, a film by MICHAEL BERRY (Anchor Bay DVD/Blu-Ray)

Many, many years ago I spoke with the man who was the head of Refugee and Migrant Services in Auckland. At the time I was writing articles about displaced people who were arriving in New Zealand... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON CONSIDERED: From deep in the soul to deep space

BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON CONSIDERED: From deep in the soul to deep space

The old saying, “You gotta sin to get saved” perhaps accounts for the wayward careers and emotional U-turns of people like Little Richard and Roy Buchanan who would vacillate between... > Read more

A MONTH AT THE BACK OF MY BRAIN by KEVIN IRELAND

A MONTH AT THE BACK OF MY BRAIN by KEVIN IRELAND

When reading Kevin Ireland's 2021 collection of poems Just Like That, it was easy to imagine a mischievous twinkle in the author's eye as he alighted of phrase or line with a glissando between... > Read more