Optimistene

Gunhild Westhagen Magnor
Norway | 2013 | 90 min
Languages : Norwegian, Swedish
Subtitles : English, French

For 40 years, 98-year-old Goro has been training every week with other elderly ladies in a volleyball team called The Optimists. This Norwegian team has not played a match for 30 years. It is time for them to face a worthy opponent. But only a team of Swedish gentlemen seems to be ready to accept the challenge. Who will win? This refreshing comedy is a therapy against the fear of aging.
Free entry within the limit of available seats.

For the past 40 years, Goro, now 98 years old, has been training weekly with other elderly women in the Norwegian volleyball team The Optimists. Amazingly, every morning, she puts on her socks while balancing on one leg - not an easy task at her age. With purple Converse shoes and a dark blue track suit, she runs around trying to hit balls, making up for the past when “it was only boys that did this and I wasn’t allowed to join” (Goro). Since the 1980s, the team has not played a real match against other teams. Now it’s time for them to face a worthy opponent. After intense research, they find a team of Swedish gentlemen who seem to be ready to accept the challenge. The Optimists print professional team T-shirts and look for sponsors to support their trip to Sweden. Cheerful Mariachi music accompanies the everyday preparations of these women, and counteracts their loneliness and lack of excitement. At last, Goro joins the match during the last set and plays against the dreaded opposing team. This refreshing comedy is a welcome distraction from the fear of ageing.

Manuela Ruggeri

Trailer

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