A quietly brilliant and emotionally layered film, Dolldays uses surreal humor and striking originality to explore the silent crisis of men’s mental health in rural Norway.
Cal Film Festival is proud to announce Dolldays, written and directed by Morten Hansen (Norway), as the recipient of the Best Narrative Short (Grand Jury Prize) for the Spring 2025 edition.
This gently absurd, emotionally resonant short stands out for its originality, tonal balance, and brave thematic focus. Drawing from both the rural landscapes of Norway and the internal terrain of men’s emotional struggles, Dolldays delivers a moving and deeply human story wrapped in surreal comedy.
A Ventriloquist, Two Men, and a Village in Silence
In a quiet village in Norway, where mental health is a taboo topic—especially among men—depression is on the rise. The municipality, out of desperation, introduces a bizarre new approach: ventriloquist therapy. Run by the village’s retired puppet comedian, the group therapy encourages men to speak through dolls rather than directly about their feelings.
Dolldays follows Birger and his estranged father Bernt, two emotionally repressed men who reluctantly join the program. As the therapy unfolds, both are forced to confront unspoken pain, generational silence, and unexpected moments of vulnerability. What begins as a comical concept slowly transforms into a moving exploration of masculinity, pride, and healing.
A Personal Story with Universal Impact
Filmmaker Morten Hansen grew up in a small Norwegian village where emotional expression was rarely encouraged. Now an accomplished artist with exhibitions in London, New York, Paris, and Switzerland, Hansen studied animation before completing his BA in Film Directing at The Norwegian Acting Academy (NSKI Høyskole) in 2024. Dolldays was created as his final graduation film.
“I think many men today are afraid. Afraid of showing vulnerability, afraid of humiliation, and afraid of not being enough,” Hansen shares. “With this film, I wanted to say something about men and masculinity in a different, unpretentious but also, hopefully, warm way.”
Hansen’s ability to blend dark humor with emotional truth gives Dolldays a tone that is both unique and strikingly empathetic. His use of ventriloquism as a narrative device transcends novelty, becoming a metaphor for intergenerational trauma and the walls we build to avoid pain.
A Jury Favorite for Bold Storytelling and Emotional Honesty
The jury of Cal Film Festival praises Dolldays for its rare tonal precision and creative courage in tackling masculinity and mental health in a way that feels fresh, thoughtful, and deeply human.
The film stands out for its strong direction, nuanced performances, and distinctive visual and emotional language.
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