Being Ola

Bluesky

What is it like to move through the world with an intellectual disability? That might be one question to which you didn’t think it was possible to receive an intelligent answer, but you’d be wrong. Ola Henningsen was a schoolboy when he first realised that his mind moveed more slowly than other people’s; that in his class, he would always be the last one to understand a new idea. He can understand, however, and he can think creatively to, simply by taking a little more time. In the process, he has cultivated a degree of wisdom and self control which many supposedly smart people could stand to learn from.

Originally developing out of a student film about VidarÅsen, the village commune where he lives, Being Ola follows this vulnerable but charismatic man about his day to day routines, exploring the lifestyle that gives him a degree of independence. It looks at his close friendship with Lasse, one of the various assistants who come and go on work placements there, and it culminates in a daring adventure which the Ola we first meet would not have thought himself capable of.

It is not the goal of this documentary to ask for your patience and try to persuade you to be more charitable. Rather, it invites you to recognise Ola as an equal. Like most people, he enjoys being productive, learning new skills and spending time with friends. He has a warm sense of humour and self-deprecating charm It’s sad to hear him reflect on teenage years when he lacked proper support and spent most of his time at school or watching TV, yelling a lot because he struggled to communicate his needs. Now, however, he’s living a fulfilling life in a group of people who grow their own food, cook and clean, and support themselves through carpentry and a wide range of crafts. He plays piano and writes short stories – he is, he says, “an ordinary guy, just a little bit extraordinary.”

Perhaps this seems like an ordinary story, but in light of the way that many intellectually disabled people in the UK and around the world are forced to live, it’s really not. There’s a utopian quality to VidarÅsen, and yet in Norway it’s far from unique. This is a vision of a much more inclusive, healthier world – one which prioritises happiness. Filmmaker Ragnhild Nøst Bergem, who spent eight years there on and off, captures it in rich detail. Ola’s natural openness and desire for self-expression make him a fascinating subject. The film is well paced and entertaining as well as educational. It’s one of those rare works that will permanently change the way you think about humanity.

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