Ever watched a holiday movie and felt like you were looking at a plastic set? Most of them are. They’re filmed in a parking lot in British Columbia during a heatwave with soap flakes for snow. But My Norwegian Holiday is different. Honestly, it’s kinda weird how much it stands out from the usual Hallmark conveyor belt. It doesn’t just lean on the "fake boyfriend" trope; it actually tries to handle grief and heritage without being totally cringey.
Jessica Lowndes plays JJ, a graduate student struggling to find her spark after her grandmother passes away. She meets Henrik, played by Rhiannon Fish’s real-life partner David Elsendoorn, and ends up in Bergen, Norway.
The scenery is the real star. Seriously.
What Most People Get Wrong About My Norwegian Holiday
A lot of viewers assume this was shot on a soundstage in Vancouver because, well, that’s what Hallmark does. It’s their brand. But the production actually went to Bergen. You can tell. The light is different. That crisp, blue Scandinavian winter light is impossible to faked with filters. When they show the Bryggen—the iconic colorful wooden houses on the wharf—that’s not a matte painting. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
People also get the "troll" thing wrong. In the movie, a small carved troll is the catalyst for the whole plot. It’s easy to dismiss this as a generic magical plot device. In reality, Norwegian folklore regarding trollfigurer is deeply baked into the culture. They aren't just souvenirs; they represent the rugged, untamed nature of the Norwegian wilderness.
The movie explores the concept of koselig.
You've probably heard of the Danish hygge, right? Well, koselig is the Norwegian equivalent, but it’s arguably more robust. It’s not just about a candle and a blanket. It’s a survival mechanism for the dark winters. It’s about intimacy, warmth, and community when the sun barely clears the horizon. The film manages to capture this through the Strom family dynamics, which feel surprisingly lived-in for a 90-minute cable movie.
The Reality of Bergen in the Winter
If you're planning to pull a JJ and fly to Norway for Christmas, don't expect it to be all sunshine and perfect snowflakes. Bergen is famously one of the wettest cities in Europe. It rains. A lot.
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The film shows a beautiful, snowy wonderland, which does happen, but you’re more likely to encounter "sludd"—that grey, slushy mix of rain and snow. Despite that, the city transforms. The "Lumagica" light park at Bergenhus Fortress, which gets a nod in the vibe of the film, is a real-world attraction that locals actually frequent.
Why the Grief Subplot Hits Different
Most holiday films treat death like a minor inconvenience—a reason for the protagonist to move back to their hometown and open a bakery. My Norwegian Holiday treats JJ’s mourning of her grandmother with a bit more gravity. It uses the "Grandmother’s Troll" mystery to explore how we cling to physical objects to stay connected to those we’ve lost.
JJ is a cyclically stuck character. She’s a PhD student who can’t finish her dissertation. That’s a very specific kind of purgatory. The film links her academic block to her emotional blockage, which is actually a fairly sophisticated psychological beat for a movie that also features a scene about eating fermented fish.
Let's talk about the food.
Henrik’s family introduces JJ to lutefisk and smalahove. If you aren't familiar, lutefisk is dried whitefish treated with lye. It has a gelatinous texture that even many Norwegians find polarizing. Smalahove is a literal sheep's head. The movie plays this for laughs, but it’s a genuine traditional Christmas dish from Western Norway. It’s a "poverty food" that became a delicacy, and the movie gets points for not making the Norwegians look like "exotic others" but rather people proud of a weird, difficult history.
Behind the Scenes: Casting and Chemistry
David Elsendoorn is probably best known to international audiences as Jan Maas from Ted Lasso. He brings that same blunt, slightly deadpan Dutch energy to Henrik, which works perfectly against Jessica Lowndes’ more emotive, "typical" Hallmark performance style.
The chemistry isn't just manufactured for the cameras.
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The two actors are a real-life couple. This usually goes one of two ways in movies: either it’s incredibly awkward because they’re overthinking it, or it feels effortless. Here, it’s effortless. You can see it in the way they lean into each other’s space. It’s less "scripted romance" and more "two people who actually like being around each other."
Rhiannon Fish, another Hallmark staple, isn't in this one, which confused some fans who track the "Hallmark Cinematic Universe" closely. But the shift in casting—bringing in a European lead—gives the film an authenticity that A Royal Christmas in Whatever-stan usually lacks.
The "Fake Boyfriend" Trope vs. Reality
The plot kicks off because Henrik needs a distraction and JJ needs an escape. They pretend to be together. It’s the oldest trick in the book.
But does this ever actually happen? Honestly, probably not. Norwegian culture is notoriously private. The idea of bringing a complete stranger from an airport home to your family for the most important holiday of the year is... a stretch. Most Norwegians take a long time to invite someone into their inner circle. They have a "social bubble" that is famously hard to pop.
However, the "Jante Law" (Janteloven)—the cultural idea that you shouldn't think you're better than anyone else—is subtly present in how the family treats JJ. They don't fawn over her. They just bring her in. It’s a very egalitarian warmth.
Technical Aspects of the Filming
The cinematography by Michael Balfry deserves a mention. He uses a lot of wide shots to capture the fjords. Usually, Hallmark movies are shot in tight medium-shots to hide the fact that they're on a budget. By opening up the frame, the movie feels more like a travelogue.
- Location: Bergen, Norway (including Mount Fløyen).
- Director: David Weaver.
- Key Themes: Heritage, healing, and the importance of saying "yes" to impulsive travel.
The scene at the top of Mount Fløyen is particularly striking. You take the Fløibanen funicular up there. In the movie, it looks like a private romantic moment. In reality, it’s packed with tourists and locals going for hikes, but the view of the city nestled between seven mountains is exactly as portrayed. It’s breathtaking.
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Is My Norwegian Holiday Worth the Watch?
If you’re looking for a film that challenges the foundations of cinema, no. Obviously. But if you want a holiday movie that actually respects the culture it’s portraying, then absolutely.
It avoids the most egregious "clueless American" tropes. JJ isn't trying to change Norway; she’s letting Norway change her. That’s a vital distinction. It’s about assimilation and appreciation rather than "fixing" a small town with big-city magic.
The mystery of the troll—the "Fosse" mark on the bottom—provides just enough of a narrative engine to keep the story from stalling out in the second act. It leads to a discovery about JJ’s grandfather that feels earned. It ties her identity to a place she never knew she belonged to. That’s the dream, isn't it? To find out you have roots in a place as beautiful as the fjords.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Travelers
If this movie inspired you to look into your own roots or book a flight to Scandinavia, here is what you actually need to do.
First, if you're chasing the My Norwegian Holiday vibe, look into "Norway in a Nutshell" tours. They start in Bergen and take you through the Nærøyfjord. It’s the closest you’ll get to living inside the movie's b-roll.
Second, if you’re interested in the genealogy aspect, don't just rely on a wooden troll. The National Archives of Norway (Arkivverket) have incredible digitized records. If you have Norwegian ancestors, you can find their farm names—most Norwegian surnames like "Strom" or "Bakke" are actually tied to specific plots of land.
Finally, embrace the friluftsliv. That’s the Norwegian philosophy of "open-air living." Even in the dead of winter, people are outside. They ski, they hike, they sit by outdoor heaters at cafes. The movie touches on this, but experiencing it is different. It’s about realizing that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
Check your local listings or streaming platforms like Hallmark Movies Now to catch a replay. If you want to dive deeper into the filming locations, search for Bergen's official tourism board "Visit Bergen," which has specific guides on the sites seen in the film. You can literally walk the same streets as JJ and Henrik, though you'll likely need a much sturdier raincoat than the ones shown on screen.
Start by looking up the "Julemarked" (Christmas Market) in Bergen. It’s usually held in Festplassen and features a giant ferris wheel and local crafters. It’s the heart of the city’s holiday spirit and the best place to find your own hand-carved troll. Just don't expect it to lead you to a secret romance with a Dutch-Norwegian man at the airport—some things only happen in the movies.