Written by Jon Berk

Directors: Thomas Robsahm

Documentary Feature

There is a really good chance you have heard the song “Take on Me” by a-ha in the ‘80s. If you’re my age, there is a good chance you’ve seen that song’s iconic music video where live-action merges with animation. That video has been replicated and parodied and the song has appeared in tons of commercials and movies. I have always assumed that a-ha were one-hit wonders because of how much I ONLY know that song; I was wrong. Director Thomas Robsahm brings tons of history, personality, and music in a-ha: The Movie (2021).

Stylistically, you can’t make a movie about a-ha and not visually reference the music video that made them famous. Robsahm uses a hybrid sketch animation in the early parts of the documentary and with the graphics of the film. It helped make me feel like I knew more about this group than I truly did. This choice also helped to illustrate moments from their childhood that he didn’t have footage of and help give context to the bands’ origin story. 

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The film is clearly a celebration of their musical catalog. Again, I knew one song, but by the film’s conclusion, I was ready to add their albums to my digital music library. The pacing of their musical career is interesting as it spends probably two-thirds of the run time in the 80s and then powers through the ‘90s and 2000s. Part of that is so much of the ‘80s is the band’s foundation and establishment. It is also clear where they found their biggest success, but that isn’t their only success. 

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The three personalities - Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy - of the band are very interesting to explore. They have different takes on the band and each other that Robsahm is able to capture quite candidly. There isn’t any real controversy in the film and unlike many other band documentaries, there isn’t a sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll throughline. Personalities seem to be the only real conflict amongst the members. It was kind of refreshing to not see the usual downfall of a band being addiction as so often that seems to be a give-in. 

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This documentary is definitely one to watch if you are a fan of music or music docs. I found it to be extremely compelling and informative while fostering a love of a band I knew very little about. It's quite possible that a band you currently love was inspired or influenced by a-ha. Thus, a-ha: The Movie earns the Must See rating.