Siv Rajendram Eliassen has a knack for weaving stories that hit you right in the gut—no sugar-coating, just raw, real life on the screen. She’s the brain behind “State of Happiness” (2018), which, let’s be honest, isn’t your average period drama. It digs into the oil boom in Norway, flipping the script on the idea that striking black gold automatically means happy endings for everyone. You get this web of ambition, greed, and the messiness that comes with change, all wrapped up in characters who feel like they could walk right off the screen and order a coffee next to you. Then there’s “Utøya 22. juli” (2018)—yeah, the one about the darkest day in recent Norwegian history. Siv doesn’t cheapen the tragedy with melodrama; instead, she throws you right into the chaos and fear of that day, making it personal, immediate, and honestly, a bit hard to watch at times. But that’s the point. It’s supposed to hurt, to linger, to make you remember the faces and stories behind the headlines. She also had her hands in “Varg Veum – Falne engler” (2008), a gritty detective flick that doesn’t pull any punches. It’s all shadows and secrets, plenty of moral gray zones, and a protagonist who’s as flawed as they come. Siv’s writing doesn’t let anyone off easy, and that’s kind of her thing—she makes you care, even when it’s uncomfortable. Off-screen, she’s married to Ole Eliassen, and they’ve got three kids. Busy household, I’d imagine, but somehow she still manages to churn out scripts that stick with you long after the credits roll.
