Triple Canneseries Winner ‘A Better Man’ (Ølhunden Berit) Premieres November 9

The highly anticipated Norwegian drama series A Better Man (Ølhunden Berit) starring Anders Baasmo, will debut domestically on NRK this Sunday. The four-part series arrives in Norway following major international attention, including three awards at Canneseries earlier this year.

'A Better Man' actors and creators at the Canneseries. From left: Thomas Seeberg Torjussen (director and series creator), Synnøve Hørsdal (producer), actors Jonas Strand Gravli, Ingrid Unnur Giæver and Anders Baasmo, Daniel Voldheim (photographer) and producer Christian Fredrik Martin. — *A Better Man* creators and actors at the Canneseries 2025. L–R: Thomas Seeberg Torjussen (director and series creator), Synnøve Hørsdal (producer), actors Jonas Strand Gravli, Ingrid Unnur Giæver and Anders Baasmo, Daniel Voldheim (photographer) and producer Christian Fredrik Martin.. Photo by Bruno Bebert/Beta Film

Cast

The series features Anders Baasmo (La Palma, The King’s Choice, Kon-Tiki) in the lead role as Tom Hallsténsen, a notorious online troll whose life spirals out of control when his identity is exposed. Forced into hiding, Tom begins an unexpected journey involving disguise, vulnerability, and the possibility of redemption.

“It is always rewarding to work with original and thoughtful scripts, which have something meaningful to say about people and society. A Better Man was a deeply meaningful project for me. I believe we carried the strength of the script into the finished series.”
Anders Baasmo, Actor

Anders Baasmo as Tom in A Better Man (Ølhunden Berit) — Anders Baasmo as Tom Hallsténsen in *A Better Man*. Photo by Lukas Šalna / Maipo Film / NRK

Alongside Baasmo, the key cast include Jonas Strand Gravli (22 July, Ragnarock) as Tom’s neighbour Audun, and Ingrid Unnur Giæver (Thelma, Dreams) as stand-up comedian Live Stensvaag. See the full cast & crew here.

Watch the trailer for A Better Man:

Synopsis

Tom (Anders Baasmo) works in his mother’s clothing store by day and releases his frustrations online at night, posting hateful comments under a pseudonym—particularly targeting feminist stand-up comedian Live Stensvaag (Ingrid Unnur Giæver). When Live suffers a breakdown on stage as a result, a hacker collective exposes Tom’s identity, turning him into a public villain overnight. Facing humiliation and violent threats, Tom panics and disappears.

Desperate and with nowhere to go, he disguises himself using women’s clothing from the shop and adopts the name “Berit.” To his surprise, instead of rejection, he encounters unexpected empathy and space to breathe.

Meanwhile, Live (Giæver) becomes conflicted and consumed by guilt over what has happened to him, and she begins searching for Tom alongside his neighbor Audun (Jonas Strand Gravli). Audun, a seemingly confident modern family man, is himself struggling with suppressed frustration and a crisis of identity—making Tom’s disappearance stir something deeply personal in him.

As Tom navigates life as Berit, he is forced to confront the loneliness, shame, and fear that fueled his hatred. What emerges is the possibility of connection, responsibility, and becoming someone capable of love rather than attack—a chance, perhaps, to become a better man.

“The story gives a face to the thousands of anonymous haters we know from the darker corners of the internet. The series examines the effects of the digital revolution and what gender means in a society striving for equality. Above all, it tells an entertaining story of movement from hatred and isolation toward intimacy and reconciliation.”
Thomas Seeberg Torjussen, Creator & Director

Gallery

Ingrid Unnur Giæver as Live in A Better Man. Photo by Lukas Šalna / Maipo Film / NRK — Ingrid Unnur Giæver as Live in *A Better Man*.
Photo by Lukas Šalna / Maipo Film / NRK

Creative Team and Production

A Better Man is created by Thomas Seeberg Torjussen (Norwegian Cosy, ZombieLars) and co-directed with Gjyljeta Berisha (The Lørenskog Disappearance, 22 July). It is produced by Christian Fredrik Martin and Synnøve Hørsdal for Maipo Film and Artbox, in collaboration with ZDFneo. Alec Thom serves as executive producer for NRK.