Transmission

“Transmission” is the Joy Division song Harry and Øystein listen to together during a subdued meeting. The song gives their shared silence a specific focus, while its association with Ian Curtis connects the scene to Øystein’s interest in singers who died young.

Appearance in the Scene

After leaving Søs at her small apartment by Sognsvann, Harry drives through central Oslo and eventually realizes he is heading for the German bunkers. Øystein joins him there, parks his taxi beside Harry’s car, turns up the music, and climbs over to sit with him on the wall. They listen to “Transmission” together. Before the music begins, Harry says that coma might not be the worst thing and asks Øystein for a cigarette; the song accompanies this spare exchange rather than interrupting it.

Ian Curtis and Øystein’s Interest

The scene names Ian Curtis as the singer associated with the song and notes that Øystein has long had a fondness for singers who died young. “Transmission” therefore carries a biographical association for him as well as being the music the two men share in the moment. Øystein then regrets not having managed to speak with someone again after that person became ill. Harry replies that he would not have done so even if the illness had lasted longer, leaving the song between a regret voiced and a blunt challenge to it.