What Is Totally True Love About?
The premise of Totally True Love in 295 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a sleepy Norwegian town where childhood lore hangs as thick as the mist, a new family moves into the old house on the hill—rumored to hide a lingering spirit from a tragic love story. The arrival of the mysterious boy who inhabits that house sends ripples through the lives of the local children, turning ordinary school days into a delicate dance of curiosity and whispered speculation. The community’s quiet streets and the schoolyard’s tight‑knit cliques create a backdrop that feels both familiar and subtly unsettling, inviting the audience to wonder what is real and what is the product of youthful imagination.
Anne is a ten‑year‑old who proudly trades princess dresses for a soldier’s uniform, a choice that colors the way she sees the world and shapes her cautious outlook on matters of the heart. Her best friend, Beate, offers a warm counterpoint—bright, inquisitive, and convinced that love, even at their age, can be genuine and transformative. Their friendship becomes the core through which the story explores the tension between skepticism and hope, as they navigate the swirl of rumors, school dynamics, and the allure of the newcomer, Jørgen, whose quiet presence awakens feelings Anne has never allowed herself to entertain.
Adding another layer to the mix is Ellen, the popular classmate whose own ambitions intersect with the growing intrigue surrounding the haunted house and the boy who lives there. Meanwhile, Ole, Anne’s older brother, adds a voice of local legend, recalling the old tale of Helga—a girl whose love and disappearance have become a cautionary whisper among the townsfolk. Together, these characters form a tapestry of youthful perspective, where the line between superstition and reality blurs, setting the stage for a story that balances gentle humor, tender moments, and a lingering sense of mystery.
What Happens in Totally True Love?
The complete story of Totally True Love, from the first scene to the last, in 876 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Anne, Maria Annette Tanderød Berglyd is a ten-year-old girl who stands out in her class because she chooses to dress as a soldier rather than a princess, a difference that shapes how she sees the world and who she becomes. Her closest friend is Beate, Birgitte Victoria Svendsen, who embodies warmth, curiosity, and academic aptitude, and who carries a hopeful belief in love. Beate’s feelings are in clear contrast with Anne’s cautious stance toward romance, setting up a dynamic that threads through the entire story.
In their small community, a long-buried rumor about a girl named Helga looms large. Helga loved a boy named Lucas, and when jealousy flared, she cut another girl’s hair and left in a fit, only to vanish after jumping into the river. The rumor swirls that her father buried Helga’s body inside a wall in a house where Jørgen, Otto Garli, later moves in. Ole, Anne’s brother, claims to have seen Helga’s spirit, and the town tends to believe the tale as part of the layers of childhood superstition and gossip. The siblings’ world is a tangle of beliefs, whispers, and fear, even as Anne remains skeptical of the idea that love or a haunting can define a person.
As the school year unfolds, Beate and Anne hatch an plan to sift truth from rumor. Beate uses her social savvy to pull back Ellen’s (the popular girl in their class) secrets, and Anne quietly enters Ellen’s orbit to learn more about the crowd’s dynamics. Ellen, played by Vilde Fredriksen Verlo, has her own agenda, especially when it comes to Jørgen, a boy Anne begins to see in a new light after discovering his photo album and the quiet warmth it reveals.
Jørgen, Otto Garli, becomes a focal point for Anne’s shifting feelings. Anne dares to imagine him as a potential boyfriend, a thought that grows as she experiments with a harmless ruse: she writes a letter to Ellen as if it were from Jørgen, inviting Ellen to consider a romance. Ellen responds, but the letter never reaches its intended recipient, thanks to the tangled web of mischief and miscommunications that the girls weave in their attempt to outmaneuver one another. In parallel, a field bike race becomes a stage for competitive flirtation: Jørgen invites Anne to ride beside him, while Ellen’s jealously complicates the moment.
The plot thickens during a school event where Anne plants a love letter for Jørgen in his bag, and she asks Elinar, Beate’s crush, to become Beate’s boyfriend. Elinar agrees, heightening the competitive tension among the trio. Meanwhile, Ellen’s plan to gain control over the narrative escalates as she pushes to learn more about Anne’s diary. The diary itself becomes a tool of revelation and a symbol of how private feelings can be weaponized in front of peers.
A birthday party for Ellen brings the group together in a charged game of truth or dare. The spins of the bottle reveal confessions and affiliations: Knut, Beate’s friend, admits his crush on Ellen; Elinar admits Beate’s name as the object of affection; and Anne, chosen for a dare, kisses Jørgen. The moment intensifies as Ellen presses Anne about the diary, and Beate blurts out that the diary holds a treasure trove of personal secrets. The revelation triggers a heated confrontation: Anne lashes out at Beate for the secrets she’s exposed, and the tension threatens the fragile balance of their small social circle.
Back home, Anne faces consequences and doubt. She slashes away at the anger by confronting Ellen at her house, an act that leads to an impulsive moment where she cuts Ellen’s hair—an event witnessed by Jørgen and echoing the town’s earlier whispers about Helga. Ole, who had previously spoken of Helga’s spirit, finds Anne hiding, but her fear—rooted in the old rumor—begins to loosen as her mother quietly reminds her that mistakes do not define who you are. The parent-child conversation serves as a turning point, anchoring Anne in a more compassionate and mature sense of self.
In the aftermath, Anne reconciles with Beate, and Beate’s grandmother—Beate’s Grandmother, Birgitte Victoria Svendsen—offers a lasting sense of perspective, suggesting that the past can shape but does not control a person’s future. Anne decides to go to Jørgen’s house to seek forgiveness, a moment that culminates in a dramatic discovery: the wall that rumor held so long no longer hides a body. It becomes clear that Helga’s father, Randolf Walderhaug and the surrounding family history, has influenced how the story has been told, but the truth is far more hopeful—Helga was saved, and she and her love for Lucas live in memory, not in a tomb.
The epilogue offers a final note on growth and perception. Beate’s grandmother’s revelation reframes the past, Helga’s fate is recast from a grim fable to a story of resilience, and Ellen ends up dating Knut, Peder Holene, signaling a new equilibrium in the school’s social landscape. The story closes with Anne reflecting on love and childhood: a reminder that love is real at a young age and can be a powerful, transformative force when guided by kindness and responsibility.
never be fooled by elders when they say love is not real at the age of 10, because it is totally true love.
Totally True Love Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Anne's soldier dress signals nonconformity” to “Epilogue: growth, love, and a new equilibrium”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Anne's soldier dress signals nonconformity
At the start of the school year, ten-year-old Anne stands out by dressing like a soldier rather than a princess, shaping how she reads the world. Her best friend Beate embodies warmth, curiosity, and a hopeful belief in love, anchoring Anne as they navigate rumors and growing feelings. The town's quiet routines are flavored by whispers about romance and what it means to grow up.
When:early school year Where:Anne's town, schoolyard
- 2
The Helga rumor resurfaces
The town's long-buried rumor about Helga returns with new intensity as jealousy around a boy named Lucas sparks her disappearance after a fateful hair-cut incident. Tales claim Helga's father buried her body inside a wall of a house later occupied by Jørgen, feeding superstition and fear. Ole even claims to have seen Helga's spirit, deepening the atmosphere of rumor.
When:early part of year Where:various town houses
- 3
Beate and Anne plan to sift truth
Beate uses her social savvy to pull back Ellen's secrets, while Anne quietly steps into Ellen's orbit to study the crowd's dynamics. They hope to separate rumor from reality, testing how far gossip can twist friendships. The plan marks the shift from gossip to investigation.
When:mid-school year Where:school
- 4
Anne discovers Jørgen's quiet warmth
While exploring, Anne becomes drawn to Jørgen after discovering his photo album, which reveals a gentler side behind a shy exterior. Her feelings begin to shift as she imagines him as a potential partner, complicating the rivalries around Ellen. The discovery adds a personal layer to the social game.
When:mid-year Where:Jørgen's house / school
- 5
A letter from Jørgen that never arrives
Anne dares to write a letter to Ellen as if it came from Jørgen, inviting romance and testing Ellen's control of the narrative. Ellen replies, but the letter never reaches its intended recipient due to a tangle of mischief and miscommunication. The ruse reveals how easily perceptions can be manipulated among classmates.
When:late middle Where:school
- 6
A field bike race intensifies rivalries
Jørgen invites Anne to ride beside him during a field bike race, turning the event into a stage for competitive flirtation. Ellen's jealousy complicates the moment and raises the stakes for everyone involved. The race becomes a microcosm of the shifting affections within the trio.
When:mid-year Where:field / track
- 7
School event and a planned Beate-Beate romance
At a school event, Anne plants a love letter in Jørgen's bag and asks Elinar to become Beate's boyfriend, heightening the competition among the group. Elinar agrees, intensifying the social knot and setting up further conflicts over who likes whom. The event shows how plans to win love can backfire in a tight-knit class.
When:later Where:school
- 8
Ellen pushes to uncover Anne's diary
Ellen's plan to learn more about Anne's diary escalates as she digs for personal revelations that could reshape status. The diary becomes a weapon, exposing private feelings to peers and amplifying tensions. Anne's secrets threaten to destabilize the fragile balance in their circle.
When:before party Where:Ellen's circle / Beate's circle
- 9
Ellen's birthday party and truth or dare
A charged birthday party brings truths to light through a game of truth or dare. Knut confesses a crush on Ellen, Elinar reveals Beate's name as the one she admires, and Anne, chosen for a dare, kisses Jørgen, heightening the love triangle. Ellen presses Anne about the diary as Beate hints at the diary's secrets.
When:birthday party Where:Ellen's house / party venue
- 10
Haircut confrontation and fear of the past
Back home, Anne confronts Ellen and, in a impulsive moment, cuts Ellen's hair, an act that echoes the town's old tale of Helga. Jørgen witnesses the act, and Ole's memory of Helga's spirit resurfaces, pushing Anne to confront the fear behind the rumor. Her mother reminds her that mistakes do not define who she is, anchoring her in empathy.
When:night after party Where:Ellen's house and Anne's home
- 11
Forgiveness, reconciliation, and a shocking truth
Anne reconciles with Beate as Beate's grandmother offers perspective that the past can shape but does not define a person. Anne goes to Jørgen's house to seek forgiveness and discovers the rumored wall no longer hides a body. The revelation reframes Helga's fate as a saved life and shifts ownership of the story away from tragedy.
When:aftermath Where:Jørgen's house / the wall
- 12
Epilogue: growth, love, and a new equilibrium
Beate's grandmother reframes the town's history, turning Helga's fate from grim fable into resilience. Ellen ends up dating Knut, signaling a new social balance in the school and a kinder culture around love. Anne reflects on love's reality at age ten, recognizing its power when guided by kindness and responsibility.
When:epilogue Where:town / school
Who Are the Main Characters in Totally True Love?
10 characters, among them Anne — Maria Annette Tanderød Berglyd, Beate — Birgitte Victoria Svendsen and Jørgen — Otto Garli: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 9 of them link to the actor’s page.
- A—
Anne — Maria Annette Tanderød Berglyd
Played by Maria Annette Tanderød Berglyd
Anne is a ten-year-old who stands out by dressing as a soldier rather than a princess. She is cautious about romance, skeptical of rumors, and thoughtful about how others are affected by gossip. Throughout the story, she learns to navigate friendship, curiosity, and responsibility, especially when secrets and consequences surface.
- ❄️ Determined
- 🎒 Student
- 🧠 Reflective
- B—
Beate — Birgitte Victoria Svendsen
Played by Birgitte Victoria Svendsen
Beate is Anne's warm-hearted, curious friend who balances affection with a sharp eye for social dynamics. She brings optimism and a belief in love, using her social savvy to uncover secrets and guide her friend through rumor-filled days. Her influence helps Anne question gossip and seek genuine understanding.
- 🎓 Kind
- 🤝 Socially savvy
- 💖 Hopeful
- J—
Jørgen — Otto Garli
Played by Otto Garli
Jørgen is the quiet, warm-hearted boy who becomes the focus of Anne's shifting feelings. He is kind and thoughtful, with a subtle depth revealed through his interactions and the warmth shown in his photo album. He navigates the social currents as gossip swirls around him.
- 💫 Gentle
- 🧭 Thoughtful
- 🤝 Classmate
- E—
Ellen — Vilde Fredriksen Verlo
Played by Vilde Fredriksen Verlo
Ellen is the popular girl who tries to control the narrative and uses others to advance her position. She is strategic and ambitious, sometimes cruel in pursuit of status, yet her actions trigger the diary and truth-forced confrontations that test the girls' friendships.
- 🗣️ Popular
- 🎯 Ambitious
- 💬 Gossip
- H
Helga
Helga is the girl whose disappearance rumor haunts the town; though she is not physically present, her legacy drives gossip and shapes the community’s fear and curiosity. The tale reframes Helga from a looming tragedy to resilience and memory, showing how rumors distort memory.
- 🕯️ Rumor
- 🧭 Memory
- BG
Beate's Grandmother — Birgitte Victoria Svendsen
Played by Birgitte Victoria Svendsen
Beate's Grandmother offers perspective and frames the past in a kinder light; she helps reinterpret Helga's fate and the town's memory. She acts as a stabilizing influence, reminding the girls that mistakes do not define who you are.
- 🕊️ Wisdom
- 🗺️ Perspective
- AM
Anne's Mother — Silje Breivik
Played by Silje Breivik
Anne's mother provides quiet support and helps anchor her daughter through a tense social period; the mother-daughter talk is a turning point that encourages empathy and resilience.
- 💞 Family
- 🗣️ Guidance
- K—
Knut — Peder Holene
Played by Peder Holene
Knut is Beate's friend who reveals his own crush on Ellen during the party, adding a layer of romantic rivalry to the group dynamic.
- 💘 Crush
- 🧑🤝🧑 Friend
- L—
Luca — Emir Mulaosmanovic
Played by Emir Mulaosmanovic
Luca is a young boy who appears in the social dynamics of the story, contributing to the crowd’s mix of friendships and crushes.
- 👦 Boy
- 👫 Friend
- HF
Helga's Father — Randolf Walderhaug
Played by Randolf Walderhaug
Helga's Father is tied to the town's long-running rumor about Helga; his family history shapes how people remember the past and interpret the events around Helga’s fate.
- 🕰️ Legacy
- 🏚️ Family History
Where and When Is Totally True Love Set?
Totally True Love is set in Small town, School, Beate's Grandmother's House, Jørgen's House and River (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present day
The events unfold in a contemporary, modern-day setting focused on a primary-school age cohort. The narrative spans a school year filled with social dynamics, letters, diaries, and a birthday party that reveals truths and tensions.
Where
Small town, School, Beate's Grandmother's House, Jørgen's House, River
Set in a close-knit town, the story unfolds across its school and homes. The river where Helga disappeared is a lingering backdrop, shaping whispers and superstition in the community. The town’s social spaces—schools, parties, and family houses—drive the plot as rumors swirl and friendships are tested.
- ❄️ Small Town
- 🏫 School Life
- 🏡 Homes & Family
- 🌊 River Lore
What Are the Themes of Totally True Love?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love, Rumor and Identity.
-
01
Love
Love emerges as a youthful, tentative force that tests friendships and honesty. Anne's feelings for Jørgen develop through small acts and innocent gestures, while Beate's belief in love stands in contrast to Anne's cautiousness. The plot shows how affection can inspire acts of courage and forgiveness, especially when secrets are at stake.
-
02
Rumor
Gossip and rumors shape the town's reality more than truth itself. The girls attempt to uncover facts by social maneuvering, which exposes the power dynamics among classmates. The diary and miscommunications highlight how words can magnify fear and influence relationships.
-
03
Identity
The protagonist's choice to wear a soldier's outfit rather than a princess signals a question of identity and individuality. The story tracks how the girls' self-perceptions evolve as they confront consequences of their actions. The resolution reframes past labels into a more compassionate understanding of who they are.
What Kind of Film Is Totally True Love?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A nostalgic and tender coming-of-age story that captures the intense, authentic emotions of childhood friendships and first love, blending youthful curiosity with moments of social tension and a hopeful resolution.
- nostalgic
- contemplative
- childlike wonder
- innocent
- hopeful
- reflective
- childhood friendship
- first love
- school dynamics
- rivalry
Content notes: emotional bullying, child conflict.
Quiz
How well do you remember Totally True Love? Test yourself on the story.
