Oslo, August 31st (2012)
Average Rating: 8.2/10
Reviews Counted: 55
Fresh: 54 | Rotten: 1
An upfront study of a drug addict confronting his demons, Oslo, August 31st makes this dark journey worthwhile with fantastic directing and equally fantastic acting.
Average Rating: 8.5/10
Critic Reviews: 24
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 0
An upfront study of a drug addict confronting his demons, Oslo, August 31st makes this dark journey worthwhile with fantastic directing and equally fantastic acting.
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Average Rating: 4/5
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Movie Info
Thirty-four-year-old Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie) is a fortunate, but deeply troubled man battling drug addiction. As part of his rehabilitation program, he is allowed to go into the city for a job interview, but instead uses the opportunity as a way to drift around and revisit old friends. The day grows increasingly difficult as he struggles to overcome personal demons and past ghosts for the chance at love and a new life. -- (C) Official Site
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Cast
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Anders Danielsen Lie
Anders -
Malin Crepin
Malin -
Aksel M. Thanke
Rehab Counselor -
Hans Olav Brenner
Thomas, Thomas (Friend) -
Ingrid Olava
Rebecca, Rebekka (Thoma... -
Oystein Roger
David (Editor) -
Tone B. Mostraum
Tove (Sister's Girlfrie... -
Kjaersti Odden Skjeldal
Mirjam, Mirjam (Woman H... -
Petter Width Kristiansen
Petter -
Emil Stang Lund
Calle (Man Hosting Part... -
Johanne Kjellevik Ledang
Johanne, Johanne (Woman... -
Renate Reinsve
Petter's Date -
Andreas Braaten
Karsten (Dealer) -
Anders Borchgrevink
Øystein (Man at Bar) -
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Oslo, August 31st Trailer & Photos
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (1)
The movie transpires mostly in quiet, engrossing dialogue scenes, and its austere style shares a good deal in common with the protagonist, who seems both opaque and completely exposed.
Top Critic[Displays] an invigoratingly acute understanding of the psychology of insecurity, longing, defensiveness and inward-turning rage.
"Oslo, August 31st" is quietly, profoundly, one of the most observant and sympathetic films I've seen.
A coolly observed yet boundlessly compassionate day in the life of a recovering drug addict, "Oslo, August 31st" breaks your heart many times over.
Trier proves that he's no one-hit wonder.
The result is a superb exploration of loss, guilt and regret in Norwegian director Joachim Trier's often-unpredictable second film.
With a predilection for long takes, alternating between tripod setups and handheld camera work that's reflective of Anders' unease, Trier presents life as an unceasingly tepid stream of the mundane -- with an occasional, exquisite pinprick of hope.
Life's sadder moments are quite well displayed in Trier's nuanced approach. For many popcorn munchers, that regrettably doesn't translate as a must-see movie in today's crowded marketplace...
It's an absolutely moving and devastating film, and one of the most jarring looks at addiction you'll ever see on screen.
In a single day, through a single pair of eyes, Trier and Lie give us an emblem for the world.
The film is perhaps the most emotionally devastating and yet paradoxically delicate effort of the year, a genuine gem.
Spanning a short period of time, this tense and intense Norweigian drama about a drug addict is extremely well directed and acted.
As the final shots mirror the first, you reflect on how life goes on, with and without us.
There are echoes, a little DNA of "Wings of Desire" here.
A powerful, upfront document of a recovering drug addict confronting the demons of his past.
Audience Reviews for Oslo, August 31st
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Anders: I know I've said so before. But I'm better now.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Unredeeming AWFUL film. He doesn't learn anything, has no insights, & thus doesn't warrant our attention. | 3 months ago | 0 |
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Foreign Titles
- Oslo, 31. August (DE)
- Oslo, August 31st (UK)
Anders Danielsen Lie gives an incredible performance as the enigmatic hero and the acting throughout is consistently authentic, convincing and engrossing. The soft-focus cinematography (Jakob Ihre) works well with a particularly engaging sound design which, along with very conscious direction, editing and general production design, makes for technically masterful cinema with an aesthetic that is both selectively minimal and enjoyably rich.
Oslo is a tragedy. Its simple, melancholic tone and metropolitan landscapes make the film undeniably reminiscent of the French New Wave - think Hiroshima Mon Amour in present day Oslo. The film is minimal and stylized, presenting social realism in an artistic form without losing any of its dramatic potency to surrealism. Utterly convincing and captivating, it's a shame this film hasn't made more noise because it certainly deserves your attention.