Oslo, August 31st
Oslo, August 31st

Movie spotlight

Oslo, August 31st

2011
Movie
90 min
Norwegian

A recovering drug addict is granted a day’s leave from rehab and returns to Oslo, where he reconnects with friends, faces the weight of his past, and struggles with uncertainty about his future. Over the course of one day, he drifts through encounters that reflect his longing for connection and his deep sense of alienation.

Insights

IMDb7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic83/100
Google Users88%
Director: Joachim TrierGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

Anders, a recovering drug addict, is granted a day pass from his rehabilitation clinic to attend a job interview in Oslo. Over the course of 24 hours, he reconnects with friends, family, and past loves, confronting his struggles with addiction and his fear of the future. The film portrays his introspective journey through the city as he grapples with the consequences of his past and the uncertainty of his recovery.

Critical Reception

Oslo, August 31st was widely acclaimed by critics for its raw emotional honesty, nuanced performance by Anders Danielsen Lie, and its profound exploration of addiction, depression, and the search for meaning. It's often cited as a masterful example of introspective filmmaking.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unflinching portrayal of addiction and existential dread.

  • Anders Danielsen Lie's performance is a standout, conveying deep vulnerability and internal conflict.

  • The film's introspective and melancholic tone is both beautiful and devastating.

Google audience: Audience reviews frequently highlight the film's realistic and deeply affecting depiction of struggles with addiction and mental health. Many viewers found the performance by Anders Danielsen Lie to be incredibly powerful and relatable, appreciating the film's honest and poignant exploration of complex emotional themes.

Awards & Accolades

Won awards at various film festivals, including the Award of the Youth at the Cannes Film Festival. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Fun Fact

The film's protagonist, Anders, is the same character played by Anders Danielsen Lie in Joachim Trier's debut film 'Reprise' (2006), allowing for a continuation of his story.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Anders Danielsen Lie offers a really quite intense performance here as the recovering drug addict "Anders". His physicians think he's sufficiently improved to be able to spend a day, unsupervised, in Oslo, with family and friends and to hav...