Oslo, August 31st

I saw it for the Director Trier and once again his focus on real struggles and people's inner demons had some moving moments that I too identified with. However, it still was a bit tedious at times. My favorite scene was the job interview since I too have been in those types of situations, not as a drug addict, but where you realize you won't be getting the job during the interview. SLC DVD.

Oooooof. Heartbreaking. Oslo, August 31st isn’t flashy or ostentatious; it’s simple but emotionally impactful, and in a 90 minute 1-day contained package, it hits hard (I love a contained story!!!). Trier perfectly captures depression, feeling lost, and loneliness - the loneliness of conversing with a friend, even a close friend, and being completely not understood; loneliness in a crowded room; loneliness in the face of superficiality; and the loneliness and alienation of being at the age where everyone is in such a different place (hiiii!!!!). Anders’ performance and our closeness to his character critically underpin this and make it feel SO real - we are in his head, seeing with his eyes, hearing with his ears, and watching his expression. Also, the use of slow zoom, silence, and voiceover on landscape scenes further the impact. “It will get better. Everything will be alright. Except it won’t, you know” “Two glasses of wine. That’s as good as it gets” “l’m here, but what am I doing? I think I am trying to remember what I was supposed to do”

With just the title, I was almost obliged to see this one... because August 31st it's my birthday!! Good film

Impactante bofetada ambientada en noruega donde puedes sentir la culpa si es que te identificas con la historia.

Brilliant, beautiful and heartbreaking. Kudos to all involved. The acting and directing is par excellence. Must watch

Heartbreaking and beautiful. How someone could put these incredibly deep emotions into a film with such amazing acting and direction is beyond me. Must watch for everyone

THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TW FOR THIS.

Always hard to watch films about drug addict. With Scandinavian culture, this film isn't disturbing nor psychic. With quiet and observant direction, looks natural and realistic about the symptoms, that is really scary.

This is literally a sobering tale about a man trying to repair his life following a time of drug taking. It shows the consequences, the social judgements made by others and how he struggles, in quite a good way, I thought. It certainly appeared quite realistic - not that I'd know of course. I found myself feeling sorry for some of the predicaments the protagonist finds himself in. The characterisation is good and its a relatively thoughtful film about perseverence and being on the outside, looking in. I quite liked the electronic sounding music played in the background at times, giving it an artificial feel which added a slight poignancy to it, I thought. I'd recommend this film as a piece of social commentary, yes.

"Oslo, August 31st" isn't as dense as "Requiem for a Dream", but is very sad. A sadness that is perfectly passed by the excellent Anders Danielsen Lie. It's almost impossible for an ex-addicted to reinsert him/herself in society, and the film expresses this masterfully. He has friends, Thomas (made by Hans Olav Brenner) for example, but even long-dated friends aren't capable to trust someone in Anders' conditions. And following the protagonist's feelings, the film seems, aimless, hopeless, disbelieved in life, but he's undeniably trying to move on. I didn't sympathize with him due to his condition, but because he was trying to leave it. Sometimes the film is slower than it could be, but it's a minor problem compared to "Reprise", Joachim Trier's previous movie. Tomorrow's session: "The Worst Person in the World".