Oslo, August 31st
dir. Joachim Trier · 2011
Anders steps out of a rehabilitation clinic into the streets of Oslo, a city that feels both familiar and foreign. As he wanders through the urban landscape, he confronts the ghosts of his past, grappling with the choices that have led him to this moment. Watching this film is like taking a slow, contemplative walk through the mind of a man at a crossroads, where every encounter is tinged with nostalgia and regret.
Anders is a recovering drug addict in an Oslo rehab clinic. On 30 August, he is given a day's leave to attend a job interview in the city center. After visiting his friend Thomas, he proceeds to his appointment. In the interview, he admits to being a drug addict and storms out. He then wanders the streets of Oslo for the rest of the day and night, meeting, and sometimes confronting, people from his past. The film ends the next day, 31 August. Focusing on the decisions Anders has made with his time off.
Talking points
- the impact of addiction on identity
- the nature of friendship and connection
- urban alienation in modern life
- the significance of fleeting moments
