Three is the magic number. This is particularly the case for many independent directors who want to bring their vision to the big screen but need more time to do it. The concept of a thematic trilogy helped the likes of Krzysztof Kieślowski (Three Colours), Park Chan-wook (Vengeance), Antonioni (Alienation), Wim Wenders (Road Movie), Roman Polanski (Apartment) and Satyajit Ray (Apu) produce their best work. The same can be said about Joachim Trier who completes his Oslo Trilogy (Reprise/Oslo, 31 August) with The Worst Person in the World.
Julie (Renate Reinsve) is a medical student in Oslo who decides suddenly that psychology is her dream before setting her heart on photography. She meets Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie), and older, acclaimed and slightly misogynistic comic artist, and they embark on a relationship. Now turning her hand to writing, she struggles to settle, increasingly coming to question what she’s doing. Then she meets a young barista (Herbert Nordrum) with a different outlook.
The Worst Person in the World rounds off one of the best modern trilogies about love and relationships. It’s an ambitious and quietly powerful piece of filmmaking, which is full of memorable moments and amusing encounters. A film which takes a lot of risks and manages to pull it off with aplomb. It marks the arrival of Renate Reinsve as one of Europe’s most exciting young actors. The Worst Person in the World is a masterclass on the ups and downs of modern living.
The Worst Person in the World screens at Sundance Film Festival.
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