Verdens verste menneske / The Worst Person in the World (2021)

The Worst Person in the World (Verdens verste menneske) (2021)

The Worst Person in the World is a Norwegian romantic drama in which Joakim Trier is signed as a director and co-screenwriter, for whom this is the third film in the so-called Oslo trilogy (after Reprise and Oslo, 31 August). The film premiered at the competition program of the Cannes Film Festival, where Renata Reinsve won the award for best actress. He was chosen to represent Norway at the next Oscars.

The Worst Person in the World movie plot , review

The plot of the film follows the indecisive but self-confident Julie, a young woman who sails the turbulent waters of her love life and struggles to find her right path in her career. She moves quite abruptly through jobs and relationships, she is not sure what interests she should follow and every change in her life comes after the momentary discovery that she is not really where she really wants to be. A good part of the film is occupied by her relationship with Axel (standard excellent Anders Danielsen Lee), a slightly older cartoonist of underground comics.

Our protagonist Axel’s open sexism is not entirely pleasant, but there is an indisputable chemistry in their relationship and they radiate mutual affection even when they do not agree on certain issues. Driven by whimsy, boredom or inner dissatisfaction, Julie is slowly moving away from a stable life. Interesting conceptual solutions such as ironically distanced narration and the flight of fantasy in a partially animated sequence bring us into a tense state of Julie’s mind with a comic flight that reflects, and then slowly begins to destroy her defense mechanisms against emotions.

The Worst Person in the World (Verdens verste menneske) (2021) Renate Reinsve as Julie
The Worst Person in the World (Verdens verste menneske) cast Renate Reinsve as Julie (source: imdb)

 

Jokaim Trier’s films are described as melancholic meditations that deal with existential issues of love, ambition, memory and identity. Romantic dramas about young people who find their way in life can rarely present something new and are most often subject to a classic narrative that confirms the joys and pains of entering adulthood. However, Trier brings us something fresh and innovative, a film that can be watched and those for whom romantic dramas are not among their favorite genres.

Trier has a reputation as a filmmaker who understands the problems of the modern young man and who is able to present it all authentically, and here he confirms that reputation. In short, this is a film in which our heroine tries to find a profession that would give meaning to her life, a man with whom she would spend the rest of her life and something that would make her fulfilled and happy – in a busy and individualistic world time passes and life progresses , but it is not clear in which direction Julie is.

The Norwegian actress conveys a sense of complete, nuanced subjectivity in a story that would not be so deep if her performance was not of such high quality. The somewhat stereotypical character of a girl lost in her twenties breathes life and constant uncertainty. Her portrayal of Julia’s lack of a concrete direction and goal, her thoughtful openness, youthful attitude, excitement and skepticism towards the abundance of life experiences is extremely enchanting, so her character looks like a real person looking for happiness in modern Oslo.

The Worst Person in the World (2021) movie cast Renate Reinsve as Julie, Anders Danielsen Lie as Aksel
The Worst Person in the World (2021) movie cast (source: imdb)

 

Through twelve related chapters framed by a prologue and epilogue, the film explores a number of themes that include melancholic loneliness and alienation, existential conflicts, pressures created by society, self-discovery and all that brings love and loss. He sincerely explores the complex position of the modern woman and, most importantly, returns a bit of fun, significance and explicit sex to the worn-out genre. I also believe that it will help many viewers feel much better because of their possible suspicious thoughts or choices.

The Worst Person in the World is a Norwegian romantic drama about the search for love and meaning in modern Oslo, which brings much-needed freshness, fun and significance to this rather shabby genre. Final rating: 8/10. Release date July 8, 2021 (Cannes) and February 4, 2022 (United States).

The Worst Person in the World movie cast and characters

  • Renate Reinsve as Julie
  • Anders Danielsen Lie as Aksel
  • Herbert Nordrum as Eivind
  • Hans Olav Brenner as Ole Magnus
  • Helene Bjørneby as Karianne
  • Vidar Sandem as Per Harald
  • Maria Grazia Di Meo as Sunniva
  • Lasse Gretland as Kristoffer
  • Karen Røise Kielland as Tone
  • Marianne Krogh as Eva
  • Thea Stabell as Åse
  • Deniz Kaya as Anna
  • Eia Skjønsberg as Synne

source: imdb

 

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The Worst Person In The World – Official Teaser