It's picked up plaudits from nearly every other film critic, but has it won over the LeftLion team? Absolutely...
Director: Joachim Trier
Starring: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Running time: 128 minutes
Every now and then a film comes along that is so beautifully crafted, so original and so intoxicating that you just know it will go down in cinematic history. The Worst Person in the World is one of those films. Sharply written, brilliantly performed and unapologetically authentic, this is a refreshingly honest release that is fully deserving of the tremendous plaudits it has received.
The film centres around Renate Reinsve’s Julie, who, as she approaches thirty, still has no idea who she wants to be or what she wants to do. Working in a bookshop while she tries her hand at writing, photography and philosophy, and being equally indecisive with her relationships, she is hounded by friends and acquaintances about whether she wants children, when she’s going to have a ‘proper’ career and if she’s ever going to settle down. It’s a story that is so familiar to so many, and feels like a coming-of-age film for those who are told they should already have come of age.
This relatability is what makes it so impactful, dragging you into the challenges and uncertainties that Julie faces on a regular basis, as she tries to feel seen and find herself. It feels like we’ve all had that conversation about when we’re going to take that next step in life, that leap into adulthood that often feels so unattainable and so alien. We all want to do what Julie does midway through the film - flick a switch and make time stand still, so we can take a breather and figure things out. It’s refreshing to see that played out so brilliantly on the big screen.
Reinsve’s commitment to every aspect of the role means you stay with her through each decision, each relationship and each bump in the road
Yet, while Worst Person does cover themes that feel familiar and relatable, it does so with a boldness that gives it real personality. Director Joachim Trier is never afraid to try new techniques, to take big swings, and they consistently land with full force. So few films could include a magic mushroom-induced trip that includes fat suits and tampon attacks and make it feel grounded and purposeful. Everything Trier does has a definitive message, even when it feels so outlandish and unconventional.
The man behind the camera would be lost without the talent of the cast in front of it, though, and Reinsve deserves more credit than anyone for making this thing work. The character of Julie goes through such a rollercoaster, has such a fractured and uncertain way of thinking, that it would be easy for many to lose focus on her story. Yet Reinsve’s commitment to every aspect of the role, every layer of Julie’s psyche, means you stay with her through each decision, each relationship and each bump in the road. She’s charming and fun, but also steely and unforgiving, and you’re left wanting nothing but the best for her character, despite her flaws.
It’s stunningly shot and refreshingly honest, extraordinarily gorgeous and phenomenally raw
Herbert Nordrum and Anders Danielsen Lie are worthy of praise, too, as Julie’s two key, and opposing, love interests. In Lie’s Aksel, there is the allure of a more sensible, intellectual relationship, and the 43-year-old brings a sophistication that feels of a bygone era. But Nordrum’s Eivind has a playful chemistry with Julie that grips you from the beginning, with the pair’s dynamic feeling Before Sunrise-esque in its ease of conversation and dreamlike haziness. A drawn-out sequence between the two at a wedding party is utterly intoxicating, and offers up everything from candid heart-to-hearts to accidental farts, raw emotion to delightful humour. It’s truly enchanting.
While The Worst Person in the World is arguably a tad too long - trim 15 minutes or so and this would be flawless - it is an incredible film that strikes a chord from the very first scene. It’s stunningly shot and refreshingly honest, extraordinarily gorgeous and phenomenally raw. Whether it goes on to be the best film of the year remains to be seen, but it will take something special to pip it to the post.
Did you know? Prior to the movie, Renate Reinsve was ready to give up on acting to pursue a career in carpentry.
The Worst Person in the World is now showing at Broadway Cinema
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