By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Joachim Trier
Starring: Anders Danielsen Lie | Hans Olav Brenner | Herbert Nordrum | Maria Grazia Di Meo | Renate Reinsve
Original language title: Verdens verste menneske
Country: denmark, france, norway, sweden
Year: 2022
Running time: 127
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10370710/reference
Diane says: “In Joachim Trier’s latest film, the lead from his OSLO AUGUST 31ST (2011), Anders Danielsen Lie, almost steals the show from the main character. But I’m not complaining. Lie plays comic book author Aksel, the first serious relationship of Julia (Renate Reinsve). At 30, Julia is fourteen years his junior and not done bouncing around to figure out who she is and what she wants. ‘I never see anything through,’ she says. That process, of course, hurts her partners and herself. If you like Sally Rooney novels (and I do), you’ll like this feature.
“Lie and Reinsve have tough roles and turn in great performances. With an eclectic soundtrack, a variety of cinematographic techniques (there’s even animation in a psychedelic segment), WORST PERSON is a welcome next feature after the 5-catter OSLO. 4 cats
“Seen at San Diego Film Festival.”
Chris says: “If Joachim Trier’s first feature REPRISE (2006) was the essence of what it’s like to be in your 20s, his latest could only come from someone who has long since made it through that turbulent period into middle age and is able to reassess it with hindsight. His protagonist here, Julie (Renate Reinsve) is a flighty, directionless woman on the cusp of her 30s. Mirroring how Noah Baumbach saw Greta Gerwig in the similar FRANCES HA, Trier is obviously entranced by her but is also able to view her critically; her older beau, underground comic book artist Aksel (Trier regular Anders Danielsen Lie) serves as sort of a stand-in for Trier to perhaps also critique himself.
“Considered less intellectually, this film is often a blast: divided into a very Godard-ian twelve chapters with a prologue and epilogue, it plays with form and genre unlike any other of the director’s films since, well, REPRISE. It verges on precious at times, only to snap back into sharp focus, usually with the help of Lie (nearly unrecognizable compared to his recent turn in BERGMAN ISLAND) and especially Reinsve, who is as generous and expansive as Gerwig was in the earlier film–maybe more so. 4 cats”
Michael says: “As I watched this film I feared that it was going to be one of those situations where everyone I knew loved it, and I hated it. For the first half of the film, I was really not enjoying it. Then gradually as we entered the back half of the film, it started to grow on me until the conclusion arrived and I recognized it for the fine piece of storytelling that it is. The story is fairly straightforward, as it chronicles the life of a young woman named Julie, impulsive, and a bit aimless, as she moved through young adulthood and grows up. The meets the man she feels is the love of her life, a significantly older, and more structured comic book artist, and they two embark on a long, serious relationship. That she comes across as charming but a bit self-involved is part of her youth, and while irritating, is essential for her development. About midway through, their relationship hits a serious bump, and the film launches into an interesting fantasy sequence that kicks of part two of the film. From here things got really interesting, and beautifully powerful.
“Writer/Director Trier cast Renate Reinsve in a small part in his 2011, Chlotrudis-nominated film, OSLO, AUGUST 31, and always intended to work with her again. He wrote THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD with her in mind to play Julie. Anders Danielsen Lie, Trier’s star from OSLO, plays Aksel, Julie first true love, a pivotal role that is essential to the success of the film, The pair share a strong chemistry that works to to make their relationship across the years believable. Trier is a strong director, and an even stronger writer and has created a complicated, realistic-yet-fantastical portrait of growing up. 4 cats”
Julie says: “Superb film with so much depth. My favorite film of the year so far. Fantastic acting. Will nominate for best lead actress and best supporting actors. Best production design, screenplay, cinematography, best film, probably best editing could fit here as well. 5 big cats“