Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie) is a struggling writer from a successful family who stumbled into bad habits and is soon to be released from a treatment center for drug addiction. Describing himself as “a spoiled brat who (messed) up,” Anders has pinned his hopes for the future on a job at a magazine in Oslo, and after being discharged he heads into the city.
There he meets up with an old friend, Thomas (Hans Olav Brenner), who has turned his back on drug-fueled carousing and now looks after his children; their conversation makes it obvious Anders isn’t feeling comfortable on the outside, and his job interview is little short of disastrous.
As Anders wanders Oslo and crosses paths with former friends and acquaintances, most of whom don’t seem especially happy to see him, he ponders the future that lies before him and contemplates taking his own life.
Oslo, August 31st is directed by Joachim Trier, a cousin of noted filmmaker Lars von Trier; the film was an official selection at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Week seven of Zinema 2's "Explorers Club" features this drama adapted from a novel by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle.
