A new film by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, 'The Worst Person in the World', has been released in Russian theaters. A deep drama, a serious coming-of-age novel, pretending at first glance to be a light romantic comedy about the vicissitudes of lo...

At the center of the plot is a girl named Julie, who rushes from one 'lifelong' pursuit to another, trying to find her place in the vast universe of the 21st century. Along the way, she meets, falls in love, and breaks hearts. And all of this happens in Oslo, against a backdrop of beautiful sunsets, languid evenings, and reckless youth.

First and foremost, the Scandinavian film surprises by being very American. In its lighthearted beginning, recognizable plot twists, and obvious ideas, 'The Worst Person in the World' is closer to rom-coms like '500 Days of Summer', 'When Harry Met Sally', or even '...'. And the lead actress, Renate Reinsve, passes the Hollywood looks test; one can notice features of stars like Dakota Johnson and Keira Knightley in her. Only the actors' speech (in the original) persistently reminds us that all of this is the creation of Norwegians.

Varvara Ulianenok

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'The Worst Person in the World' is divided into 12 chapters, a prologue, and an epilogue, turning into a cinematic analogue of a novel that we have all read or are reading right now. The girl's life resembles chaos, in which she simultaneously seeks stability and continues to create disorder. On the eve of her upcoming 30th birthday, Julie tries to find her calling, to understand what she wants from herself, the people around her, and the world. She has problems with an indifferent father, misunderstandings both with an older partner and with a lover her own age, whose choices she tries to emulate. Through difficult life situations and devastating tragedies, the girl learns to accept herself and trust her inner voice.

Everyone who is roughly 30 years old now is familiar with these feelings and problems. At this age, we suffer from inflated ambitions, meaningless hopes, and lost faith. The expectations of loved ones, which may contradict a person's own aspirations, weigh heavily on the soul. Joachim Trier shows the viewer that no one is unique in their adversities, and at the same time, everyone is unique in their interpretation (and reaction) of them.

In the film 'The Worst Person in the World', the director shares one way to try to understand your life. He unambiguously hints that time puts everything in its place, and by looking back at the past, you can see the desired future. At the same time, Trier jokes that sometimes unplanned moments can become key in life, and no analytical retrospective is needed anymore. And in this lies both the comedy and tragedy of life.

In 2021 at Cannes, critics enthusiastically responded to Joachim Trier's new film, and Renate Reinsve received the festival's award. The film was also nominated for an Oscar for 'Best International Feature Film'. And this is not surprising, because the Norwegian drama examines the pain of all 30-year-olds — constant self-examination against the backdrop of endless possibilities and freedom of choice in the modern world.

'The Worst Person in the World' is about each of us; we are all the worst because we all try to live up to someone's expectations, follow others' advice rather than our own desires, and fulfill not our own dreams. But despite the unapologetic nature of these statements, we are still not hopeless — and this is where the warmth and kindness of Joachim Trier's film lie.