I have been in a bit of a weird mood these last few weeks. A bit unmotivated and unsure as to what I want to do with my time. Finding things to watch has been a challenge, as has finding the time to pull myself to write. I tell myself that I'll do it the next morning, that it's fine I didn't do it today, but then of course nothing changes. This is a bad habit I have at the moment, one that I really need to break from. Though this feels quite fitting with today's film viewing, one that I have been needing to watch for a long time now but just have been putting off: Oslo, August 31st. A film that takes place, as one might assume based on the name, within one 24 hour period. I am quite a fan of these sort of films which display a person's day in their life, sometimes they focus heavily on the drama in their life, the troubles and tensions that rise as the film goes on. Other times, these films are very character driven and tell us of the nature of these characters, as to give context as to why they are a certain way. On an existential level, these films really home in on the elements of humanity, showing the different lifestyles many of us live despite sharing the same city, street, or place of work.
All I had read about Oslo, August 31st all those months ago was that its narrative followed a heroin addict. For me, this is what I found most appealing. These narratives which show a perspective from those often ignored and unseen within society. Weakened, problematic, and struggling to get by. Turning thar one 24 hour period into a big challenge full of personal growth. Oslo, August 31st definitely felt like a film that did this well, but certainly with a very arthouse appeal to it that kept it grounded and free from the action and drama that films like Refn's Pusher might provide. Especially in regards to a European production on this matter. This is to admit that Oslo, August 31st is a slower production, more pertaining to the independent arthouse scene over a chaotic, larger budget blockbuster narrative. For some, this may already be a deal-breaker. For me, I would admit at times I felt it was too. But sticking with it, I came to appreciate what it had to say.
It is quickly worth noting that the film is loosely based on the story Will O' the Wisp by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle.
Oslo, August 31st
Oslo, August 31st follows Anders, a young man attending rehab due to his drug abuse. He takes group therapy sessions but clearly isn't being truthful in them. He is given one day from the rehab facility to pursue a job application, leading to the film following him through the day as his past catches up to him. Before this, we get very beautiful shots of everyday life in Oslo, alongside narration from individuals regarding life in Oslo. It added a really personal, nostalgic touch to the film as it instantly connected us with a more aged population within the city. People reminiscing on the past and how Oslo has impacted them. I really enjoyed the way it introduced the environment and gave us something to connect with the protagonist on, especially alongside such deep scenes that followed in which Anders is clearly struggling. It became clear that Oslo, August 31st would be a film that plagues upon the idea of nostalgia, showing the perspective of nostalgia from an individual that has fallen out of society and now struggles to reintegrate.
It's interesting to see how Oslo serves as some trigger for Anders as he roams through the city, almost falling back into bad habits as he attempts to meet up with old friends. There's this realisation for Anders that time has passed and people have moved on to different stages in their lives. Some are now parents, with strong families and working careers. Others still stick to some older habits, but have still managed to find some structure in life. All of which falling in line to the expected way of life for an adult. This makes the film hold some more existential elements to it as it's clear that life has sort of disappeared for Anders. Drug addiction took over his youth, and rehab pulled him out of society and into a safe space in which he fell even deeper into that isolation. At what point should life begin for Anders, now in his 30s and without a job or any structure? There are scenes in which we see Anders socialising and attending some house party, going clubbing and quickly falling back into that old way of life, it shows how rapid the decline really is once he's finally given some freedom. Really speaking on how useless the rehab has been in guiding him forward, as his real troubles are the future itself. You can't help but feel bad for his character, though. Even if we see him stealing from people's bags at the party and using the money to buy drugs. It's really easy to have sympathy for him, as his addiction is merely escapsim. A moment of bliss that pulls him away from the pain of reality. Is it really that bad? It also displays this life as something mundane, something that everyone experiences with little room to explore. Oslo isn't a location of despair or boredom, in fact, the film paints Oslo as a place of incredible beauty. Full of inspiration and things to do and see. Its question is that for some, is it enough? Within the beauty and opportunity are many struggling to get by and find themselves, stories of indivuals far different despite living within such an enclosed space.
Taking place on the last day of August, there's this fleeing summer feeling behind Oslo, August 31st. The feeling of the bright and warmth coming to a change. For Anders, nothing has changed and again the world moves on without him. This is juxtaposed with occasional narrations from people on Oslo, as well as really beautiful scenes of everyday life. An empty group of park benches. The normal streets either dense with people going about their lives, or relatively empty and quiet locations in the evening. It really conveys the passing of time well, utilising very beautiful cinematography that is often still in such moments. Just observing, idle, like the camera has been sitting there for hours. I think even these shots really connect us to the isolation that Anders feels. And it's most strong when he mentions at a party that he doesn't actually do anything, and that he's just roaming around looking for someone to feel sorry for him. He's very self-aware, and it's heartbreaking to witness.
What I found interesting was how little depth it really gave to Anders. There wasn't really any context as to who he was or why he was the way he was. Supposedly, this is the second of three films by this director, I'm not sure if they're all connected. But I didn't feel as if I was missing any context or anything prior by watching this one first. But it definitely caught my attention and has me ready to check out the others. Perhaps in the others there's more context on Anders, I'm not sure. But still, I think I liked that the film handled his character with a really gentle nature, not really revealing much about him and giving us plenty of reason to feel for his character. Very different from the usual films in which drug abuse results in a life of crime and violence. There was none of that here.
