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The essential guide to Oslo, August 31st by Joachim Trier

Seventh Row has been following Joachim Trier’s career since Oslo, August 31st (2011). We have the most in-depth coverage of all of his films out there.

Pre-order your copy of the Joachim Trier book

Oslo, August 31st is the second entry in Joachim Trier’s Oslo Trilogy. It was Seventh Row’s #1 film of the 2010s, and we’ve written extensively about the film. We also named Anders Danielsen Lie’s performance in the film one of the 50 best of the decade. An even deeper discussion of the film will appear in our forthcoming ebook Existential detours.

Become an expert on Oslo, August 31st

  • Read our excerpted interviews and essays on Oslo, August 31st
  • Listen to the audio commentary on Oslo, August 31st
  • Pre-order the book on all of Joachim Trier's films
  • Listen to the podcast on the film
  • More resources on the film

Stay updated on Joachim Trier with our newsletter

Read exclusive excerpts from our forthcoming ebook Existential detours, find out about new Joachim Trier content and news, and more.

Yes, keep me updated!

About the film

Oslo, August 31st was loosely adapted from the novel Le feu follet. The film follows a day in the life of recovering heroin addict Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie). He leaves the rehab centre where he’s been living for a job interview in the city. Along the way, he meets up with friends, and contemplates whether he wants to keep living or end his life. It was Seventh Row’s #1 film of the 2010s.

This film put Trier on the international film scene in a major way after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival. Many critics cite it as one of the best films of the 21st century.

In her essay, Heeney explains, “Oslo, August 31st is like a feature-length expansion of the secondary protagonist in Reprise, Philip (Anders Danielsen Lie). Philip was a brilliant writer who lost his mind when he achieved success, becoming suicidal. Reprise focused on the consequences of Philip’s artistic ambition. Oslo, August 31st told the story of a similarly talented writer, Anders (again played by Lie). But Oslolooked at how he dealt with his depression and suicidal feelings after destroying his career.”

Read our excerpted interviews and essays on Oslo, August 31st

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Oslo, August 31st in 2021, we published three interviews on the film. We talked to director Joachim Trier, Lead actor Anders Danielsen Lie, and production designer Jørgen Stangebye Larsen.

These are all excerpts of longer discussions which will appear in our forthcoming ebook on Joachim Trier. The book is called Existential detours: Joachim Trier’s cinema of indecisions and revisions.

You can pre-order Existential detours here. On Oslo, August 31st specifically, features extended versions of each of the interviews below. It also includes an in-depth interview with co-writer Eskil Vogt. The book will also include in-depth analyses of several scenes from Oslo, August 31st.

Joachim Trier looks back at the career-defining Oslo, August 31st

Anders Danielsen Lie reflects on his breakout role in Oslo, August 31st

A headshot of Oslo, August 31st production designer Jørgen Stangebye Larsen in front of a still from the film. The text on the image reads, 'Oslo, August 31st at 10', written with white text in front of a purple background.

Designing a journey through Oslo

The header image of this essay shows a still from Oslo, August 31st next to a still of characters from Louder Than Bombs, behind a streak of purple bearing the white text: "Oslo, August 31st at 10".

There is a world elsewhere: Exile in Joachim Trier’s Oslo, August 31st and Louder Than Bombs

Listen to the audio commentary on Oslo, August 31st

In the audio commentary, we discuss how the film fits into the Oslo trilogy. We discuss Trier’s visual motifs, his directorial trademarks, and the complex psychology of the characters created in the film. We also discuss how the film expands on themes explored in Trier’s previous film, Reprise (2007).

Oslo August 31st audio commentary image

“I’m not sure Trier could have made these audio commentaries as well.” – Hazel Shaw

Listen to full-length audio commentaries on Joachim Trier’s first four feature films, including Oslo, August 31st, by the people who have written the book on his work.

Purchase access to the Joachim Trier the Audio Commentaries

Pre-order the book on all of Joachim Trier’s films

The first full-length book on Joachim Trier’s movies

An essential companion to Oscar Nominee The Worst Person in the World and Joachim Trier’s work. The book is full of interviews and critical insights that demystify Trier’s creative process. It also features an in-depth look at the making of Oslo, August 31st.

Pre-order your copy now

*The book is available as an ebook. Epub and PDF files of the book will be delivered to you when it is released in late 2022.

Listen to the podcast on the film

Ep. 107: Are Men OK? Masculinity, mental health, and addiction.

In December 2021, The Seventh Row Team recorded a podcast comparing Oslo, August 31st to the new film Another Round (2021) by Thomas Vinterberg. We discussed how the two films are a rare breed in their sensitive depiction of men’s emotional lives.

Listen to the podcast

More resources on the film

Watch Joachim Trier give a Q&A on the film at EbertFest in 2013.

Watch Joachim Trier give a Q&A at the New Directors/New Films festival in 2012.

Stay updated on Joachim Trier with our newsletter

Read exclusive excerpts from our forthcoming ebook Existential detours, find out about new Joachim Trier content and news, and more.

Yes, keep me updated!
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