Oslo, August 31st (2012)

772/5000 There can be nothing more boring, than when a director begins to put plans that have no meaning. The worst thing is that it does not happen only at the beginning and end of the movie if not what happens in many moments.It is a cold movie, especially because at no time do you empathize with the protagonist, who in fact, personally I dislike. I do not understand you at any time. I also do not understand some moments of the film, nor do I know why it ends that night of partying like that, instead of taking advantage of the moment in front of it. That she can see that girl in him, is something that I will never understand.I do not like photography, if there is photography.The address is totally non-existent. He does not know where he's going or how to roll.He is a worthy apprentice to his cousin Lars

This is a good film but personally it doesn't ring true.Addiction can be devastating. It often is. I speak from personal experience. A relatively lengthy period of abstinence like 10 months can be totally reinvigorating but relapse is not uncommon. The effects of drugs/alcohol cause physical and emotional pain. Anders would at least be feeling positive effects from the relief of the physical pain. This is not apparent.What is uncommon is that if your life has been totally devastated to the point where you are in enforced rehab, it is unlikely that you would slip back into life in the way the protagonist of the film has. The point of the film seems to be that the life and people you once had are no longer available to you and yet in this film they actually are to a strong degree. He is welcomed by friends, family are understanding, he gets to go to parties with well adjusted, well healed people. The reality, more often than not, is that most people would be giving you a wide berth because of the mess you have created. Norwegian society might be more sympathetic but addiction is still very much a personal 'crime'.Paradoxically, we are led to believe that the editor would not consider him for the job because of his problems. I find that highly unlikely considering the way Anders presents himself. I would think that a journalist would consider that non judgmentally or at least be keen to appear non judgmental. Some might see such an experience as a useful insight. Anders is not a shambling mess after all.This isn't a film about the devastating effects of drug addiction, this is a film about an individual who is unable to come to terms with life, his experience of drug addiction is a facet of that and his privileged circumstances are uncommon. His life is all around him, he fails to see it. That can be true of someone with or without addiction problems. Look around the streets in the poor areas of any city if you want to see what drugs do to people. A short stint in rehab seldom leads you to nice parties sipping moet chandon with attractive young upwardly mobiles.

I think I learned about this film when I searched for the highest rated films on Rotten Tomatoes. I saw it had earned nearly universal high marks, so I decided to check it out.It follows a recovering addict named Anders who is granted a leave from the rehab clinic where he is currently residing to go into Oslo for a job interview. While in Oslo, which he has not visited in some time since going to the clinic, he meets a number of old friends, attempts to reconnect with a former girlfriend, and visits some old haunts.That is essentially all in the way of plot. What makes the film so affecting are the conversations he has with these friends about life, feelings of regret, lost opportunities, etc. The conversations seemed so authentic and realistic; the writers never gave into the temptation of injecting false notes of sentimentality..Even though Anders is an addict, this isn't really an "addiction movie." His addiction is always there in the background, but the themes that the film explores are far more universal and general. And the lead actor's performance was very poignant and impressive. I definitely recommend this to anybody interested in a strong dialog and character-driven film.

bitter, cold, gray, powerful. pictures of disillusion. search of yourself in a strange world. desire of new beginning. close doors. out sense meetings. pain and drops of hope. the life has unique sense. the past can not be present or future. the force source of story is its universal value. Anders may be everybody. his trip to a little sense of existence or only for a realistic form of consolation is part of each man or woman. maybe, not so painful. he can be one of Dostoievsky characters. or only a Tchekov page silhouette. but he is more. he is a hero of our time. a kind of Sisif. or only his remains. few beautiful images. a magnificent performance of Anders Danielsen Lie. and a town as skin of fall. nothing else. only a room, a piano, a lake and last day of summer - perfect scene for last step.