Anders Danielsen Lie and Viktoria Winge in "Reprise"
(Credit: Nils Vik/Miramax)
- Running time:
- 105 minutes
- Rated:
- R
- Cast:
- Anders Danielsen Lie -
- Phillip
- Espen Klouman-Hoiner -
- Erik
- Viktoria Winge -
- Kari
- Henrik Elvestad -
- Henning
- Christian Rubek -
- Lars
- Director:
- Joachim Trier
- Official Movie Web Site:
- http://www.reprise-themovie.com/
- Overall User Rating:
-
(0 ratings)
Big question: Can a low profile, arthouse-bound Norwegian drama find the enthusiastic young audience it deserves?
Catch it: This smart and energetic film focuses on the transitional period to true adulthood, when careers and relationships seem to be in constant flux and dreams for the future are realized or shattered. The performances of the largely unseasoned cast are excellent, with Lie and Klouman-Høiner especially credible as the competitive friends.
Skip it: The other members of Philip and Erik's social circle veer toward caricatures and the women in their lives are generally treated as props (despite the best efforts of Winge and Rebekka Karijord as a spunky publisher's assistant who befriends Erik). That approach works for the film's story, but it does slightly diminish the overall impact.
Bottom line: Promising director Joachim Trier (who co-wrote the script with Eskil Vogt) keeps "Reprise" pulsing with youthful energy. By employing appropriately literary narration along with deftly handled flashbacks and imaginative "what if" flash-forwards, Trier provide a full portrait of his protagonists' lives and dreams. Funny, moving, wide-eyed and wise, the movie strikes universal chords strong enough to break down cinematic language barriers.
Bonus: Trier has connections to a Scandanavian filmmaking legend: he's a distant relative of Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier.
