MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Oslo, August 31st

We’ve seen movies about drug addicts before, but nothing quite like "Oslo, August 31st". We always read reviews about how "realistic" and "authentic" a movie is, but this is one of them that truly nails it. This film takes an incredibly fascinating look at the post-rehab phase and thus removes all the harrowing madness of the addiction period. The story follows a rehabilitated man who gets a day’s leave to do a job interview and meet up with old friends. As he tries to assimilate into normal life again, he finds its not "a bed of roses", as he learns that life is tough even for those who seemingly lack significant "struggles". The screenplay shines as it takes such a nonchalantly frank look at the banality of everyday life. There is no overt sentimentality and yet, this film is still deeply felt. I was mesmerized by the directing, acting, cinematography, sound design and screenplay. To me, this film is simply flawless. My review could never do it justice. I highly recommend watching this film and judging its greatness for yourself.