Reprise

The Norwegian film Reprise directed by Danish director Joachim Trier is a rather unique film for me. Granted I don't see a whole lot of foreign films since they most compete with all the other indy releases for the limited screen space of the three or four cinemas that show anything but the latest blockbuster. The film can be a bit stilted as it tries various narrative techniques. These include developing back stories through dialog free scenes with a narrator explaining the happenings or a flash forward of the way things might happen if certain events occur.

The film focuses on two friends Erik (Espen Klouman-Høiner) and Phillip (Anders Danielsen Lie). Both are aspiring writers who mail in their first manuscripts at the exact same time. The idea is that both will be seen as brilliant and they will become successful artists like their literary inspiration and hero Sten Egil Dahl (Sigmund Sæverud). Reality has other plans. One has his book accepted and despite new found celebrity soon has a nervous breakdown. The other's is rejected and he continues on with the opinion that he is nothing next to his friend's talent.

The film picks up six months after the fated mailbox drop and follows Erik and Phillip. Both have girlfriends who seem only secondary to their lives and they hang out with a cabal of literary minded individuals who spend their time discussing or dismissing various aspects of the literary world. At times I found myself distracted by all the flashy attempts at direction such as the flash backs and flash forwards to a possible future but every time I was thankfully able to be drawn back in by the relationship between Erik and Phillip.

Anders Danielsen Lie and Espen Klouman-Høiner do very well in their roles. They are convincing as friends. Erik slightly jealous of his friend's ability to write and yet at the same time genuinely proud of his genius. This is perhaps best conveyed by the look on his face when an editor interested in Erik's book suggests that Erik may be influenced by Philip's work. Erik's look is at once proud and sad. The story is held together by the force of its characterization which worked quite well.

I confess I don't know what to make of its end which is a series of sequences of what might happen all down with voice over in the perfect subjunctive (would have, etc). Still the characterization and the relationship between Erik and Phillip hold the film together.