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Director: Joachim Trier Writers: Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt, Pierre Drieu La Rochelle Starring: Anders Danielsen Lie, Hans Olav Brenner, Ingrid Olava, Anders Borchgrevink, Andreas Braaten, Malin Crépin, Petter Width Kristiansen The title of writer-director Joachim Trier's film -- Oslo, August 31st -- obviously sets the time and place for us, but the date and location are also quite integral to the meaning of the story. August 31st represents the end of the summer, the last natural breath of life before the inevitable decline towards death. It is a melancholic time for contemplation, thinking back about the frivolous fun of the summertime. While thinking of the past, Oslo represents a city with a long history that finds itself in a transitional moment of reconstruction and rebirth. The city is riddled with construction cranes and demolition sites, as the old is being torn down and new structures are constructed in their place.

Memory and nostalgia—these are the things Joachim Trier sought when creating his dark, hopeful and depressing love letter to his hometown. Rather than use that word, however, he made a point in his Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival to call it the place he was born. Every city in the world is remembered by its citizens and ex-pats. They reminiscence about good times, how they felt, or how they miss it. The opening to Oslo, 31. august [Oslo, August 31st] is a collection of these tales—memories and recollections associated when hearing the city’s name. A montage of home videos and footage from some of Trier’s favorite Norwegian films set to the words of interviewees fondly looking back, we become set at ease awaiting a sweet story to unfold. But Trier and Eskil Vogt’s script, based on the novel Le feu follet by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle,...

Rating: 4/5

Director: Joachim Trier

Writers: Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt

Cast: Hans Olav Brenner, Petter Width Kristiansen,  Kjellevik Ledang

With names like Almodovar, Malick, von Trier and Kaurismaki making their way to the red carpet of this year's Cannes Film Festival, it is one of the younger names that has really garnered quite a bit of moment coming out of the Croisette this year.

Read more on Cannes 2011 Review: Oslo, 31. August...