02/07/2007

Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s feature debut Reprise [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
interview: Karin Julsrud
film profile], opened the 5th Brussels European Film Festival on Friday. The event, which runs until July 7, offers an attractive line-up of recent European films by young talented directors (see news). Reprise sets the tone of a competition dominated by the theme of narrative and visual boldness.

Following the tradition of successful Nordic films, Trier displays his brilliant filmmaking expertise in a film about two friends, two brothers, two stunning actors with angelic features (Anders Danielsen Lie and Espen Klouman-Hoeiner). The doomed Phillip, torn apart by a love affair that has turned obsessive, has a nervous breakdown following the publication of his first book, while the less brilliant Erik succeeds in facing up to his demons.

Composed of very disparate subject matter, filmed with much audacity but reserve with superb and icy photography, Reprise masterfully combines the perspectives of the two characters, drifting between the imaginary and the real, their dreams and reality, deconstructing temporality with flashbacks or repetitions of scenes. These are meant to depict the risk of madness that lurks behind the ambiguity, the confusion of identities. The film’s main theme though is one of enfranchisement, the relationship between the two brothers of love and of friendship, possibly based on artistic ideals.

Produced by Karin Julsrud for 4 ½ Productions, the debut feature by Trier, who has picked up awards at numerous festivals (Best Direction and Don Quixote Prize at Karlovy Vary, Jury Grand Prize and Audience Award at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival, Norwegian Critics Award, nominated in four categories at the upcoming national film awards, the Amandas), has been sold by Nordisk Film International Sales to over 25 territories and will soon open on Belgian screens, distributed by A-Film Belgium.

(Translated from French)