Written by Emma Pilger, image courtesy of IMDb
This introspective film opens by stating that the story is organized into twelve chapters and a prologue, including titles for each chapter. With a comedic undertone, we learn about the main character, Julie (Renate Reinsve), who is finding her way in life as a young adult. She switches between career paths and lovers frequently. Eventually she settles on photography and moves in with her boyfriend, Aksel, who is much older than her. The setup is fast-paced, humorous and effective in mirroring the chaos she feels.
From there, we explore the struggles that Julie faces: a 30-year-old woman still trying to find herself. Through nuanced dialogue between characters, the pressure of deciding whether or not to be a mother falls on Julie’s shoulders. As this first problem is established, Julie’s character comes to life. Her personality is vibrant and youthful while maintaining humility and shyness. The film masterfully displays Julie’s secret desires. Through her convictions, we live vicariously through Julie as she learns more about herself and her newfound values. All of this is done elegantly, refraining from pushing any particular theme too hard. The film feels like a delicate cross between Hulu’s “Normal People” and “La La Land” while still maintaining unique originality.
The story covers four years in total, gently maturing as each chapter passes. Viewers experience Julie’s growth first-hand as she makes life-altering decisions. Her relationships with those around her shift as her life changes, which causes her to make choices that move the story along. These decisions continue to refine her character before she is eventually forced to grapple with things that are out of her control. Despite these dramatic themes, the film also carries a comedic tone that lightens the mood when necessary. With touches into feminism, some scenes felt slightly cheeky in the best way. The comedy was used as a tool to build characterization, which was a clever way to contrast the more serious tones of the film.
“The Worst Person in the World” gives us an important look into modern womanhood. It examines what it means to find a sense of self later in life, a new form of a coming-of-age story. Reinsve does a beautiful job of conveying the depth of Julie’s emotions as she discovers who she is. Her performance was convincing enough to make me believe that she is Julie, and Julie is her. The dialogue sufficiently delivered the story despite being in Norwegian with subtitles in English. Each actor perfectly used tone and mannerisms to convey emotion. Even without subtitles, the general mood of each scene could be understood through the actors’ performances.
This story is a substantial display of the importance of telling stories about ordinary people and the complexities of ordinary life. The focus on taboo topics enforces the message the film seeks to convey. “The Worst Person in the World” moves viewers of all ages, especially young adult women.
Emma Pilger is a copy editor and columnist at District who prioritizes high quality writing and strong personal voice. She is passionate about writing, food, and community. Her column, District Dish, highlights some of Savannah’s best food as well as cooking advice geared towards college students.
