Joachim Trier delivers an inspired, formally inventive, and poignant contemporary tale on love, anchored by a captivating Renate Reinsve, who was awarded the Best Actress prize in Cannes.
Although Cannes is a wonderful place to follow up with the work of accomplished filmmakers, presenting their latest work on the Croisette (the 74th Cannes Film Festival hosted Asghar Farhadi, Wes Anderson or Nanni Moretti in official selection for instance), it is also a great place to discover new promising authors (like Luàna Bajrami who presented The Hill Where Lionesses Roar at the 2021 Directors’ Fortnight), or movies less anticipated, which can become great surprises. It turns out that, according to the conversations we had in Cannes with our fellow critics, the best surprise from the 2021 official selection was probably Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person In The World, to the point that it ended up one of our favourite picks from the selection (alongside The Divide by Catherine Corsini, Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero, and Jacques Audiard’s Les Olympiades).
“The Worst Person In The World,” also known as “Julie (in 12 chapters)” in France and some other countries, presents a highly contemporary tale featuring Renate Reinsve as Julie, who deservedly won the Best Actress prize at Cannes—an accolade widely anticipated by journalists on the Croisette.
In Trier’s film, Julie is approaching thirty, grappling with an existential mess. Her talents remain underutilized, and her older boyfriend, Aksel—a successful graphic novelist—pressures her to settle down. One night, she crashes a party and encounters the young and charming Eivind. Soon after, she ends things with Aksel and dives headfirst into another relationship, seeking a fresh perspective on her life. However, she soon realizes that some life choices are irreversible.
What immediately grabs our attention in “The Worst Person In The World” is Renate Reinsve’s portrayal of Julie. From the opening frame, her on-screen presence is electrifying. Her face reflects the strength of a woman in her thirties who has weathered life’s experiences, yet also exudes the vulnerability of a young woman navigating a world filled with societal expectations. Reinsve effortlessly traverses a wide spectrum of emotions, embodying Julie’s highs and lows, navigating through awkward moments, joy, and tough life challenges. She adeptly handles comedy, drama, and even burlesque scenes, igniting the screen with every frame. Viewers inevitably identify with her character, thanks to the precision and perfection of Joachim Trier’s script. This universality is a testament to the film’s strength; everyone can relate to at least some aspect of Julie’s story. Trier aimed to create “a film that takes a serious look at the challenges of finding love while struggling to understand one’s own life,” and through Reinsve’s captivating performance, audiences are firmly on Julie’s side, eagerly following her journey and choices, no matter how many chapters it might entail.
What’s particularly striking about Trier’s film is how the compelling script is enhanced by an inspired and inventive mise en scène. Trier creatively constructs energizing scenes to illustrate the fast-paced nature of Julie’s life. Two standout scenes, among our favorites from Cannes, exemplify this inventiveness. The first involves Julie escaping her unsatisfying relationship with Aksel to join her new crush, Eivin, by seemingly stopping time—a powerful metaphor for breaking free from life’s constraints. The second features a short animated sequence where Julie confronts her fears and inner dilemmas after experimenting with drugs with Eivin. These inventive scenes resonate deeply as we’re fully immersed in Julie’s doubts and aspirations.
Another brilliance of “The Worst Person In The World” lies in Trier’s adept handling of important and intriguing themes such as mortality, the passage of time, seizing—or missing—opportunities, navigating personal dissatisfaction, societal norms, and the challenges of being true to oneself.
Furthermore, the film serves as a poignant reflection of contemporary society, addressing issues like the #MeToo movement, the pandemic, and the decline of small businesses.
Overall, “The Worst Person In The World” is a captivating, emotionally resonant, and formally inspired contemporary tale that delves into the complexities and beauty of love.
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