300 Words About: Reprise

You could say writer/director Joachim Trier's passion runs in the family, as his parents and other relatives, including the famed Lars von Trier, have all worked in film. It's impressive, then, that his first feature length film, Reprise, still exceeds your high expectations. Co-written with his friend Eskil Vogt, it's a fairly simple story about, well, two friends who are aspiring writers themselves. Trier claims it is not autobiographical, but the raw emotion and intimate friendship between the characters makes it somewhat obvious that Trier has experienced much of the film in his own life.

Norwegians Erik (Espen Klouman-Høiner) and Philip (Anders Danielsen Lie) are our young, idealistic authors. Philip's manuscript is chosen for a book deal, but it unfortunately coincides with a mental breakdown due to his relationship with Kara (Viktoria Winge). When Philip is released from the mental hospital six months later, he finds that his relationship with Erik and their other close friends has significantly changed. He's withdrawn, vulnerable, and uninterested in writing, despite Erik's encouragement - perhaps borne of Erik's own pending book deal. The film is essentially just an observation of Philip's attempt to reconnect with Erik, Kara, and his writing. There are a number of interesting characters that add humor and heart to the film, but Reprise is primarily the story of Erik and Philip.

I loved the acting, the soundtrack, and the narrated flash-forward plot devices, but I didn't strive to make the intellectual connections that are really driving the buzz about this film, and I also wasn't very emotionally invested in the characters. I found the greatest interest in the lessons on relationships and cultural identity, on competition and evolving friendships, and on what motivates us when we feel we've lost passion in some aspect of our life. I was certainly able to relate much of it to my life, and the fresh style of the production was the icing on the cake. Reprise is not a classic and won't resonate with everyone, but it's an ambitious indie that will linger a bit after you leave the theater. Don't be too quick to judge this book by its cover.