Oslo, August 31st
During a brief leave from rehab, a recovering addict crosses Oslo seeking a future he increasingly doubts he can inhabit.
Overview
A poignant exploration of a man's struggle against his past and the choices he faces in the present.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- austere
- intimate
- quiet evening
- reflective viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a beautifully directed, deeply observant, and unsentimental portrait of addiction, depression, and existential despair.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Anders's leave from rehab centers the film on job seeking, friendship, memory, and difficult conversations instead of conventional recovery triumphs.
The job interview and encounters with Thomas, Rebecca, Malin, Tove, and other people from Anders's past expose his distance from ordinary adult life.
Anders spends his leave moving through Oslo's streets, homes, nightlife, and social spaces while remaining psychologically isolated.
The plot follows Anders from his August 30 leave through the night and into August 31, with each encounter intensifying his confrontation with his choices.
Films like Oslo, August 31st, and why
The Fire Within
shared intimate psychological drama, addiction themes, emotional realism, and sustained attention to a troubled protagonist
A Man Escaped
shared melancholic urban atmosphere, existential crisis, alienation, and contemplative character focus
Manchester by the Sea
shared austere realism, social isolation, depression, and emotionally devastating portrait of a life at a breaking point
Movie Details
- Director
- Joachim Trier
- Release Date
- 2011-08-31
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (530)
Cast
- Anders Danielsen Lie
- Malin Crépin
- Hans Olav Brenner
- Ingrid Olava
- Tone Beate Mostraum
- Øystein Røger
- Aksel Thanke
- Kjærsti Odden Skjeldal
- Renate Reinsve
- Anders Borchgrevink
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MUBI Amazon Channel, Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Oslo, August 31st about?
- During a brief leave from rehab, a recovering addict crosses Oslo seeking a future he increasingly doubts he can inhabit.
- What is Oslo, August 31st like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Oslo, August 31st as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Oslo, August 31st violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Oslo, August 31st.
- What did critics think of Oslo, August 31st?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a beautifully directed, deeply observant, and unsentimental portrait of addiction, depression, and existential despair.
- Which films are like Oslo, August 31st?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fire Within, A Man Escaped, and Manchester by the Sea.
- How long is Oslo, August 31st?
- Oslo, August 31st runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Oslo, August 31st?
- In United States, Oslo, August 31st streams on MUBI Amazon Channel, Strand Releasing Amazon Channel.
