Reprise

Reprise

31/3/2007 1h 47m 7.1/10

Overview

Phillip and Erik have been best friends since childhood. Both young men share a passion for the works of reclusive novelist Sten Egil Dahl, and both harbor literary ambitions. However, fate deals differently with the friends as each strives to make his dream come true.

Director

Joachim Trier

Top Billed Cast

Viktoria Winge

Viktoria Winge

Kari

Anders Danielsen Lie

Anders Danielsen Lie

Philipp

Christian Rubeck

Christian Rubeck

Lars

Henrik Elvestad

Henrik Elvestad

Henning

Odd-Magnus Williamson

Odd-Magnus Williamson

Morten

Espen Klouman Høiner

Espen Klouman Høiner

Erik

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

11/21/2025

7/10

If you like your films to follow a linear chronology, then this might not be the one for you. It’s the often all over the place tale of two best friends. “Erik” (Espen Klouman Høiner) as more your stereotypical Norwegian blonde, floppy haired and good looking lad. “Phillip” (Anders Danielson Lie), on the other hand, conforms less to the typical image of the handsome Norseman, but both are inseparable and both are aspiring writers. The story of their relationship and of their relationships now darts about; the latter lad suffers from a form of mental breakdown that leaves him and girlfriend “Kari” (Viktoria Winge) with some rebuilding to do, though it’s not always clear for what purpose or to whose benefit. The former is the first to be published, altogether more stable and yet isn’t that much more fulfilled than his friend. Against a backdrop of a vibrant Oslo with plenty of friends (and, judging by the amount of printer ink that they get through, money too!) this observation doesn’t so much unfold as unravel, and sometimes it isn’t too clear whether we are looking at contemporaneous events, those that are yet to come or those in the past - a sort of “Christmas Carol” playing timeline Russian Roulette. Though “Phillip” is clearly ill, that’s not really allowed to overwhelm his character, more it underpins it and enables us to observe, and perhaps even empathise, with a man whose senses of self worth and purpose are at times ambiguous and whose habit of counting backwards from ten serves to introduce a degree of peril as if something bad is going to happen when he gets to zero. Both leading actors here deliver quite a poignant portrayal of their robust yet oft challenged connection, and though I really didn’t always quite fathom it - especially at the end, it offers quite an unique take on how these two men might grow into the next stages of their lives. Mercifully, it is also largely devoid of cheesy romance and clunky political correctness. Monochrome throughout, it looks good too but you will need to concentrate. It’s not a film to dip in and out of, else it will make even less sense.

Similar Movies

Dead Poets Society

8.3

Dead Poets Society

1989

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

6.5

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

2002

Elevator to the Gallows

7.6

Elevator to the Gallows

1958

Paradise Found

6.4

Paradise Found

2003

Antoine and Colette

7.2

Antoine and Colette

1962

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

7.7

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

1997

The Blue Angel

7.3

The Blue Angel

1930

Muriel's Wedding

6.8

Muriel's Wedding

1994

Maybe... Maybe Not

6.2

Maybe... Maybe Not

1994

Love on the Run

7.0

Love on the Run

1979

Gito the Ungrateful

5.2

Gito the Ungrateful

1992

Berlin is in Germany

5.2

Berlin is in Germany

2001