Reprise (film): Difference between revisions

'''''Reprise''''' is a 2006 Norwegian [[comedy-drama]] film directed by [[Joachim Trier]] and co-written, over the course of five years, by Trier and [[Eskil Vogt]]. It is Trier's first feature-length film and the first, along with ''[[Oslo, August 31st]]'' (2011) and ''[[The Worst Person in the World (film)|The Worst Person in the World]]'' (2021), in the director's "Oslo Trilogy".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kjølberg|first=Tor|date=2019-08-21|title=New Norwegian Film: The Worst Person in the World|url=https://www.dailyscandinavian.com/new-norwegian-film-the-worst-person-in-the-world/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Daily Scandinavian}}</ref>

Best friends Erik and Phillip, both 23, have written books and fantasize that their novels will become cult hits. However when they both submit manuscripts Erik's is rejected. Phillip's, on the other hand, is immediately accepted and a year later he becomes a star of the Norwegian literary scene.

Six months later, Erik and his friends pick up Phillip at a psychiatric hospital to bring him home after treatment following a suicide attempt. It is revealed that Phillip is suffering from psychosis which doctors believe was triggered by his whirlwind romance with Kari, a girl he met and fell in love with at an underground punk show. Still unpublished, Erik hasn't given up his dream, and continues to submit while Phillip shies away from all mention of writing. Instead Phillip tries to reunite with Kari, who on the advise of his psychiatrists hasn't seen Phillip in seven months.

Erik's revised novel finally is accepted by a publisher. He struggles to assert himself during the editing process and wonders whether he should stay with his girlfriend, Lilian, who he fears is holding him back from success. His publisher invites him to a book launch where Erik learns that Sten Egil Dahl, a reclusive writer he and Phillip both admire deeply, will be in attendance. Erik invites Phillip to the launch but Phillip is quickly overwhelmed and leaves early. Meanwhile Erik's attempt to meet Dahl is botched by another writer.

Erik's book is published but the publicity tour goes badly, he is met with poor reviews, and Lillian dumps him for being selfish.

After a night out with Erik, Phillip is inspired to write and immediately asks Erik for his thoughts. Erik is honest and tells Phillip it isn't his best work but has potential. Phillip is crushed and criticizes himself as a hack who recycles the work of Dahl and Ulven. After Phillip implies he thinks the same of Erik's novel, Erik angrily leaves. Going to the park he is knocked over by Sten Egil Dahl's dog and awakens in Dahl's home. To his surprise Dahl not only knows who he is but has read his work. While still critical of Erik's novel, Dahl also praises it. This renews Erik's self-confidence and he begins to contemplate leaving Oslo to concentrate on his writing.

Erik imagines a future in which he abruptly leaves for [[Paris]], writing a book that creates mixed reviews but draws comparisons with Dahl's work. However his success is upstaged by the surprising literary success of another friend in his social circle, the boorish Henning. In Erik's fantasy Erik returns to [[Oslo]] for a friend's wedding. He runs into Phillip, who is happy and back with Kari, who is back in school studying psychology.