20/01/2012

Strand Releasing has taken U.S. rights to Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s second feature, Oslo, August 31 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile], ahead of its Sundance screening at this week’s festival.

Inspired by the cult novel Le Feu Follet, Oslo, August 31 is a portrait of contemporary Oslo,revolving around 24 hours in one man’s life, as he falls into a deep crisis.

Launched in Un Certain Regard in Cannes last year, the film was recently awarded several prizes, including Best Film at the Stockholm International Film Festival.

The story follows 34-year-old Anders, a smart and good-looking young man who is haunted by all the opportunities he has wasted and all the people he has let down. Although he is still relatively young, he feels that his life is already over. For the remainder of the day and long into the night, “the ghosts of past mistakes will wrestle with the chance of love and the possibility of a new life”.

Trier is the first Norwegian director to have been selected twice for Sundance. Serving as an advisor ofthis year’s Directors’ Lab, he is attending the festival with his lead actor, Anders Danielsen Lie.

“Trier is a greatly talented film-maker and certainly in line with the voices we support,” said Strand co-president Jo Gerrans, adding that he intendeds to exhibit Oslo,August 31 at several other American festivals before a late spring release. The deal was closed by German international sales agent, The Match Factory, which has licensed the film to more than 20 territories.