22 July Movie Review

The movie “22 July” was directed by Paul Greengrass PAUL GREEN GRASS is an American Producer, Director >> Read More... and produced by Eli Bush, Gregory Goodman, Paul Greengrass, and Scott Rudin Scott Rudin is a veteran American Film and theatri >> Read More... . The film’s writers are Paul Greengrass and Asne Seierstad. The film features Anders Danielsen Lie, Jonas Strand Gravli, Jon Øigarden, Maria Bock, ThorbjØrn Har, Seda Witt, Isak Bakli Aglen, Ola G. Furuseth, Marit Andreassen, Øystein Martinssen, Harald Nordmann, Anders Storruste, Monica Borg Fure, Mathias Eckoff, and Hilde Olaussen. Sune Martin composed the music used in the film. The film’s cinematographer was Pål Ulvik Rokseth, and the film’s editor was William Goldenberg.  

Plot 

The film is about the 2011 Norway terrorist attacks. The film is based on the book “One Of Us: The Story Of A Massacre In Norway – And Its Aftermath” by Asne Seierstad. On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik dressed up in a police uniform, drove his van full of homemade explosives and left the van outside the Prime Minister’s office. The van exploded and caused multiple casualties. Later, he went to a Workers’ Youth League summer camp and opened fire on the staff and the children partaking in the summer camp. His terror attacks resulted in a total of 77 casualties. The film follows Breivik as he carries out these attacks and his legal battle in which he sought to be declared mentally incompetent to avoid any punishment. The film also shows the attack on the summer camp from the perspective of Viljar Hanssen, who called for help from the island and was shot multiple times during the attack. He later recovered and testified against Breivik in court and aided in getting him sentenced for 21 years. 

Star Performance 

The entire star cast gives spectacular performances, perfectly replicating the agony the victims and the survivors must have suffered. Anders Danielsen Lie is stellar as the antagonist.

Analysis

The film has great acting, screenplay, and cinematography. The film perfectly expresses the raw emotions of horrifying event without any superfluous additions or modifications. The film also features an entirely Norwegian cast which lends originality to the film.  

What’s There?

• The film is an account of the horrifying 2011 Norway attacks, which claimed 77 innocent lives

• The film does not unnecessarily dramatize the event

• Stellar acting by the star cast

• The film features an entirely Norwegian cast    

What’s Not There?

• The film does not have any major flaws

Verdict

“22 July” is a heart clenching film describing the Norway terror attacks of 22 July, 2018 and the aftermath of the attacks. The film portrays the attacks with utmost sincerity and without any unnecessary dramatization. The actors give spectacular performances and the plot is well executed. The film would be a great watch for those who wish to see the unfiltered true story of the attacks, and for documentary, crime genre enthusiasts.