Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
On 22 July 2011, neo-Nazi terrorist Anders Behring Breivik murdered 77 young people attending a Labour Party Youth Camp on Utøya Island outside of Oslo. This three-part story focuses on the survivors, the political leadership of Norway, and the lawyers involved.
Paul Greengrass's sober, respectful retelling of the 2011 Utøya massacre covers the attack itself, the recovery of survivor Viljar Hanssen, and the trial of Breivik across a broad canvas. The plotting is methodical and earnest but spreads itself thin across three parallel threads, occasionally feeling more like a procedural than a deeply felt drama. Acting is competent and grounded, with Anders Danielsen Lie delivering a chilling Breivik, though most supporting performances are serviceable rather than exceptional. Cinematography follows Greengrass's handheld, naturalistic style — effective but not visually distinctive beyond his established aesthetic. Novelty is modest; while the subject matter is harrowing and historically significant, the film covers similar ground to Greengrass's own United 93 and the Norwegian film Utøya: July 22 released the same year. The ending, focused on Viljar's testimony and resilience, is emotionally resonant and thematically purposeful, providing a degree of catharsis and meaning without overreaching.