The Worst Person in the World

⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

This is a Norwegian movie that follows a woman entering her 30s, and it could probably be summarized as someone trying to find the meaning of life, if not her own life. She is constantly dissatisfied, and pursues value and meaning in ways that hurt herself and those around her.

I can't get away from comparing this to Fleabag, minus the intentional humour that show has. There are clearly contributing factors that lead to hurtful choices, but she is also fully aware of her decisions, at one point even verbally acknowledging that she understood the implications of her actions at the moment she made them. I can't say I sympathized for her, or even that I fully related (although there are relatable aspects of her life). But I was challenged to see the world through her eyes, and me even judging her choices as good or bad is probably besides the point.

I was kind of surprised faith never came up, because in a movie where everyone is searching for meaning that is always a landing spot for someone. Male privilege, generational trauma, and environmental guilt were all touched on, seemed like faith was another natural topic that I would like to see through the eyes of this character. There were some surrealist moments that could be described as spiritual, but they were more trippy and subliminal than outright religious.

This is not a feel good movie, and the last 3 chapters or so (the movie is divided into 12 chapters) are depressing and made me leave the theatre sad. It was clear this movie had a lot to say, and it has lodged itself in my mind as a defining movie during these strange times.