Cinema Prescription

Synopsis: A college student starts to experience extreme seizures while studying at a university in Oslo, Norway. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities.
Cast: Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Ellen Dorrit, Henrik Rafaelsen
Screenplay: Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt
Directed by: Joachim Trier

In this beautifully shot film, THELMA tells a story about a girl coming to terms with her own self, with a supernatural twist. Boasted by an unnerving performance by Eili Harboe as the titular role, this film uses many restrained thrills and some dark imageries to respresent Thelma’s suddenly-awaken repressed sexuality and a hidden power she never knew she had.

THELMA is surely not the first one to use metaphor as a mean to illustrate a coming-of-age narrative. Joachim Trier also put psychological, religion and medical aspects into the mix. The medical side is actually properly presented, in my opinion. But Trier’s decision to include sensitive issues like religion and sexual identity probably won’t sit well with some conservatives.

Trier really took his time to unfold the mystery throughout the movie, so its slow pace could drive some audiences away. But if you have the same patience, the result is quite rewarding. In hindsight, THELMA really conveys a thought-provoking story about a girl letting go of her past, becoming independent and learning to take the wheel. [B+]

A copy of my review on Instagram.