The Worst Person in the World (Norwegian: Verdens Verste Menneske) arrived in 2021 as a definitive portrait of millennial uncertainty, directed by Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier. Set across four years in contemporary Oslo, the film follows Julie, a woman in her late twenties navigating shifting career ambitions and romantic entanglements while confronting existential questions about identity and commitment.
Structured as twelve chapters with a prologue and epilogue, the film adopts a literary approach to cinematic storytelling, employing an omniscient narrator to guide viewers through Julie’s circuitous path. The narrative resists conventional romantic comedy tropes, instead presenting what critics have described as a meditation on indecision, mortality, and the anxiety of infinite choice.
Renate Reinsve stars as Julie, delivering a performance that anchors the film’s exploration of professional and personal fluidity. The supporting cast includes Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum as the two men who shape Julie’s romantic trajectory, with the ensemble navigating a story that balances intimate character study with broader observations about contemporary urban life.
What Is The Worst Person in the World About?
- Chapter Structure: The film is divided into twelve chapters, a prologue, and an epilogue, creating a novelistic narrative flow.
- Career Fluidity: Julie transitions from medical school to psychology to photography, embodying generational professional uncertainty.
- Age Dynamics: The central romantic conflict involves a fifteen-year age gap between Julie and her partner Aksel.
- Mortality Theme: Pancreatic cancer enters the narrative as an incurable condition affecting a major character.
- Identity Quest: The driving force is Julie’s existential crisis rather than traditional romantic resolution.
- Oslo Setting: Contemporary Oslo serves as both location and cultural context for the story.
- Narrative Voice: An omniscient narrator provides philosophical context across the temporal jumps.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Title | Verdens Verste Menneske |
| Director | Joachim Trier |
| Lead Actress | Renate Reinsve |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy-Drama |
| Structure | 12 Chapters + Prologue + Epilogue |
| Setting | Contemporary Oslo |
| Narrator | Omniscient |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Aksel’s Profession | Comic Artist |
| Eivind’s Profession | Barista |
Who Stars in and Directed The Worst Person in the World?
Main Cast
Renate Reinsve portrays Julie, the film’s protagonist whose journey from medical student to photographer charts the narrative’s course. Anders Danielsen Lie appears as Aksel Willman, a successful comic artist fifteen years Julie’s senior who represents stability and artistic establishment. Herbert Nordrum completes the central triangle as Eivind, a barista who meets Julie at a wedding reception and offers an alternative romantic path.
Director and Creative Vision
Joachim Trier directs with a focus on emotional complexity and the intersection of envy and jealousy in relationships, continuing themes explored in his previous work. The film employs an omniscient narrator to bridge the twelve chapters, creating distance while maintaining intimacy with Julie’s internal struggles.
The relationship between Julie and Aksel spans several years before she meets Eivind at a wedding reception, where they share an intimate but non-sexual night together that precipitates the film’s central romantic conflict.
Is The Worst Person in the World a Good Movie? Reviews and Ratings
Critical Consensus
Critical reception has been overwhelmingly positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film is described as “a modern dramedy about the quest for love and meaning in contemporary Oslo.” Critics have characterized the work as “deeply romantic but not a romance,” distinguishing it from traditional genre conventions.
Critical Accolades
Reviewers from Seventh Row have called it “a brilliant new film from genius auteur Joachim Trier” and “the BEST Film of the Year,” praising its construction upon Trier’s existing exploration of emotional complexity. The Criterion Collection has published analysis noting the film’s examination of indecision and mortality awareness.
Thematic Recognition
The narrative’s exploration of millennial anxiety and the conflict between keeping options open versus committing to choices has resonated with critics examining contemporary relationship dynamics. The film is noted for building upon Trier’s previous investigations of envy and jealousy.
Where to Watch The Worst Person in the World and What Awards Did It Win?
Streaming Availability
Specific streaming platforms and rental options vary by region and change frequently. Viewers should verify current availability through local services.
Award Recognition
Details regarding Oscar nominations, Cannes Film Festival participation, and other major awards could not be verified at this time.
Specific platforms for streaming and claims regarding IMDb ratings or award nominations could not be independently confirmed.
The film concludes with Julie working as an on-set photographer, having gained perspective on her identity following a pregnancy and miscarriage that coincided with processing Aksel’s death from pancreatic cancer.
How Did The Worst Person in the World Reach Audiences?
- Production Phase: Filmmaker Joachim Trier developed the project as part of his ongoing examination of emotional complexity and relationship dynamics.
- 2021 Release: The film premiered in 2021, presented in Norwegian as Verdens Verste Menneske.
- Critical Recognition Period: Following release, reviewers from outlets including Seventh Row and Criterion published analyses praising the chapter-based structure and thematic depth.
- Cast Breakthrough: Renate Reinsve’s performance as Julie generated significant critical attention, establishing her as a central figure in the narrative.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unknown?
Established Facts
- Directed by Joachim Trier in 2021
- Stars Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Herbert Nordrum
- Features a twelve-chapter structure with prologue and epilogue
- Plot involves career changes from medicine to photography
- Includes a character with incurable pancreatic cancer
- Described by Rotten Tomatoes as a “modern dramedy”
- Filmed in Oslo with Norwegian dialogue
Unverified Details
- Specific IMDb rating scores
- Oscar nomination status
- Cannes Film Festival participation
- Current streaming platform availability
- Whether the story is based on true events
- Specific award wins or nominations
The Cultural Landscape of The Worst Person in the World
The film emerges from the Norwegian cinematic tradition, specifically through the lens of director Joachim Trier’s established interest in emotional complexity and urban relationships. While The Hunting Wives – Summary, Author and Netflix Guide explores thriller narratives in domestic settings, Trier’s work occupies a different register, examining millennial professional anxiety and romantic indecision within Oslo’s contemporary cultural milieu.
The narrative’s focus on a protagonist who abandons medical studies for psychology, then photography, reflects broader generational trends regarding career fluidity and the rejection of linear professional paths. This thematic concern connects to wider discussions about urban millennial experience, distinct from explorations of place and identity found in analyses like Top of the Town – Meaning, Origin and Irish Reality, which examines geographical rather than psychological landscapes.
What Critics Said
“A modern dramedy about the quest for love and meaning in contemporary Oslo.”
— Rotten Tomatoes
“Deeply romantic but not a romance… a brilliant new film from genius auteur Joachim Trier… the BEST Film of the Year.”
The Worst Person in the World builds on all of Joachim Trier’s films, exploring emotional complexity and the intersection of envy and jealousy in relationships.
— Seventh Row Analysis
The Enduring Questions of The Worst Person in the World
Joachim Trier’s 2021 film stands as a carefully constructed examination of millennial uncertainty, using a twelve-chapter format to trace one woman’s navigation of love, mortality, and professional identity. Through Renate Reinsve’s performance and the film’s literary structure, it offers a portrait of contemporary Oslo that prioritizes existential questioning over romantic resolution. While specific details regarding awards and streaming availability remain unverified, the critical consensus establishes the work as a significant contribution to modern romantic drama. For readers interested in cultural geography and place-based identity, Top of the Town – Meaning, Origin and Irish Reality provides exploration of how location shapes community narratives.
Common Questions
Is The Worst Person in the World based on a true story?
It is unclear whether the film is based on true events. The narrative appears to be an original work exploring universal themes of millennial identity and romantic uncertainty.
What is the significance of the twelve-chapter structure?
The twelve chapters plus prologue and epilogue create a novelistic narrative flow, using an omniscient narrator to bridge temporal gaps and provide philosophical context for Julie’s decisions.
Who composed the soundtrack for The Worst Person in the World?
Information regarding the film’s composer or musical score has not been publicly documented.
What language is The Worst Person in the World filmed in?
The film is in Norwegian, with the original title being Verdens Verste Menneske.
How does the film end?
The conclusion finds Julie working as an on-set photographer, having experienced a miscarriage and processed the death of Aksel from pancreatic cancer, finally gaining perspective on her identity.
What age difference exists between Julie and Aksel?
Aksel Willman is fifteen years older than Julie, representing a generation gap that contributes to their differing perspectives on commitment and legacy.
Where was The Worst Person in the World filmed?
The film was shot on location in Oslo, Norway, utilizing the city’s urban landscape as a backdrop for Julie’s personal journey.
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Liam O'Brien covers Australian politics and public affairs for Coast Monitor.