22 JULY

UK/Norway, 2018, 120 144 minutes, Colour.
Anders Danielson Lie, Jonas Strand Gravli, Jon Ohlgarden.
Directed by Paul Greengrass.

22 July is a significant date in Norwegian recent history. It is July 22, 2011. This was the day when Anders Breivic planted bombs at government buildings in central Oslo and then drove to an island, Utoya, where teenagers were present on a camp, and he hunted them down, killing 69 of them.

In 2018, Norwegian director, Eric Poppe, (Troubled Waters, The King’s Decision) made a film from the point of view of the youngsters, keeping the killer at something of a distance, not giving him the opportunity to watch the film and celebrate his presence in what he had done. It was a carefully constructed film, running for around 90 minutes, in real time, single take, focusing on the young people, their phone calls to their parents, their being hunted in the forests, under the cliffs, until the police eventually arrived and arrested Breivic. It was a powerful re-enactment.

British writer and director, Paul Greengrass, has been involved in many films with social unrest and disasters, focusing on Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland, on the air attacks on 9/11 in United 93, on the disaster in the World Trade Centre. He has also directed Jason Bourne Films.

In fact, compared with Eric Poppe’s film, Greengrass spends only 15 to 20 minutes on the actual hunt and massacre, and very effectively.

However, he is interested in wider issues, focusing on Breivic himself at the opening, the loner, at home, his mother, preparing explosives, having his extreme manifesto on his computer, placing the bombs, driving to the island in the guise of a policeman, beginning his massacre. Greengrass is also interested in his ideology, his extreme rightist beliefs, the purification of Europe and Norway, anti-multiculturalism, anti-Islam.

This focus on Breivic continues throughout the film, his surrender on the island, interrogated by the police, discussions with his lawyer, the preparation for the defence and the issue of insanity, consulting experts, Breivic himself wanting to speak in the court.

However, Greengrass has also focused on one of the teenagers and his protectiveness towards his brother, their hiding beneath the cliff, Breivic discovering them, shooting the older boy, the younger able to escape. The screenplay introduces their parents, the concern, the consulting of the lists of survivors, phoning of hospitals, and some detail in looking at the surgery for the young man, the pieces of bullet to his brain, his gradual recovery, his finally being persuaded to speak during Breivic’s trial.

This means that the film is more than just a portrait of Breivic himself, but a look at Norwegian society, social issues, the role of government and security, the judicial implications, the humanity consequences of such an event.

The film is in Norwegian production with a Norwegian cast, however speaking English for a worldwide audience.

It would be best to watch Poppe’s film and then expand the awareness by watching Greengrass’s film.

1. Norway, the event, impact, tragedy, consequences? The political response, social response, judicial response?

2. The Norwegian settings, the city of Oslo, the views, the government buildings, hospitals, recuperation, police precincts, prison cells, the courts? The musical score?

3. The comparison with the film by Erik Poppe? Its 90 minutes focus on the events? The intention of this film, going beyond the events, the perpetrator, the consequences, the political implications?

4. The title, the day, the shootings, the aftermath? Breivic, his preparation, the sabotage of the buildings, the shootings? Arrest? The role of the authorities? The hospital sequences? The action going beyond 22 July, the focus on Breivic himself, the surgery and rehabilitation? The investigation, the preparation for the trial, the trial itself?

5. The introduction, the youngsters, on the ferry, exuberance, meeting friends, the camp, the Labour Party background, the seminar, Viljar and his popularity, his speech, looking to the future? His care for his brother?

6. The into cutting of Breivic and the buildup to his action, at home, the explosives, his look, age, behaviour, relationship with his mother, the manifesto on his computer? Packing the truck, going to the government offices, placing the car, the explosion, the dead and injured?

7. The political background, the Prime Minister, his plans, horarium, his persistence? The disaster, the shock, reaction? The police, the lack of helicopters? The decision to have a review, the hearings, his confessing the inadequacies? The political and national response and repercussions?

8. The drive to Utoya, the children and their phoning their parents, the role of authorities, sudden attack and the terror? Their fleeing? The number of dead? The short space of time? Relentless pursuit?

9. Breivic, going to the island, his police disguise, the ferry, shooting the authorities, the raid on the teenagers, outside in the forest, going into the room, the continued pursuit, his determination, his insulting the kids and labelling with them Marxist, denouncing their families?

10. The focus on the two brothers, the young girl? The action in the forest, taking shelter beneath the cliff, hiding, Breivic discovering them, shooting Viljar, his brother saved?

11. The fact of these episodes taking only 15 minutes on film, compared with the extent in Erik Poppe’s film?

12. The police, coming by boat and ferry, the helicopters, saving the children, the ambulances, the centres and the listings, the parents verifying where their children were? The hospitals? Viljar and his parents, the phone calls, in the city, driving, the roadblock, checking the lists, phoning the hospitals?

13. Breivic, arrested, his easy surrender, keeping him talking, his talk of crusades, the Knights Templars, the right-wing groups, the extreme nationalism, no multiculturalism, no Muslims in Norway? Purifying Europe? His delete, ideologies, the groups, the Internet connections? His personal manner, arrogance, not giving information about further raids?

14. His behaviour and manner in the interrogations, the police, surveillance, listening into the interrogations? His lawyer? His wound, getting food and drink? The interviews?

15. The lawyer, his wife, the puzzle about his being caught, his visiting Breivic in prison, upholding the law, the question is? His visits, planning the defence, insanity, consulting the experts, Breivic’s estimates about himself, his sanity, demanding to testify? The arrest of his mother, the interrogation? The contact with the right-wing expert?

16. The family, the phone calls, the son in hospital, the explanations by the doctor, the further surgery, the close-ups of the surgery, the explanations? All the bullet pieces near the brain? The loss of the eye? His lying in coma? His memories of being on the rocks, the shots, being rescued? The family and the vigils? His waking, understanding? The treatment,
the response of his parents and brother? The demands of the rehabilitation?

17. Therapy, difficult, his mental condition, the visit of the girl, the friendship? His trying to walk, falls? Taking the sled, the crash? The father and his support? The issue of his testifying, his saying he could not walk, reluctance?

18. The information about Breivic and his background, the father, the divorce, his absence, the mother and her care, welfare? The half-sister going to America? Home background, the loner, mental situation? Ideology, absolutely convinced, self-righteous? His declarations?

19. In court, the judges, the lawyers, the public present in the court, the families? Reactions?

20. Viljar and his story, his telling it, the effect, being alive, having a life while Breivic would be in prison?

21. The verdict, its acceptance?

22. The lawyer, his work, not shaking hands with Breivic? His talking about his family, future generations and the world with his children?

23. The political administration, Norwegian society, right-wing groups, issues of multiculturalism, Islam in Norway? Themes of the human spirit?