Refocus: the Films of Joachim Trier

This is the first book-length academic study of Norwegian auteur Joachim Trier's films. The book, written by an author who has followed his work closely for ten years, offers an introduction to all five feature films, from his debut Reprise (2006) to his recent success The Worst Person in the Word (2021). The book investigates the style and themes of Trier's films through a prologue, nine chapters, and an epilogue. The main section of the book looks closely at selected tropes across Trier's films, such as memory, time, and identity, as well as his style and his innovative use of montage, voice-over and settings. The prologue place Trier in contemporary Norwegian cinema and discuss his different inspirations and collaborations. An interview with Joachim Trier makes up the epilogue of the book.

"This is a lovely book about a great Norwegian filmmaker. It is written with a nuanced film analytical sensibility to both larger themes and filmic details. Its combination of sharp discussions with a profound admiration of the filmmaker's work and an at once precise and easily accessible language makes it a pleasure to read."

Combining an issues-oriented approach with sustained reflection on the craft of filmmaking, this rigorously researched study makes a huge contribution. Gjelsvik admirably captures the multi-facetted value of Trier's oeuvre and shows us what relevant, worthwhile filmmaking looks like. Marta Eidsvåg deserves credit for her magnificent translation.

Anne Gjelsvik is a Professor of Film Studies at the Department of Art and Media Studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. She has published extensively in both English and Norwegian. Her most recent book was Bearbeidelser. 22. juli i ord og bilder, about artistic treatments of the 2011 terror attacks in Norway. Among her other publications are Cinema Between Media, co-written with Jørgen Bruhn, and the edited collection Women of Ice and Fire: Gender, Game of Thrones and Multiple Media Engagements (co-edited with Rikke Schubart).

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