Paul Greengrass produced, wrote and directed 22 July, a drama about the 2011 Norway attacks and their aftermath, based on the book “One of Us: The Story of a Massacre in Norway–and Its Aftermath” by Åsne Seierstad.
The film features a Norwegian cast and crew, starring Anders Danielsen Lie, Jon Øigarden, Thorbjørn Harr, Jonas Strand Gravli, Ola G. Furuseth, Ulrikke Hansen Døvigen, Isak Bakli Aglen, Maria Bock, and Seda Witt.
The film world premiered on September 5, 2018 in competition section of the 75th Venice Film Fest, and was released by Netflix online and in select theaters October 10.
On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik dresses in a police uniform, loads a van with home-made explosives, and drives to Regjeringskvartalet, the executive government quarter in Oslo, Norway. He leaves the van outside the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Moments later, it explodes, causing casualties.
On the island of Utøya in Tyrifjorden, Buskerud, teenagers have arrived for Workers’ Youth League (AUF) summer camp, organised by the ruling Labour Party. When they learn of the bombing, a student named Viljar Hanssen calls his parents to make sure they are unhurt.
Breivik arrives at the ferry landing and informs staff that he is a police officer, sent to secure the island following the attack in Oslo. The camp director transports him to the island by boat. Breivik instructs the staff to gather the children in one location. When the head of security asks for ID, Breivik shoots him and the director dead. The children flee as Breivik opens fire, murdering dozens.
Viljar and his brother Torje hide on a rocky embankment on the beach. Viljar calls his mother to tell her a shooting is in progress. Breivik finds the group and starts shooting. Viljar is shot multiple times, but Torje escapes unharmed. Breivik surrenders to a tactical team, and is brought inland for interrogation.
Breivik claims he is the leader of a white nationalist group called the Knights Templar and that more attacks will happen on his signal. He requests the aid of lawyer Geir Lippestad, who defended a Neo-Nazi. Lippestad is morally conscientious of his client and professionally bonded by his ethics as a lawyer. Lippestad tries to argue an insanity defense for Breivik, which draws criticism as it means he will be institutionalized instead of imprisoned. With the help of various psychiatrists and psychologists, Breivik is initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Breivik tells Lippestad he wants to be declared competent to legitimize his attacks.
Viljar wakes from a coma with life-changing injuries and returns home with his family. He learns to walk again, but is haunted by memories of the attack. With the support of his mother, and another survivor of the attack on Utøya, he appears in court as a witness and delivers an account of the massacre. Breivik is sentenced to 21 years, that can be extended by a court if it is deemed he is still a danger to society.
Greeted with positive reviews, 22 July offers an intimate, hard-hitting perspective at the aftereffects of terrorism. The story unfolds as a thriller with visceral impact and emotional resonance.
Cast
Anders Danielsen Lie as Anders Behring Breivik[12]
Jon Øigarden as Geir Lippestad[12]
Thorbjørn Harr as Sveinn Are Hanssen
Jonas Strand Gravli as Viljar Hanssen
Ola G. Furuseth as Jens Stoltenberg
Ulrikke Hansen Døvigen as Inga Bejer Engh
Isak Bakli Aglen as Torje Hanssen
Maria Bock as Christin Kristoffersen
Tone Danielsen as Judge Wenche Arntzen
Turid Gunnes as Mette Larsen
Monica Borg Fure as Monica Bøsei
Ingrid Enger Damon as Alexandra Bech Gjørv
Seda Witt as Lara Rashid
Anja Maria Svenkerud as Siv Hallgren
Hasse Lindmo as Svein Holden
