22 July Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A right-wing extremist ruins everyone’s summer camp and then complains about his prison conditions, while a survivor learns to walk again and contemplate a career change.

🍿 22 July: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Oslo Bombing and Utøya Summer Camp

The film opens on July 21, 2011, depicting Anders Behring Breivik preparing for his attacks. The next day, he detonates a bomb in Oslo’s government district, causing widespread devastation and casualties. Simultaneously, teenagers are gathered at a summer camp on the island of Utøya, organized by the Workers’ Youth League.

The Utøya Massacre

Breivik, disguised as a police officer, arrives at Utøya, claiming to secure the island. He gathers the teenagers and then begins a horrific shooting spree. The film portrays the chaos and terror as the young campers desperately try to escape. Viljar Hanssen, a young attendee, is shot multiple times while trying to protect his brother.

Aftermath and Legal Proceedings

Following his surrender, Breivik is arrested and requests lawyer Geir Lippestad to defend him. The film explores the ethical dilemmas faced by Lippestad as he navigates Breivik’s desire for a competency trial to legitimize his actions. Viljar undergoes extensive surgery and rehabilitation, facing life-altering injuries. The legal proceedings and Viljar’s recovery form the core of the film’s second half.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Anders Behring Breivik (Anders Danielsen Lie): The right-wing extremist who commits a terrorist attack on Oslo and Utøya Island.
• Viljar Hanssen (Jonas Strand Gravli): A young survivor of the Utøya Island attack who faces a long and difficult recovery.
• Geir Lippestad (Jon Øigarden): The defense lawyer tasked with representing Anders Behring Breivik in court.
• Christin Kristoffersen (Maria Bock): Viljar’s mother, who provides unwavering support throughout his recovery.
• Sveinn Are Hanssen (Thorbjørn Harr): Viljar’s father, who struggles with the aftermath of the attack and its impact on his family.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Viljar: “He tried to… he tried to kill me.” – Viljar’s description in court of what happened to him at Utøya.
• Viljar: “I remember… seeing him… and then running away… trying to find somewhere to hide, and protecting my little brother.” – Viljar recounts his desperate attempt to escape the attacker while protecting his younger brother.
• Viljar: “I remember being shot. Five times. When I was lying on the beach, I was… all alone. In a kind of pain I couldn’t imagine.” – Viljar describes the intense pain and isolation he felt after being shot multiple times.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $20,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $223,042
• Worldwide Gross: $1,118,201

💥 22 July Reviews

Personal Review

This movie hit me hard. Knowing it’s based on real events made it even tougher to watch, especially the scenes on the island. Seeing Viljar’s struggle to recover was inspiring, but the fact that they had to speak English felt off, like it distanced me from the story a little. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the core emotional impact got lost in translation somewhere, but I think it is an important film.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in true crime dramas”
  • “Those seeking films about political extremism”
  • “Individuals interested in stories of resilience and recovery”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Terrorism”
  • “Mass shooting”
  • “Disturbing content”

Professional Reviews

• Variety Film + TV: “‘Power Play,’ a ‘Punk’ Portrayal of Politics, Wins Writers 2024’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize
• Slash Film: “A Dark Stephen King Fantasy Epic Is Becoming A TV Series With An Unlikely Director
• IMDb User: “Intense first half, but too many unnecessary shortcuts. Acting slowly gets worse, and the spoken English gets worse the closer we approached the end. The actors in this film are mostly Norwegians, and it’s painful to listen to when we can’t make the language sound more authentic. Overall this movie does tell the basics about this dreadful event, but it’s not Greengrass at his best.

Audience Reactions

The movie is a powerful, sad, relevant, and enriching portrayal of Norway’s deadliest terrorist attack.: Many viewers praise the movie for its respectful treatment of the tragic event and the focus on the survivors’ stories, even though the accents were weird.

Overall Consensus: A respectful but emotionally challenging film, but the English dialogue felt forced, which makes it unrealistic for some viewers.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the book ‘One of Us: The Story of a Massacre in Norway – and Its Aftermath’ by Åsne Seierstad.”
• “Director Paul Greengrass chose to shoot the film in English with Norwegian actors to reach a wider international audience, despite some controversy in Norway.”
• “To ensure authenticity, the filmmakers consulted with survivors and families affected by the attacks.”
• “The movie’s production caused a lot of controversy in Norway and there was even a petition to stop it from being filmed.”

🖥️ How to Watch 22 July?

22 July is available to stream on Netflix. Check local listings for rental or purchase options via platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video. Availability may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed 22 July, you might like these similar films:

• United 93 (2006): Directed by Paul Greengrass, it offers a similarly intense and realistic portrayal of a real-life tragedy.
• Captain Phillips (2013): Another Paul Greengrass film based on a true story, focusing on the human drama amidst a tense and dangerous situation.
• Utøya: July 22 (2018): A Norwegian film that offers a different perspective on the same tragic events, focusing solely on the events on the island from the victims’ point of view.
• Elephant (2003): Gus Van Sant’s film is based on a real life tragedy of Columbine High School shooting. The film tries to depict the situation as realistically and emotionally as possible.

🛒 22 July Related Products

• One of Us: The Story of a Massacre in Norway – and Its Aftermath: Åsne Seierstad’s non-fiction book that inspired the movie, offering deeper insights into the lives of the victims, the perpetrator, and the societal impact of the attacks.
• Utøya: July 22 (2018): This movie is shot in real time and Norwegian language, which captures the terrifying experience of the victims during the Utoya attack.

🎧 Soundtrack

22 July features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Hun er forelska i lærer’n” – performed by Dag Ingebrigtsen and Torstein Flakne

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Oslo, Norway Terrorist Attack: Video Footage of Explosion and Camp Shooting Aftermath (07.23.2011)

Want to see the actual news coverage of the tragic events that inspired the movie? This raw footage of the Oslo attack and Utøya shooting is incredibly powerful and makes the film even more impactful, it really brings home the reality of the situation.

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