What2Watch: Oslo | See again
Oslo is based on the true story of negotiations between relentless enemies – the secret talks, unlikely friendships and the quiet heroism of a small group of Israelis, Palestinians and a Norwegian couple that led to the peace accords from Oslo in 1993.
Oslo was described as “extraordinary” by The Washington Post; “Bewitching” by Hollywood journalist; “Exciting” by Variety and “more timely than ever” by TV guide.
Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson (Luther, The Affair) portrays Mona Juul, a Norwegian Foreign Minister, with Emmy nominee Andrew Scott (Chip bag, Sherlock) like Terje Rød-Larsen, Norwegian sociologist and husband of Mona.
Oslo is based on the Tony-winning play of the same name, adapted for screen by playwright JT Rogers and director Bartlett Sher. “It’s a little hard to believe, but my daughter’s best friend in second grade was the daughter of Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen,” says Sher. “We became friends and I introduced Terje to JT”
Palestinian stars Salim Dau (Fauda) and Waleed Zuaiter (Ramy, Bagdad Central, Gangs of London) play respectively Ahmed Qurie, finance minister of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and his partner Hassan Asfour, while Israeli actor Jeff Wilbusch (Unorthodox) embodies Uri Savir, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Rogers says, “One political act in this story just brings both sides of a very intense conflict to the fore and gives them a voice. “
Sher agrees. “The play was so successful because good theater is not between bad and good; a good play is somewhere between two rights. ”
For Palestinian and Israeli actors, the story was personal. “For all of the Palestinians and Israelis in the cast, this was a topic that we could all draw our own experiences from,” Zuaiter explains.
Wilbusch agrees. “For us, it wasn’t really a movie. We are actors and we act, but it was very emotional for both of us. “
Zuaiter adds, “These men weren’t apologizing. They fought a lot but they were reconciled a lot.
Rogers says, “Oslo the film is an intellectual thriller about people risking their lives for beliefs greater than themselves. What fascinated me about these men was that they were transformed by seeing the enemy as a human being; it’s a story for me that is truly worth telling in the world we live in. There is something beautiful about a story where people have the courage to see beyond their personal hatreds and fears and to see their enemy as a person, and to be changed by it, and in some cases to be friends for the rest of your life.
For Sher, it’s about “Oh my God, if they can come together, anything’s possible… In a deeply polarized culture, if you can watch a story about people who couldn’t be more different from each other. , this may lead you to ask yourself, “What will it take under the current circumstances to see if there is common ground?” ”
Of course, the Oslo peace accords of 1993 failed. “But the point of the film is that they tried,” says executive producer Cambra Overend.
“I don’t believe we can change the world with a movie,” Dau admits. “But we have to do something; we can’t go on like this… We have to live together, because we have no choice. ”