22 July (2018)

Based on an actual domestic terrorism attack in 2011 Norway in which a lone gunman distracted the country with a car bomb in Oslo before traveling to a summer camp for teens to gun down scores of victims. The story focuses mostly on the victims and their families as they recover and prepare for the gunman's trial.

I was unfamiliar with the details of this tragedy and, while the movie was compelling on its own terms, I can't help but be swayed by its Norwegian detractors who take issue with the "attack" portion. While horrific as-is, I was guessing that the shooter was on the island maybe 15 minutes rather than the hour-plus it was in actuality. I'm not asking for more carnage, but I do believe that sticking with different groups of kids as they hide and wait to see if their luck will hold or even a "time since first shot" running clock would've been more impactful than spending most of that time viewing things from the shooter's perspective. I would've also liked to a nod to the neighbors who used their own boats to rescue kids who'd escaped into the water.

Despite all that, it's an effective and informative film.

B