Synopsis
Thelma is a Norwegian supernatural thriller directed by Joachim Trier that combines a psychological oeuvre with aspects of romance, horror, as well as a coming-of-age story. The narrative is both atmospheric and slow-burning in character, and it focuses on Thelma, a timid girl with a devout and rural background who moves to Oslo for her tertiary education.
Thelma is a socially awkward character who is a product of a very strict religious environment. Thelma’s very religious parents, who are controlling and overprotective, monitor her life through a daily call system. Unlike her sheltered background, Thelma’s new life in Oslo is vibrant, and she quickly bonds with Anja, a free-spirited student. Their bond progresses rapidly to a very close and intimate relationship.
Anja’s life is not without problems, and her romance with Thelma is fraught with its own challenges. In Thelma’s case, strange and unexplained incidents such as telekinesis and lights flickering occur. In addition to that, she has mysterious visions of Anja disappearing. Thelma’s new feelings for Anja also cause her to have peculiar seizures.
As her attraction to Anja deepens, Thelma’s symptoms deteriorate even further. Seizures seem paranormal rather than medical. Childhood memories Thelma had long buried are surfacing, hinting at dangerous skills she might possess. Her flashbacks show her controlling forces she couldn’t manage as a child—capable of causing tragic events, such as the mysterious vanishing of her younger brother.
Upon visiting, Thelma decides to speak with her mother and father. The father acknowledges to Thelma that he and his wife knew they possessed special gifts, but decided to do everything in their power to shield the children from emotion-driven gifts. Love, to them, is so dangerous that any form of it must be prohibited.
Emotionally unstable Thelma is eventually forced to accept distressing truths. There is no denying the reality that the “gifts” she holds are dangerous, but they are also tied to her. The Kaos’s Jean slaughter provides Thelma with the much-needed solace as she ultimately succumbs to her true self and romance with Anja. The climax of the movie survives Thelma purposely using her gifts lovingly to Anja—Chaining her to her existence after making her disappear mid seizure, whilst freeing herself from upbringing guilt.
The closing sequences are liberating yet still open to interpretation: Thelma sheds her parents, makes amends with Anja, and suggests she may finally live unencumbered by shame and fear, starting a new phase in which she may manipulate both her powers and her life.
Cast & Characters
Eili Harboe as Thelma: Thelma is the film’s protagonist and her journey from repression to embracing herself fully drives the film’s narrative. Harboe’s performance strikes a delicate balance displaying both vulnerability and a latent power.
Kaya Wilkins as Anja: Thelma’s girlfriend Anja’s love is given freely. Her warmth and openness are in direct opposition to Thelma’s internalized fears.
Henrik Rafaelsen as Trond, Thelma’s father: He is a stern and controlling character who fears Thelma’s powers, which drives his need to keep her under close watch.
Ellen Dorrit Petersen as Unni, Thelma’s mother: She is quiet and supports her husband’s authority.
Classmates, medical professionals, and family friends who fill the university setting and Thelma’s past help to develop the storyline through their minor character contributions.
Themes & Analysis
- Repression and Self-Acceptance
Thelma focuses on a young woman trying to accept herself, her identity, and her desires after enduring years of repression. Her supernatural powers are a metaphor for her emotions—most notably her love for Anja, which she was conditioned to fear.
- Religious Control
Thelma’s parents use religion as a means of controlling her. Their moral boundaries classify her acts of freewill as sins, leading Thelma to internalize shame and self-denial.
- Sexual Awakening
The emotional climax of the film centers on Thelma and Anja’s romance. Anja’s acceptance of herself and self-love grows alongside Thelma’s acknowledgment of her feelings.
- Power and Responsibility
The question arises if it’s possible to use power and responsibility ethically. Thelma’s journey illustrates a shift from unconscious, harmful quiet rage to conscious self-regulation, choosing love instead of fear.
- Memory and Trauma
The gradual revealing of Thelma’s childhood highlights the trauma that is buried under layers of denial and the confronting those memories can enable growth.
Visual Style & Tone
Trier’s direction of Thelma is marked by a muted, cold color palette mirroring the emotional detachment of the characters. Natural light and the use of long, deliberate static shots build tension. Dream imagery adds a blur to the boundaries of reality and hallucinations.
Key sequences, like Thelma’s seizures, oscillate between realism and surrealism, heightening the audience’s disorientation much like Thelma feels. The university spaces in Oslo juxtapose her parent’s rural home, emphasizing the contrast between control and freedom.
Performances
Eili Harboe as Thelma is subtle yet profoundly impactful; her portrayal channels perpetual anxiety, suppressed rage, and seething restlessness. She depicts Thelma’s gradual evolution from a timid, dutiful daughter toward a self-assured young woman who embraces autonomy.
Anja, portrayed by Kaya Wilkins, is a beacon of warmth and charm who easily becomes a source of light in Thelma’s otherwise chilly existence. Trond, as played by Henrik Rafaelsen, brings a quiet menace in his performance; his authority is compelling, but stiff and lacking overt aggression. Unni, portrayed by Ellen Dorrit Petersen, suggests the composed character is hiding a great deal of turmoil, as her subtle conflicts hint at complex layers of internal strife.
Reception Overview
Upon Thelma’s release, it was recognized by critics for the emotional depth and mastery of the blend of genre elements. It was praised for the tension that build gradually and the elegant supernatural elements, regarded as metaphors for identity struggles. The critique also noticed the mixture of psychological thrillers, horror, and romantic drama as the main influences the movie drew from.
Some viewers thought the pacing was slow. Others thought the pacing was key to the film’s atmosphere. The meticulous revealing of Thelma’s history and the slow increase of her powers created a satisfying narrative rhythm.
Conclusion
Thelma combines a simple premise—an ordinary girl acquiring supernatural powers, with an extraordinary story; it is a multilayered film about sacrificing one’s self for the greater good, disguised in a horror romance. The film elegantly weaves themes of denial, belief, faith, sexuality, and self-empowerment.
Thelma’s self-denial to self-acceptance journey—mirror the metamorphosis many go through because of society’s expectations. Her powers transition from an fearful burden to a deliberate choice of liberating symbol after embracing her will.
Ultimately, Thelma uses the paradox of social norm intertwined with self-acceptance as a potent yet subdued message. Defying deeply ingrained teachings, self-acceptance is the epiphany of freedom.
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