Parents' Guide to

22 July

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Violent but affecting docudrama about Norway massacre.

Movie R 2018 143 minutes
22 July Poster Image

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age 13+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Hercules71
Hercules71 Adult
March 23, 2021
age 11+
esrobb12
esrobb12 Parent of 11-year-old
March 2, 2019
age 12+

22 July

This is about the attack on Utoya, in Norway, on July 22, 2011, it gives a good message to always be alert.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

22 JULY recreates the true-life 2011 massacre of 77 people, mostly teens at an island summer camp outside of Oslo, Norway, by a fanatic terrorist. Paul Greengrass concentrates on three facets of the tragic events: Viljar Hanssen (Jonas strand Gravli) a teen who was critically injured and fights to survive; the remorseless killer who considered himself a warrior for a fascistic (Neo-Nazi) cause; and governmental institutions -- including the Prime Minister and the legal system -- charged with dispensing justice. Anders Behring Breivik (Anders Danielsen Lie) first exploded a government building, killing eight people, then ferried to a camp filled with exuberant young people where, with stoic precision, he shot and killed 69 of them. Hundreds more were injured at the two sites. The tragic events make up only the first part of the film. What follows is the drama of the aftermath: Viljar's fragile recovery with his caring family and the little brother who survived without physical injury at his side; Brievik's fraught relationship with his lawyer (Jon Oigarden) and the ensuing courtroom drama; and, finally, Norway's stalwart commitment to an awareness that morality and humanity must be ever vigilant in the face of bigotry.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (3 ):

As he retells this true story Paul Greengrass, keenly aware of the ramifications of making such a film, uses restraint and empathy for the families whose lives were upended by an obsessed assassin. His purpose is clear: to remind audiences of the heinousness of political extremism as a result of a volatile world. Greengrass sees Anders Bhering Brievik as a harbinger of building anger and fear that now envelopes so-called "populist" countries and communities. Noted as much for his agility at action-oriented movies (three of the Bourne films) as for his re-telling of real events (Captain Phillips, Bloody Sunday), the writer-director once again brings excellence to every facet of filmmaking. The film is beautifully-photographed, directed, edited, and performed. Opting to cast Norwegian actors as opposed to movie stars provides authenticity, as does his reliance on courtroom transcripts and the testimony of the families. Greengrass chose to focus on Viljar Hanssen, the young man whose appearance in the courtroom, face-to-face with his assailant, galvanized the country. It's a mesmerizing, suspense-filled movie, despite the fact that most who see it are already familiar with the tragedy of 22 July.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in 22 July. Because this is a true story, how disturbing were the scenes that re-created the massacre? How is your reaction different from the reaction you have when you see a fictional story?

  • Paul Greengrass says about making this film: "The idea is not to sensationalize the attacks... It's an attempt to do something serious... We do have to confront this so that people understand what happened -- and what's happening now." Do you agree with his viewpoint? Do you think he accomplished his goal? Why or why not?

  • Think about Viljar's relationships with both his friend Lara and his little brother Torje. How did each of them affect Viljar's recovery? How did Viljar affect their recoveries?

  • Where can you learn more about the events this movie is based upon?

Movie Details

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