Thelma (2017)

"Norwegian Art-House CARRIE"

...or even PATRICK (1978 0r 2013). Yes, director Joachim Trier may be following in the footsteps of Stephen King, Brian de Palma and even Richard Franklin, but here's a distinctly different take on the theme of the 'troubled teen with psychic powers' and it's about to get a UK DVD & Blu-ray release from Thunderbird.

Thelma (Eili Harboe) has just started university. Coming from a closeted, stifling upbringing by overprotective and very religious parents, her new world is enough of a culture shock without the other problems she soon begins to experience.

While studying at the library, Thelma undergoes a violent seizure. After that, very strange things start to happen - people disappear and objects move of their own accord. EEG and brain MRI scanning reveal no physical abnormalities. Could it have anything to do with her having fallen in love with a fellow female student? And is she responsible for what is happening to her or are outside forces at work? Are her parents to blame? Or is she herself  the reason for the way they have brought her up? 

I shall say no more, except that through a number of flashbacks all is revealed in Trier's thoughtful, careful profile of a teenaged girl coming to terms with who and what she is. Despite my comparisons above, don't expect any exploding cars, roasting alive before our very eyes or any overly spectacular melodramatics. THELMA is very much a low-key character study that's no less effective for the way in which the subject matter is handled. The ending will give you something to think about, too. 

Thunderbird's Blu-ray also includes short interviews with director Trier and star Harboe, and several very short featurettes on behind the scenes filming. You also get a trailer reel for the other Joachim Trier movies that Soda / Thunderbird have released. 

Joachim Trier's THELMA is out on UK DVD & Blu-ray from Thunderbird Releasing on Monday 26th February 2018