Thelma 2017 Movie Review

『The Moment of Repressed Emotions Exploding – A Journey of Self and Love Liberation』

🎥 Film Overview

🎬 Title: Thelma (2017)
🌍 Country: 🇳🇴 Norway
🎞️ Genre: Supernatural Thriller / Drama / Psychological
🗓️ Production & Release: -
⏳ Runtime: 116 min
📢 Director: Joachim Trier
🖋️ Screenplay: Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt

👩‍💼 Cast: Eili Harboe – Thelma
Kaya Wilkins – Anja

🧩 Story Deep Dive (Spoilers)

🌑 Desire Breaking Free Amidst Strict Repression and Isolation

Thelma wears the outer shell of a supernatural thriller while deeply exploring the complex coming-of-age (Bildungsroman) journey of a young woman struggling with religious repression and the search for her sexual identity. More than a story about supernatural powers, it can be read as a philosophical allegory about the eruption of suppressed desire and the quest for true self-liberation.

💒 Religious Background and Isolation

Thelma grows up in a strict Christian fundamentalist household and moves to Oslo for university under the suffocating watch of her overprotective parents. Early in the film, her father Trond and mother Unni constantly check on her life, instilling guilt and control. This upbringing forces Thelma to see all her desires and emotions as sinful, leading to extreme repression.

⚡ Sexual Awakening and the Outburst of Supernatural Power

When Thelma meets her charming classmate Anja, she feels an irresistible attraction, shaking her inner world. Her suppressed same-sex desire collides with her religious upbringing and manifests in psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. These seizures are not mere illness, but the physical manifestation of her telekinetic/psychic powers—a force that emerges whenever she strongly desires or unconsciously denies something.

• Symbolism of Powers: Thelma’s supernatural ability symbolizes her repressed self and desires. The more she tries to control her emotions, the more destructively her unconscious power manifests, harming those around her (Anja’s disappearance, her father’s death, the childhood tragedy of her brother).

💡 Key Themes: Liberation, Guilt, and Control

A. Parallels and Differences with Carrie

Thelma is often compared to Stephen King’s Carrie. Both center on a strictly religious mother and the eruption of supernatural powers through sexual awakening. But unlike Carrie, which descends into revenge, Thelma focuses more on self-acceptance and liberation. Her journey is not about becoming a ‘monster’ but about recognizing her true nature, embracing her hidden powers, and gaining control.

B. Family Secrets and the Inheritance of Guilt

The film reveals that Thelma’s power is inherited from her grandmother, and that the death of her younger brother and her mother’s paralysis were tragedies caused by Thelma’s unconscious desires. Her parents’ control stemmed not only from religion but also from fear of her dangerous gift. Her father, in particular, both loved her and viewed her power as ‘demonic’, repressing her further—ironically fueling her anger and strength.

C. Symbolism of Nature and Colors

• The Snake: In Thelma’s dreams, the snake symbolizes temptation, sin, or the devil in the Christian sense, but also sexual desire and awakening. It metaphorically represents repressed desires entering her body.

• Water and Ice: The frozen lake and cold water in the beginning represent Thelma’s frozen and suppressed emotions. Later, when she dives into the water and emerges alive, it symbolizes her acceptance of her power and rebirth.

📽️ The Controversial Ending and Its Interpretations

The film ends with Thelma fully embracing her powers, reviving Anja, healing her mother’s legs, and walking through the campus with Anja. While it seems like a happy ending, it leaves room for ambiguous interpretations.

1. Triumph of Liberation and Self-Acceptance (Optimistic Reading)

Thelma frees herself from her parents’ control and religious repression, embracing both her identity and her supernatural ability. She proves she can control and use her powers positively, reclaiming her life and love.

2. Reversal of Control and Power Dynamics (Pessimistic Reading)

Some critics point out that Anja’s return, and her behavior at the end, may suggest that Thelma is shaping reality to her will. This raises the unsettling question: “Does Anja truly love Thelma, or is she controlled by her powers?” In this sense, Thelma may have become a new kind of controller, subjugating those she loves—echoing, in a different form, her father’s dominance.

🎨 The Pain of Growth and the Weight of Choice

Thelma showcases Joachim Trier’s distinctive subtle psychological detail and calm yet tense direction. It highlights that growth means breaking free from repression, discovering hidden potential—whether good or dangerous—and carrying the responsibility of that power. The open-ended finale leaves us questioning what true self-liberation really means.

🎯 Personal Rating

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★★