From the producers of Joachim Trier’s Academy Award-nominated film, The Worst Person in the World comes Sick of Myself (Syk Pike). Norwegian-born filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli takes twisted relationship dynamics to extreme lengths in this dark, demented comedy about the “actual” worst person in the world and their no-holds-barred addiction to sympathy. Nominated for the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Sick of Myself is a 97-minute-long insanity spiral and a nihilist’s delight.
Kristine Kujath Thorp plays Signe, a woman in her early twenties who has the emotional maturity of a toddler. Signe and her boyfriend Thomas (Eirik Sæther)–another stunted adult–have a rather unconventional relationship; despite presenting a compassionate and fun-loving facade, the duo vindictively takes any opportunity to outshine and undercut their partner. When the film begins, the stakes already seem high but turns out that stealing a $2,300 vintage bottle of wine is just the beginning.
Thomas is a contemporary artist whose star is on the rise. This upsets Signe, a barista, whose jealousy oozes through her pores. She wants the attention–the good, the bad, the ugly. It doesn’t matter from who, as long as it’s her name is in the mouths of their friends, and not Thomas’. Things take a nasty turn when Signe realizes that feigning an illness may be her golden ticket to notoriety.
Her desperation goes too far, even for her, when hair starts falling out in chunks, blood pours out of her mouth and head, and fainting spells become all too common. Signe–clearly spiraling from delusion, a bruised ego, and desperation– becomes a shell of herself, unrecognizable from the inside as well as the outside. Her “mystery illness” turns out not to be a medical condition but rather a sickly amount of narcissism.
From beginning to end, Sick of Myself is an unhinged black comedy fueled by gaslighting of the highest degree. Kristine Kujath Thorp’s performance is praiseworthy and her complex villain origin story is one we love to hate. The rest of the cast equally holds their own, including a short guest appearance by Norway’s finest, Anders Danielsen Lie.
With Sick of Myself, Kristoffer Borgli has solidified himself as a director to watch. Although, he’s far from new on the scene with over 10 short film credits on his IMDb. Born in Oslo, his childhood revolved around skateboarding and making videos (not unlike our other favorite Norwegian filmmaker). It’s this effortless confidence behind the lens and strong directorial point of view that makes Sick of Myself one of the most exciting films of the year thus far.
97 minutes. Distributed by Utopia. Opening in theaters this Friday, April 14, 2023.
