Oslo Review: A Timely Look at a True Story
When HBO decided to adapt the Tony Award-winning play Oslo, the network probably didn’t predict that news of Israel and Palestine would dominate the headlines at the time of the film’s release.
Oslo’s true story of the secret negotiations between Palestine and Israel that led to the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords captures just one moment in time in a decades-long conflict.
The concept of a dramatic “untold story” is a tried and true subgenre within historical dramas, and Oslo fits that bill perfectly. For viewers who enjoy the suspense of watching historical events play out despite already knowing the ending, Oslo is a fascinating story of how two opposing sides came together with unlikely help.
His Dark Materials stars Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott reunite as Mona Juul, a Norwegian foreign minister, and Terje Rød-Larsen, a Norwegian sociologist. The married couple plays a pivotal role in facilitating the secret talks between Israel and Palestine.
Calling them the “heroes” of the film would be a stretch, but they are the closest we get to leads among the large cast of characters involved in the discussions.
Wilson and Scott play opposites, as Mona tries desperately to keep their role objective and worries about the ramifications of this type of backchannel diplomacy while Terje continually pushes boundaries to achieve his goals.
The two actors share great chemistry as they navigate the tension of their characters’ professional and personal lives overlapping. Despite limited screen time, they still make for a captivating pair to watch.
Unfortunately, Oslo sticks a little too close to its origin on the stage. It seems relevant to note the film is written by J.T. Rogers, who wrote the original play, and is directed by Bartlett Sher, who directed the play on Broadway.
The scope of the story stays too small to really explore these characters as individuals as much as the film could have. Perhaps the smaller scope worked better on the intimacy of a stage, but it seems like a missed opportunity for Oslo that it does not significantly expand on the lives of these characters outside of the negotiation room.
When Oslo does try to expand the story, like with Mona’s PTSD-driven flashbacks, the choices end up saying very little and instead come off as unnecessary. Wilson is a skilled actress, and a single look from her communicates more than a hazy flashback.
The story of how these groups come together is the strongest aspect of Oslo, as the cast brings to life the passion and tension that filled the negotiation room back in the 1990s. Although the pace occasionally lags, and montage scenes are overused, the moments when the sides reach a breakthrough are the highlights of the film.
The discussion in the room alternates between moments of understanding and hatred, underscoring how unprecedented and high-stakes these negotiations are.
Oslo doesn’t necessarily choose sides or try to get the audience to, but it also doesn’t hold back on letting characters speak harsh truths and share the grim reality they live with.
Jeff Wilbusch as Uri Savir, Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and Waleed Zuaiter as Hassan Asfour, a PLO liaison, bring two of the strongest performances to the room. They draw in viewers as the ones to watch as their characters passionately defend their experiences.
There are a few moments of levity and jokes too, humanizing the group and providing some much-needed reprieve during the almost two hours of diplomatic discussions. You’ll genuinely smile when Ahmed Qurie (Salim Daw) exclaims his love of waffles. (Who doesn’t love waffles?)
Ultimately through showing these discussions, Oslo balances a hopeful message with a realistic outlook. Despite a moment of catharsis towards the end when both sides sign off on the terms of the agreement, the film is careful to not push a happy ending and takes time to acknowledge the realities of what came next.
Oslo ends with a monologue from Mona explaining there will always be pushback to progress. While the events of the movie show us that it is possible for two sides to come together, it also emphasizes that what happens next isn’t guaranteed.
Real news footage included in the end scene covers just some of the tragic aftermath of the Oslo Accords and highlights the fragility of the promise of peace.
Oslo may be an imperfect lens into current events, but the timely story and strong performances still make it worth watching.
What did you think of Oslo? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Oslo is streaming now on HBO and HBO Max.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture enthusiast who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic.