Force Majeure (Ruben Östlund, 2014) Sweden | France | Norway | Denmark

Reviewed by Jonathan Lindgren, viewed at Antioch University / Santa Barbara Film Festival 2016. 

Where to begin with this movie. It brings up so many questions about life and all that it means. This film is partly made in Sweden with a Swedish director and i’m from Sweden. I can direct see some of the modern conflicts in the society that are debatede every day in Sweden. About the patriarchate, tha mans role in the family compared to the women and much more. Even how so small things, that just don’t matter can blow up, just as an avalanche.

This movie takes place in the beautiful Alps where Tomas (Johannes Kuhnke) and Ebba (Lisa Kongsli) takes their family on a skivacation. During a lunch, an avalanche falls down on the cliffside just next to the restaurant. The family gets scared but Tomas blows it away and says it’s all under control, until it comes to close and the see that it’s going hit the restaurant. Tomas then quickly takes his iphone and starts running away, leaving Ebba and the kids behind. This is then the conflict during the whole film, about the mans role in the family. Where Tomas starts to repress the situation and denies what he have done.

The cinematography is beautiful made with very long shots. Some are over 2 minutes long and are typical European made. With a lookout over the French and some superb classic music comming on randomly. Which me myself did not figure out why? The music truly comes in from nowhere. But at last it comes to the acting, which is perfect. We see Tomas as a struggling and hard working man in the beginning who then turns to a little crying baby who seems so pathetic and small.

This movie is typical for it’s kind because it takes just a small question about regular life and makes it to a whole movie. Its about how good we in the eastern society have it and we fight about the smallest thing who blows up to something that matters about life and death. And it truly makes you think about the female and male part in a family and in life. Would it be diffrent if the women runned? Every scene is build upon this and keep remeber that during this whole movie. Because if you do, you will come out with a new experience in life.





 


 

			

			

			

				
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Published:

						
02.22.16 / 10pm

					

					

						
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Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2016