A family on a ski holiday in the French Alps find themselves staring down an avalanche during lunch one day; in the aftermath, their dynamic has been shaken to its core, with a question mark hanging over their patriarch in particular.
In a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family.
Director:
Andrey Zvyagintsev
Stars:
Aleksey Serebryakov,
Elena Lyadova,
Roman Madyanov
Anna, a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland, is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a dark family secret dating back to the years of the Nazi occupation.
Sandra, a young Belgian mother, discovers that her workmates have opted for a significant pay bonus, in exchange for her dismissal. She has only one weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job.
Directors:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne,
Luc Dardenne
Stars:
Marion Cotillard,
Fabrizio Rongione,
Catherine Salée
It's almost summer in Sweden and minor indiscretions and misbehavior abound. Leffe likes to show off for his friends and play salacious pranks, especially when he's drinking. Meanwhile, a ... See full summary »
Director:
Ruben Östlund
Stars:
Villmar Björkman,
Linnea Cart-Lamy,
Leif Edlund Johansson
Aydin, a former actor, runs a small hotel in central Anatolia with his young wife Nihal with whom he has a stormy relationship and his sister Necla who is suffering from her recent divorce.... See full summary »
An astute observation based on real cases of bullying. In central Gothenburg, Sweden, a group of boys, aged 12-14, robbed other children on about 40 occasions between 2006 and 2008. The ... See full summary »
Director:
Ruben Östlund
Stars:
Anas Abdirahman,
Sebastian Blyckert,
Yannick Diakité
Thirteen-year-old Lili fights to protect her dog Hagen. She is devastated when her father eventually sets Hagen free on the streets. Still innocently believing love can conquer any difficulty, Lili sets out to find her dog and save him.
Sam and Jonathan, a pair of hapless novelty salesman, embark on a tour of the human condition in reality and fantasy that unfold in a series of absurdist episodes.
Director:
Roy Andersson
Stars:
Holger Andersson,
Nils Westblom,
Viktor Gyllenberg
War in Georgia, Apkhazeti region in 1990. An Estonian man Ivo has stayed behind to harvest his crops of tangerines. In a bloody conflict at his door, a wounded man is left behind, and Ivo is forced to take him in.
Director:
Zaza Urushadze
Stars:
Lembit Ulfsak,
Elmo Nüganen,
Giorgi Nakashidze
A cattle herder and his family who reside in the dunes of Timbuktu find their quiet lives -- which are typically free of the Jihadists determined to control their faith -- abruptly disturbed.
A Swedish family travels to the French Alps to enjoy a few days of skiing. The sun is shining and the slopes are spectacular but, during a lunch at a mountainside restaurant, an avalanche turns everything upside down. With diners fleeing in all directions, mother Ebba calls for her husband Tomas as she tries to protect their children. Tomas, meanwhile, is running for his life... The anticipated disaster failed to occur, and yet the family's world has been shaken to its core, a question mark hanging over their father in particular. Tomas and Ebba's marriage now hangs in the balance as Tomas struggles desperately to reclaim his role as family patriarch. Written by
Cannes Film Festival
Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, 'L'estate' (Summer)
Written by Antonio Vivaldi
Arranged by Pavel Fenyuk
Performed by Alexandr Hrustevich See more »
Force Majeure is a paused and systematic character study principally integrated by bitter conversations, uncomfortable moments and the inclement dissection of a marriage in trouble, analyzing the sudden change a casual event (in this case, an avalanche) can provoke on something which seemed so strong and safe. The result is moderately interesting... and occasionally boring. There undoubtedly are provocative ideas in this film; but there's also some frustration due to its excessively slow rhythm and the obstinacy from some characters. Director and screenwriter Ruben Östlund must have been too proud of his work, so therefore, he didn't want to leave even one minute out of the long two hours this film lasts. On the positive side, the performances are excellent and the alpine settings are truly impressive (pity that we spend so much time inside the hotel). Force Majeure examines multiple aspects of a couple: as a husband and wife, as parents, and as compatible adults, even though they don't lack of some fundamental differences which might indicate a big separation in their personal ideology. As I said on the beginning of this commentary: moderately interesting content, but presented in a way which occasionally challenges the patience and attention from the audience. Force Majeure didn't leave me very satisfied, but I don't regret having watched it, and I think I can give it a slight recommendation.
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Force Majeure is a paused and systematic character study principally integrated by bitter conversations, uncomfortable moments and the inclement dissection of a marriage in trouble, analyzing the sudden change a casual event (in this case, an avalanche) can provoke on something which seemed so strong and safe. The result is moderately interesting... and occasionally boring. There undoubtedly are provocative ideas in this film; but there's also some frustration due to its excessively slow rhythm and the obstinacy from some characters. Director and screenwriter Ruben Östlund must have been too proud of his work, so therefore, he didn't want to leave even one minute out of the long two hours this film lasts. On the positive side, the performances are excellent and the alpine settings are truly impressive (pity that we spend so much time inside the hotel). Force Majeure examines multiple aspects of a couple: as a husband and wife, as parents, and as compatible adults, even though they don't lack of some fundamental differences which might indicate a big separation in their personal ideology. As I said on the beginning of this commentary: moderately interesting content, but presented in a way which occasionally challenges the patience and attention from the audience. Force Majeure didn't leave me very satisfied, but I don't regret having watched it, and I think I can give it a slight recommendation.