"De Ofrivilliga" presents a new take on movie-making I personally haven't seen before. Östlund basically uses nothing but still cameras that show the entirety of the scene from a distance or an angle that surprises you, never zooming in on the actors facial expressions. The theme is admittedly rather hard to explain; it handles the awkwardness that follow those defining moments where a small decision leads to growing consequences. It's an hilarious movie, dark and hopeful at the same time. You can tell Östlund has sharpened his pen since his previous feature movie, "Gitarrmongot". The dialogue balances so delicately on the thin line of becoming ridiculous or indifferent without ever falling over to either side. "De Ofrivlliga" craves your attention in order to mesmerize you the way it's meant to, and you will be required to give it. If you've ever seen and appreciated any of Roy Andersson's movies you'll love it.
22 Reviews
Impressive and immersive, despite its approach to its material, film looking to dot the I's and cross the T's in regards to an array of seemingly random modern-day Swedes.
johnnyboyz31 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Involuntary is the rather brilliant in places, fascinating throughout, Swedish drama which takes its lead from something like Short Cuts, or the more recent Babel or Crash, and explores the lives and times of a handful of disparates the film believes are, in actual fact, connected by an underlying item or theme. The film attains a similarly sized level of accomplishment to those examples, in what is a piece that probably weaves in and out of more plights featuring more people to that of the mentioned films, but comes out just as much-a worthwhile effort. The good news is, above all else, that it's a lot shorter than something like Magnolia, and as a result, a Hell of a lot more interesting for more of the time.
Principally, the film is a study of human behaviour once the individual has reached a certain point in one's life that either comes about naturally through either the body or mind's transition, or is born out of chance encounters people with established jobs or roles happen to stumble upon. This behaviour is as such which has the power to overbear certain proceedings in a person's life on one strand of the film, but is able worm its way into the life of another on another wholly disconnected strand, albeit on a smaller scale, as something else takes precedence - that item itself usually a theme on a lower echelon in the life of the previous example. In exploring the thesis, the writer/director Ruben Östlund is able to meld together a fascinating series of what are effectively short stories; stories shot statically with an aesthetic resembling that of a close circuit television camera, often anonymising others in the frame but accentuating degrees of unbearableness, resulting in the film being really quite something.
Take, for instance, the scene in which what one might perceive to be a lowly coach driver becoming rather taken by the power that he has over his passengers. The driver is established to be a careful man, whom slowly plods his coach down the motorways to ensure the safety of his customers; open minded and sociable, he speaks with the tour guide beside him as he drives. Having driven them into the rural areas of absolutely nowhere, the driver will not take them away from there again until somebody owns up over the breakage of a rail in the coach's toilet compartment - because it is his family's business, and the expense comes out of his own balance, it riles him and equates to everyone being held somewhat as hostages.
Many miles away in a school, a woodwork teacher himself becomes besotted with the power that he happens to have over a class of kids - the thematic link resonating. His hitting of a misbehaving child and the believing of that to be a proper punishment is witnessed by a female teacher whom has similar degrees of power over other classes of kids. This female teacher does not need to resort to such manners of discipline; providing them with daily exercises that engage them at the front of the class more than any woodwork apparently does - even allowing them to expresses the desires to act out or shout out or whatever by permitting them thirty seconds of classroom time to scream and bang the tables as much as they like. Linked by that illusion of power turning people into those that they become, both stories are at once wholly disconnected in a binary sense in regards to location and the nature of those victimised, yet are at once intrinsically linked by a thematic chain running throughout the film.
In another two different strands of the film, the covering of burgeoning sexuality takes centre stage; two strands that are again disconnected from one another in a binary sense of gender and age the transition of sexual inclinations, but indelibly linked by a common thematic of coming to terms with one's urges towards sexual orientation. One strand is made up of a group of oafish men in their mid-thirties; men away together on a weekend holiday that resembles a stag night without anybody in the pack actually getting married. In the beginnings, the men speak to one another pompously and openly about automobiles and how cars are great and how fantastic their new cars are, tapping into that deeply heterosexual characteristic built on the myth of men and their motors insinuating "manliness". Throughout the course of this time spent together, the film opens up routes leading to a homo-erotic relationship shared between the half-dozen or so of them; their stay away together seeing them get a tad closer to each other than some have liked.
One instance sees two of them wrestling in a field leading to a mock-sex act, causing the victim to panic and call his wife to drive all the way out into the wilderness so as to vividly reassure himself of one's heterosexuality. The individual decides to stay behind, after all; later on, around a campfire and picnic table at their piggish shenanigans give way to one of them performing what is effectively a striptease further imbuing proceedings. The equilibrium treads in perfect harmony with two young, promiscuous blonde girls of about sixteen in age intermingling with the wrong crowd and purveying their sexuality onto that of whatever or whomever they can; the idea of a group of people shifting into this newfound sense of sexual identity prominent between two widely disparate groups of people. The film is a project, I read, from a breakaway group of people with their own studio producing their own material; its vast disconnection from more familiarised methods of film-making, as well as its highly specific overall look, might suggest something ill at ease or somewhat outsider; but Involuntary is a film with the power to resonate with the viewer far more despite its approach - a film from people whose output I look forward to seeing more of.
Principally, the film is a study of human behaviour once the individual has reached a certain point in one's life that either comes about naturally through either the body or mind's transition, or is born out of chance encounters people with established jobs or roles happen to stumble upon. This behaviour is as such which has the power to overbear certain proceedings in a person's life on one strand of the film, but is able worm its way into the life of another on another wholly disconnected strand, albeit on a smaller scale, as something else takes precedence - that item itself usually a theme on a lower echelon in the life of the previous example. In exploring the thesis, the writer/director Ruben Östlund is able to meld together a fascinating series of what are effectively short stories; stories shot statically with an aesthetic resembling that of a close circuit television camera, often anonymising others in the frame but accentuating degrees of unbearableness, resulting in the film being really quite something.
Take, for instance, the scene in which what one might perceive to be a lowly coach driver becoming rather taken by the power that he has over his passengers. The driver is established to be a careful man, whom slowly plods his coach down the motorways to ensure the safety of his customers; open minded and sociable, he speaks with the tour guide beside him as he drives. Having driven them into the rural areas of absolutely nowhere, the driver will not take them away from there again until somebody owns up over the breakage of a rail in the coach's toilet compartment - because it is his family's business, and the expense comes out of his own balance, it riles him and equates to everyone being held somewhat as hostages.
Many miles away in a school, a woodwork teacher himself becomes besotted with the power that he happens to have over a class of kids - the thematic link resonating. His hitting of a misbehaving child and the believing of that to be a proper punishment is witnessed by a female teacher whom has similar degrees of power over other classes of kids. This female teacher does not need to resort to such manners of discipline; providing them with daily exercises that engage them at the front of the class more than any woodwork apparently does - even allowing them to expresses the desires to act out or shout out or whatever by permitting them thirty seconds of classroom time to scream and bang the tables as much as they like. Linked by that illusion of power turning people into those that they become, both stories are at once wholly disconnected in a binary sense in regards to location and the nature of those victimised, yet are at once intrinsically linked by a thematic chain running throughout the film.
In another two different strands of the film, the covering of burgeoning sexuality takes centre stage; two strands that are again disconnected from one another in a binary sense of gender and age the transition of sexual inclinations, but indelibly linked by a common thematic of coming to terms with one's urges towards sexual orientation. One strand is made up of a group of oafish men in their mid-thirties; men away together on a weekend holiday that resembles a stag night without anybody in the pack actually getting married. In the beginnings, the men speak to one another pompously and openly about automobiles and how cars are great and how fantastic their new cars are, tapping into that deeply heterosexual characteristic built on the myth of men and their motors insinuating "manliness". Throughout the course of this time spent together, the film opens up routes leading to a homo-erotic relationship shared between the half-dozen or so of them; their stay away together seeing them get a tad closer to each other than some have liked.
One instance sees two of them wrestling in a field leading to a mock-sex act, causing the victim to panic and call his wife to drive all the way out into the wilderness so as to vividly reassure himself of one's heterosexuality. The individual decides to stay behind, after all; later on, around a campfire and picnic table at their piggish shenanigans give way to one of them performing what is effectively a striptease further imbuing proceedings. The equilibrium treads in perfect harmony with two young, promiscuous blonde girls of about sixteen in age intermingling with the wrong crowd and purveying their sexuality onto that of whatever or whomever they can; the idea of a group of people shifting into this newfound sense of sexual identity prominent between two widely disparate groups of people. The film is a project, I read, from a breakaway group of people with their own studio producing their own material; its vast disconnection from more familiarised methods of film-making, as well as its highly specific overall look, might suggest something ill at ease or somewhat outsider; but Involuntary is a film with the power to resonate with the viewer far more despite its approach - a film from people whose output I look forward to seeing more of.
Sheer perfection!
FunkyFred26 November 2008
Brilliant film by Ruben Östlund and the cast! This is sheer perfection from the first frame to the last one, and the battle for next year's Best Swedish Film Award seems to be decided. Here is the best Swedish picture in years. It displays in five parallel stories how people reject from speaking up when they have the opportunity, due to more or less rational fears, and once the right moment has slipped away it becomes multiply difficult later.
Most of the parts are played by actors unknown to me, and they are all fantastic. In every scene the dialogue is performed the way people actually speaks in real life (And I'm Swedish, I know what it should sound like.), it's believable and absorbing. Nowhere to be heard is the theatrical and stiff line delivery that so often haunts Swedish cinema. The images are often still in unorthodox angles, while people pass in and out. It is highly innovative and it works out extraordinarily well.
The film is filled with hilarious lines, but it is serious all the way, and the humour is of the kind that makes me shiver with embarrassment. It is downright painful to watch these awkward situations and know that I could so easily be a part of something similar in real life. Not least, the problems with partying and binging is displayed in a refreshingly non-romantic manner. It is all, simply, brilliant!
Most of the parts are played by actors unknown to me, and they are all fantastic. In every scene the dialogue is performed the way people actually speaks in real life (And I'm Swedish, I know what it should sound like.), it's believable and absorbing. Nowhere to be heard is the theatrical and stiff line delivery that so often haunts Swedish cinema. The images are often still in unorthodox angles, while people pass in and out. It is highly innovative and it works out extraordinarily well.
The film is filled with hilarious lines, but it is serious all the way, and the humour is of the kind that makes me shiver with embarrassment. It is downright painful to watch these awkward situations and know that I could so easily be a part of something similar in real life. Not least, the problems with partying and binging is displayed in a refreshingly non-romantic manner. It is all, simply, brilliant!
On-target snapshots of social awkwardness, male pride and a sad alcohol culture.
ozjeppe1 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
A teacher who witnesses a colleague strike a pupil gets ostracized by the other teachers. The elderly host at a posh party is injured but refuses to have medical attention. A stout bus driver refuses to go on driving unless the one who vandalized his bus steps forward. Two young teen girls go on a drunken, out of control-spree with friends. An all-male party weekend in the country has unexpected sexual repercussions... Five very different Swedish stories with one big common denominator: peer pressure and the situations it puts people in.
Sad, on-target and all-too credible snapshots of social awkwardness & spinelessness, male pride and an equally sad alcohol culture. Major asset is the refreshing, semi-documentary-style ensemble acting, which makes me ask: why can't all Swedish movies have such seamless, perfectly and naturally performed dialog all the time? Too bad it's yet another case of finely written (and carefully photographed - often Roy Andersson-static - leaving details out of shot) little stories that don't get the development or resolution they deserve - we never get to know some characters enough to care (like the old man who gets a piece of fireworks in his eye), which proves that this movie easily could've been even stronger with 20 more minutes or so!
6 out of 10 from Ozjeppe
Sad, on-target and all-too credible snapshots of social awkwardness & spinelessness, male pride and an equally sad alcohol culture. Major asset is the refreshing, semi-documentary-style ensemble acting, which makes me ask: why can't all Swedish movies have such seamless, perfectly and naturally performed dialog all the time? Too bad it's yet another case of finely written (and carefully photographed - often Roy Andersson-static - leaving details out of shot) little stories that don't get the development or resolution they deserve - we never get to know some characters enough to care (like the old man who gets a piece of fireworks in his eye), which proves that this movie easily could've been even stronger with 20 more minutes or so!
6 out of 10 from Ozjeppe
Sensational
stensson30 November 2008
Young Swedish director Ruben Östlund made a strong debut with "Gitarrmongot". It was a very personal way of narration. In "De ofrivilliga" he gives even more promises.
Five episodes, involving five very different kinds of Swedish people. But they get one thing in common and that is a very destructive group pressure in very different ways. The acting is really superb, although you hardly have seen any of these people on the screen before, with the exception of Maria Lundquist.
Östlund works with very special camera angles. Sometimes you don't see the heads of those who are talking. Sometimes you will have to look around for a couple of seconds to find the main character, who is somewhere else than you're used too. This is a challenging movie in many ways, which makes you think and feel. And there are truly strong thoughts and feelings.
Five episodes, involving five very different kinds of Swedish people. But they get one thing in common and that is a very destructive group pressure in very different ways. The acting is really superb, although you hardly have seen any of these people on the screen before, with the exception of Maria Lundquist.
Östlund works with very special camera angles. Sometimes you don't see the heads of those who are talking. Sometimes you will have to look around for a couple of seconds to find the main character, who is somewhere else than you're used too. This is a challenging movie in many ways, which makes you think and feel. And there are truly strong thoughts and feelings.
Involuntary Viewing Only For This One
krocheav10 January 2018
Difficult to believe this was chosen as the 2008 Swedish entry at Cannes and as best foreign language film at the A.A.! Must have been a lean year. Perhaps director Ruben Ostlund should have stuck with making Ski films - as this could be watched in 2 x speed and nothing would be missed. Boring, static single camera setups that when not cutting off people's heads - concentrates on feet while 'attempting' to tell a simple story. It looks and feels like something intended as a series of short, educational vignettes, that were then found to be highly unsuitable for school use so, strung together for Cinema or TV. Any interest is quickly killed off by overlong scenes that ramble aimlessly with very little point of view to sustain its 100 min run time. Only the easily pleased lovers of cheap experimental or student style works could find much interest. One story involving a bunch of young men on a drunken weekend could have easily been dropped and is especially vulgar. Such an unpleasant disappointment.
Welcome to Sweden!
Thecesar-114 April 2009
If you are planing on visiting Sweden than you should really really see this flick! If you want a quick view that covers almost all sides of the Swedish people than you really should watch this!
You meet the older folks, the young girls that in Swedish terms are called "Fjortis" if that term seems weird to you than you'll understand what Fjortis is after you've watch this movie. And you'll learn about Swedis men and what could happen if to much alcohol and not dealt with feelings can cause. Anyways...
You don't have to live in Sweden for X years to learn about its culture. Just look at this and you'll be on your way....
Welcome to Sweden!
You meet the older folks, the young girls that in Swedish terms are called "Fjortis" if that term seems weird to you than you'll understand what Fjortis is after you've watch this movie. And you'll learn about Swedis men and what could happen if to much alcohol and not dealt with feelings can cause. Anyways...
You don't have to live in Sweden for X years to learn about its culture. Just look at this and you'll be on your way....
Welcome to Sweden!
Raw but brilliant
tom-316030 October 2010
Brilliantly simple in its story, yet it engages you right throughout, Simple doesn't necessarily mean it is not deep and meaningful. This film with its raw truth and its meaningful exchanges, I'ts a typical low budget foreign film, in that it is brilliant(though some of the low budget films are not).
Brilliant acing by the actors, especially the young girls, and a brilliantly shot film with unusual angles and unusual filming shots, that work well to frame the story.
A Swedish take on life with dramatic acting and choice of matter, brilliant on all levels and a must see, a clear 8/10.
Brilliant acing by the actors, especially the young girls, and a brilliantly shot film with unusual angles and unusual filming shots, that work well to frame the story.
A Swedish take on life with dramatic acting and choice of matter, brilliant on all levels and a must see, a clear 8/10.
pretty good!
jakob-lofblad1 December 2008
I saw this film at Stockholm Film Festival last week. I've heard a lot about it, and my expectations were really high. It won the audience award i think.
It's five stories about the Swedish mentality. I liked the one with the girls best ; )
It was a bit stiff, but kind of funny in a weird way. The camera didn't move much though. I wouldn't say it's the best movie ever (in Sweden), but it wasn't boring either. I guess it's hard to live up to that hype.
I haven't seen his previous film "Gitarrmongot", but i think i will check it out now. It's a cool title, but hard to translate into English...
It's five stories about the Swedish mentality. I liked the one with the girls best ; )
It was a bit stiff, but kind of funny in a weird way. The camera didn't move much though. I wouldn't say it's the best movie ever (in Sweden), but it wasn't boring either. I guess it's hard to live up to that hype.
I haven't seen his previous film "Gitarrmongot", but i think i will check it out now. It's a cool title, but hard to translate into English...
Swedish stubbornness and fear of conflicts
eblien23 April 2014
I really cannot stand all these Swedish pretentious and self-righteous movies, but I still keep watching them in hope that something good may come out of it. After all they gave us The Emigrants (Moberg) in the 70's so there still might be hope.
And something good there is; quite interesting to watch these people in situations that are very believable and real, despite characters being extremely annoying, stupid and/or stubborn. The only likable character must be the teacher trying to stand up against her ignorant, anemic, moron colleagues.
And yes, the camera is very static, gave me a feeling I am just an observer, even gave me a strange feeling that I peeked into these situations without them knowing or without permission. Quite nice, but I would like to see more of a plot, more resolution, that all these fragments lead to somewhere. It just stopped.
And something good there is; quite interesting to watch these people in situations that are very believable and real, despite characters being extremely annoying, stupid and/or stubborn. The only likable character must be the teacher trying to stand up against her ignorant, anemic, moron colleagues.
And yes, the camera is very static, gave me a feeling I am just an observer, even gave me a strange feeling that I peeked into these situations without them knowing or without permission. Quite nice, but I would like to see more of a plot, more resolution, that all these fragments lead to somewhere. It just stopped.
Very touching
mappedyr4 June 2009
I was really surprised by this film. It consists of 5 independent stories and though they are completely different they share something common to human beings. Well "Short Cuts" was great and I can really recommend "Fyra nyanser av brunt" in the same genre. But "De ofrivilliga" has something extra. I bet you can recognize some of the awkward situation described in this film.
It's pretty annoying with the strange camera angles and it's a bit like the habit of using too many close-ups that some directors use. But to some extend it makes sense. You learn to focus on the situation and the interaction instead of the people in the scenes.
And I really must say that it's fantastic how a writer can invent the strange incidents in the film. I keep thinking - this must have happened for someone in real life. No one can have that wild an imagination.
It's pretty annoying with the strange camera angles and it's a bit like the habit of using too many close-ups that some directors use. But to some extend it makes sense. You learn to focus on the situation and the interaction instead of the people in the scenes.
And I really must say that it's fantastic how a writer can invent the strange incidents in the film. I keep thinking - this must have happened for someone in real life. No one can have that wild an imagination.
Interwining stories that may be related!!
jordondave-2808520 November 2023
(2008) Involuntary/ De ofrivilliga
(In Swedish with English subtitles)
DRAMA
Co-written and produced by Erik Hemmendorff which showcases several different characters that are somewhat unrelated to one another starting with the father on front of guests experienced an unfortunate accident regarding fireworks. Two young girls having fun posting themselves before boozing and drugging, only to have someone come after them later, and then go on the run for their lives. Aspiring actress by accident wrecks the bathroom portion of the bus, and once the driver discovers what happens takes it on to the rest of the passengers by ruining their traveling experiences.
Although, I did not care for the direction regarding some of the stories, I can safely say I can somewhat relate to the bus driver moment. I remember when I was like a little kid and stuff, and I was on one of those buses who busses to the ferry to the airplane and vice versa. And once both my mom and me got on, halfway through the ride, the bus itself broke down. Provoking some other vehicle or another to haul it over to the ferry. The bus driver felt one of the passengers sabotaged the bus itself, the reason why it did not operate anymore. Instead of what the driver did in this movie, this bus driver demanded 50 bucks each from the passengers. Because I was only a child, my mom paid for both of us. The two passengers sitting at the back who were laughing about this mishap at the beginning, were not laughing anymore. It appeared everyone paid without complaining since we cannot wait to go to our destination.
Co-written and produced by Erik Hemmendorff which showcases several different characters that are somewhat unrelated to one another starting with the father on front of guests experienced an unfortunate accident regarding fireworks. Two young girls having fun posting themselves before boozing and drugging, only to have someone come after them later, and then go on the run for their lives. Aspiring actress by accident wrecks the bathroom portion of the bus, and once the driver discovers what happens takes it on to the rest of the passengers by ruining their traveling experiences.
Although, I did not care for the direction regarding some of the stories, I can safely say I can somewhat relate to the bus driver moment. I remember when I was like a little kid and stuff, and I was on one of those buses who busses to the ferry to the airplane and vice versa. And once both my mom and me got on, halfway through the ride, the bus itself broke down. Provoking some other vehicle or another to haul it over to the ferry. The bus driver felt one of the passengers sabotaged the bus itself, the reason why it did not operate anymore. Instead of what the driver did in this movie, this bus driver demanded 50 bucks each from the passengers. Because I was only a child, my mom paid for both of us. The two passengers sitting at the back who were laughing about this mishap at the beginning, were not laughing anymore. It appeared everyone paid without complaining since we cannot wait to go to our destination.
Intolerable
JohnSeal29 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The influence of Gus Van Sant at his most self-indulgent is in evidence throughout this dry as dust collection of filmed scenarios. The camera doesn't move. Shots are deliberately framed in such a way that heads are cut off. The sound is ambient. The characters are shallow and uninteresting. If there were such a thing as a Swedish Dogme manifesto, Involuntary could be an example of it. As it stands, it's merely an example of how not to make a film, unless you want to limit the audience to folks who are convinced that the lack of a story and technical ineptitude are the mark of genius. It's hard to believe this was Sweden's official entry for the Academy Awards in 2010.
Simple and Well made.
philharmonic-850-3959236 February 2018
For the last few months i've stumbled upon quite a few Swedish movies, and for me, personally, it's a grand discovery!
I love and appreciate low budget movies. For me, producing more with less always seemed an outcome of cinematic expertise.
That kind of Minimalism makes this movie great.
The themes and situations displayed in this movie are so relatable, and i bet you'll find your self giggling (for a wide Spectrum of reasons: from sympathy to embarrassment).
It's light and have a natural flow, the acting is very authentic and sensitive.
The script is superb, and the camerawork also contributes to the "Ostlund experience", together forming an honourable picture.
MASTERMIND!
alexanderliljefors5 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Ruben does it again! One of the best Swedish films ever!
"The Involuntary" which explores our minds and whether we humans have a free choice and the consequences of our actions. Brilliantly good!
A deep five into our deepest nature, thoughts, emotions and our influence of each other.
Its a genius reflection of our social behaviour and actions and its consequences in groups and to individuals. It shows people under pressure aswell and how important it is stand up for your own opinions and what impacts it gives. And what time makes to our choice to not make a choice, and if that choice then is a choise, like the "the trolley problem"
I love Rubens imput to these situations.
The film explorers our free choise under different circumstances and situations and ask the audience if there really is a free choice or not.
With bus driver who is prejudiced and takes advantage of his position of power.
Its so smart and excellent though out.
The characters different manipulations and reactions, why we do react in certain way, in different situations is very interesting.
The filming, the angels of the cameras and its manuscript is genius and very funny. It gives this unique feeling of reality and focus. The acting is amazing!
It deserves every prize it got!
It gives a reminder that everyone is unique.
With a ending that ties the film together.
Its a masterpiece of film and art!
Ruben does it again! One of the best Swedish films ever!
"The Involuntary" which explores our minds and whether we humans have a free choice and the consequences of our actions. Brilliantly good!
A deep five into our deepest nature, thoughts, emotions and our influence of each other.
Its a genius reflection of our social behaviour and actions and its consequences in groups and to individuals. It shows people under pressure aswell and how important it is stand up for your own opinions and what impacts it gives. And what time makes to our choice to not make a choice, and if that choice then is a choise, like the "the trolley problem"
I love Rubens imput to these situations.
The film explorers our free choise under different circumstances and situations and ask the audience if there really is a free choice or not.
With bus driver who is prejudiced and takes advantage of his position of power.
Its so smart and excellent though out.
The characters different manipulations and reactions, why we do react in certain way, in different situations is very interesting.
The filming, the angels of the cameras and its manuscript is genius and very funny. It gives this unique feeling of reality and focus. The acting is amazing!
It deserves every prize it got!
It gives a reminder that everyone is unique.
With a ending that ties the film together.
Its a masterpiece of film and art!
A Swedish story
ingelaallard22 March 2014
Five independent stories which all possess an admirable wit and acuity. They all share one thing - the involved have to stand up for their own will and resist the so often overwhelming peer pressure that we all at some point has been the victim of.
Ruben Östlund has created a sleek, straight and accurate film where the acting is unbeatable. We have to be alert, listen and try to keep up with the sometimes very complicated plot. The camera is rolling and it allows all the involved to take all the space. The stories has a strange sense of normalcy on the surface, and the every day situations succeeds each other with finesse, perfectly knitted together until the end without any forced resolution or final connection. It is this kind of story I feel can be associated with Sweden. This may be our future culture imprint.
Ruben Östlund possesses a narration that grabs at his audience and he is not afraid to challenge. It is exciting despite unremarkable equality in the presentation, and the persons in the five stories, feel very real.
Ruben Östlund has created a sleek, straight and accurate film where the acting is unbeatable. We have to be alert, listen and try to keep up with the sometimes very complicated plot. The camera is rolling and it allows all the involved to take all the space. The stories has a strange sense of normalcy on the surface, and the every day situations succeeds each other with finesse, perfectly knitted together until the end without any forced resolution or final connection. It is this kind of story I feel can be associated with Sweden. This may be our future culture imprint.
Ruben Östlund possesses a narration that grabs at his audience and he is not afraid to challenge. It is exciting despite unremarkable equality in the presentation, and the persons in the five stories, feel very real.
Best foreign film? No. Worst foreign film? A contender.
johno-2116 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I recently saw this at the 2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival. After 25 years the effects of the radiation fallout from Chernobl that drifted over Sweden are now evident as it must have affected the minds of the committee who selected this drivel as Sweden's official submission to the Academy Awards as Best Foreign Film. The chances of this being one of the five nominations are slim to none. This film deals with five different stories that have nothing to do with the other except that they all take place in Sweden and all deal with alcohol to some degree. There is a man who accidentally gets hit in the head by a bottle rocket, two school girls who get drunk, an actress on a bus trip, a teacher whom none of her peers at the school really care for and a group of young straight men who enjoy homo-erotic behavior. The film is shot from unusual camera angels that give the viewer a sense of eavesdropping in on ordinary mundane conversations. After about five minutes, this technique gets pretty old and after about 10 minutes it becomes evident that the stories are going nowhere and people start walking out of the theater. Lessons learned from the film include; if you hit yourself in the eye with fireworks you should not self-treat it but see a doctor immediately and don't be shooting off fireworks under the influence of alcohol, if you are a teenager don't get drunk and pass out, if you break something it's best to confess, if you don't seem to fit in then learn to have an interest in your co-workers or maybe look for another job and pretending to be gay is not emotionally healthy. I would give this embarrassment to the Swedish film industry a very generous 3.5 out of 10, as low as I personally go on reviews, and recommend it to no one.
Pretentious
MidoriFiore10 November 2011
Ruben Östlund must be one of the most self important directors working in Sweden today. He is angry on Hollywood for making films people are entertained by. He wonders why his film don't speak to as many people as films about cowboys and aliens when his films are about everyday life. The answer is quite simple. Most people goes to the cinema to be entertained and Ruben Östlund's film douse not entertain. Entertainment can be achieved by many emotions, happiness, horror, sadness, thrills, chills and joy. The one emotion a director is never allowed to evoke in his audience is boredom. To bore an audience is the worst crime an entertainer can commit and Östlund commits this crime.
The scenes in this film is made up mostly of single shots showing scenes in the life of a teacher, two teenyboppers, an old man, a group of drunks and a bus party. All of them fall victim to the mechanisms of the group. This would have been interesting concept but Ruben Östlund's own pretentious ideas comes in the way. Like his moronic camera angels.
The camera angels are often filming really strange stuff like peoples feet or a car door. I hate to be the first to bring this up to you Östlund, but you are not Roy Andersson.
The psychology of a group is an interesting subject, but you can't make a movie with just that. You need context. Come up with a story to use as backdrop to your theme. The first two X-Men movies did a great job with this.
There is no plot nor character development. A film can make up for this in by brining up other stuff, like an interesting story but this is not the case of this film. Ruben Östlund summarizes the worst kind of filmmakers alive; those who don't care for their audience. Others like him are Micheal Bay, Uwe Boll and Kristian Petri to name a few.
Avoid this guy, because he deserves not attention,
The scenes in this film is made up mostly of single shots showing scenes in the life of a teacher, two teenyboppers, an old man, a group of drunks and a bus party. All of them fall victim to the mechanisms of the group. This would have been interesting concept but Ruben Östlund's own pretentious ideas comes in the way. Like his moronic camera angels.
The camera angels are often filming really strange stuff like peoples feet or a car door. I hate to be the first to bring this up to you Östlund, but you are not Roy Andersson.
The psychology of a group is an interesting subject, but you can't make a movie with just that. You need context. Come up with a story to use as backdrop to your theme. The first two X-Men movies did a great job with this.
There is no plot nor character development. A film can make up for this in by brining up other stuff, like an interesting story but this is not the case of this film. Ruben Östlund summarizes the worst kind of filmmakers alive; those who don't care for their audience. Others like him are Micheal Bay, Uwe Boll and Kristian Petri to name a few.
Avoid this guy, because he deserves not attention,
Interesting about Swedish stupidity and stubbornness
OJT20 October 2013
This film has been highly appreciated by critics and film reviewers, but I find it too experimental to be great. Here's why!
We meet some Swedish persons in different situations in their everyday lives. All situations which are happy or ordinary, turning sour due to one persons ill judgment. Taking chances, not taking things seriously, acting stubborn, not listening to reasoning. It's a great premise, and it's a pity the film doesn't finish some moral here.
I appreciate some of the filming techniques used. These are great. I loved the passive use of camera.
I loved the way this film shows a glimpse of real life Sweden. Some stupid people, ruining happy situations. Stupid, yes, but I bet you recognize the situations from your own life.
I liked the way the film takes exciting situations, embarrassing situations, and makes tense film situations out of it. This is a trade mark of the director.
The actors are brilliant. No forced acting. Just great instructions.
I didn't like the cutting between the scenes. They feel amateurish.
I'm disappointed about the plot. It doesn't come out to anything in the end. It could have been better. I'd love to see more of what happened.
I think the film needs a better plot. Film is more than challenging conventions.
A similar film, which is way more satisfying is "Hawaii, Oslo".
We meet some Swedish persons in different situations in their everyday lives. All situations which are happy or ordinary, turning sour due to one persons ill judgment. Taking chances, not taking things seriously, acting stubborn, not listening to reasoning. It's a great premise, and it's a pity the film doesn't finish some moral here.
I appreciate some of the filming techniques used. These are great. I loved the passive use of camera.
I loved the way this film shows a glimpse of real life Sweden. Some stupid people, ruining happy situations. Stupid, yes, but I bet you recognize the situations from your own life.
I liked the way the film takes exciting situations, embarrassing situations, and makes tense film situations out of it. This is a trade mark of the director.
The actors are brilliant. No forced acting. Just great instructions.
I didn't like the cutting between the scenes. They feel amateurish.
I'm disappointed about the plot. It doesn't come out to anything in the end. It could have been better. I'd love to see more of what happened.
I think the film needs a better plot. Film is more than challenging conventions.
A similar film, which is way more satisfying is "Hawaii, Oslo".
unbiased reviews
taliabo31 August 2010
The camera angles were interestingly different. Made you think about the conversations and not focus so much on the shallowness of what I call: eye candy syndrome, which Hollywood so likes to depict. One thing that did disturb me when reading reviews was that a few of the very positive ones contained the same misspellings. That is hardly a coincidence. Back to the film: There seemed to be too many thematic subplots going on, despite other reviews that seem to say: "hey, that mirrors life". But generally, the film was entertaining and was an interesting diversion. The homo-erotic male-bonding deal with the guys seemed a bit contrived. I couldn't figure the rhyme or reason there.
It misses something
B7prado25 September 2023
Ok, good stories. I makes you reflect about human behavior an blablabla. But... I'm feeling it misses something.
I liked triangle of sadness so I watched this movie having that in mind but I didn't like it much.
If the director whanted to show how stupid humanity is so he could've made a documentary.
Instead he came up with this movie that, despite of having some interesting points, come to nowhere in narrative.
I'm just feeling I've wasted my time to see what I always see around me and I already ever know.
Maybe this is a good movie for those who live in a bubble or a perfect world then they can taste a little bit of reality, but it's not for me. All scenes showed in this movie is like a Tuesday afternoon for me.
I liked triangle of sadness so I watched this movie having that in mind but I didn't like it much.
If the director whanted to show how stupid humanity is so he could've made a documentary.
Instead he came up with this movie that, despite of having some interesting points, come to nowhere in narrative.
I'm just feeling I've wasted my time to see what I always see around me and I already ever know.
Maybe this is a good movie for those who live in a bubble or a perfect world then they can taste a little bit of reality, but it's not for me. All scenes showed in this movie is like a Tuesday afternoon for me.
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