@Shingwauk I think the point of the ending, or at least my interpretation, is that
on the bus, it seemed like the mom might have panicked and abandoned the kids and the dad. Her initial reaction is to justify this to her family and the girlfriend, blaming the driver, but if she later realizes what she did then maybe she could better sympathize with the dad, and that might be what brings them back together (speculation). The cigarette, on the other hand, felt like a little vindication moment for the dad, who I think recognizes what just happened. His son asks him something like, "Do you smoke?" and he replies "Yes." Even though he doesn't seem to be a regular smoker, I think that particular response indicates that he has taken ownership of his actions and himself, and that he is trying to become more comfortable with his identity/sense of self and assert accountability for his own actions, which is clearly something he has been struggling with throughout the film.
Also, I just found it amusing that both of you guys tried spoiler tagging, but neither of the tags are in the right place--at least you had good intentions
Aside from the ninety minute lull in the middle, this was great. The ending is quite possibly one of the most interesting segments I've seen in a long while.
Brilliant movie. The hypocrisy, the nonsensical but fun scenes, the characters that feel cold and unavailable, the neverending white, and the gorgeous music... It's a plesaure to get in a dark room full of strangers to see a movie such as this
I suspected it while watching "Play" a few years ago, but now I am sure: Ruben Östlund is a genious!
I find this movie unique. I can't remember having seen something so disturbingly awkward before. It's dead serious and hilarious at the same time. At least that's how I interpreted it.
Unlike Chikamaharry, who commented earlier, I didn't find it emotional until the ending scenes. Everything before that was, the way I see it, more like sterile images of emotional events. There are two reasons why I felt this way. One: there was never a scene in which all characters were emotionally effected by what was happening. There was always one or more characters who did not emphasize with the emotional character. Two: the director makes sure that the audience is physically distanced from the most emotional scenes. For example, the camera backs away a lot when showing the man having an emotional breakdown.
Östlund again proves himself as an extraordinary and intelligent observer of human relations. "Play" was amazing in how it described the relationships between young criminals on a detailed, psychological level. This movie does the same, only the focus is now on a european middle class family.
This movie tries with no doubt to actually say something. It tackles head on the stereotypical man, the hero of the family, who always protects everyone. And it has a clear point of view it is trying to reflect. I respect it for that. It brings to light a problem that I feel gets more recognition, but not enough. A+ for that.
But, the entirety of the movie just feels ind of weird. A little bit over the top, you do not know how to feel during the emotional scenes, because everything feels kind of off. Not sure why, but didn't really resonate with me.
Other than that: a actually handful of great scandinavian actors in this movie. Hivju is great, and just a lot of fun to see on the screen. Man, that beard. Also some cool visual stuff in this movie. In a lot of the scenes, the camera weren't moving, and stood completely still for a long period of time. Was really cool, and adds a kind of comedic tone to the scenes. Maybe because of that some of the scenes felt kind of off.
What would you do in a situation where your life could be in immediate danger? It’s the classic fight or flight scenario that really can’t be answered until the time has come. Tomas and his family found the answer to that question after their vacation lunch is interrupted by a controlled avalanche, or so it seems controlled. What follows is a unique, entertaining, cringe worthy film that deals with the aftermath of such an event. I didn’t expect it to be so funny.
I like to think that I would be the kind of man that stares danger in the face and puts up a fight. Fact is, I have no idea if that’s true or not. I’ve been in some situations where I was able to handle myself. I was in a car accident, helped rescue a hurt ATV rider calling for help in the woods, and two friends pass out on me, one from heat stroke and one from exhaustion. All these however were instances where I wasn’t involved or wasn’t involved minimally. The car accident was a low speed rear ending. My life has never truly been in danger. The lives of my friends and family have never been in danger. I’m waiting for the day that I’m walking down the street with somebody I care about and get approached by a man with a knife. Would I run? Would I shield my loved one? I’d like to think the latter, but can I be sure? The reaction is pure instinct and that’s where this film stores all of it’s interest. It provokes these thoughts in the viewing while simultaneously conjuring thoughts about the characters in the film. It was very entertaining.
The film should have been included in this years Oscar ceremony, but what are you going to do? There were so many scenes where family members and friends are trying to get a hold on what happened and how they feel about it. Those instances show the true person behind all the presentation we show other people. It was fun getting to see how this is handled, by both the people affected by the decision, and the person who made it.
Did I mention Tormund Giantsbane is in this? His beard is still amazing. Don’t know what I mean? That’s too bad, I’m not telling.
The film is also shot very well with many standing shots of the Alps with the action happening around the frame, like a moving picture. There was so much white filling every space that it really made you appreciate the darkness and the shadows, much like how we explore the parts of ourselves that aren’t bright and in your face.
In this movie I kept waiting for the reconciliation between the couple but I liked that you weren't really sure if they were actually able to make it there. The rawness of his eventual breakdown was strong and important. I thought however, the movie should have ended when the family was walking through the tunnel. The last bit was nonsensical to me.
Östlund consistently finds the perfect balance between tension and humor. This pull back and forth not only creates an uneasy atmosphere cut by wit, but this balance also supports the central themes of his works. Here the characters are subject to their own hypocrisy, at odds with how they think they should behave and their instinct actions. All of this set against a super privileged ski vacation, set with expensive urinals and all forms of convenient transportation.
i dont see what the hype around this movie is all about. It takes an experience this family had for an instance and they dwell on it for two hours. I understand that it has something to say, but it really doesnt tell me much. We know very little about the family outside of their hotel. It's hard to sympathize with anyone since we dont know anything about any of them. The film hits us over the head with this hypothetical situation and asks us to think about it without giving any context. Its a slow movie that might as well be about a family trapped by an avalanche, they dont go anywhere or do anything.
The saving grace of this film is the acting and cinematography. The actors power through their drawn out dialogue letting it seem as though the action is building when its all psychological. I dont know, maybe i just don't get it.
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Comments 1 - 13 of 13
swiz
@Shingwauk I think the point of the ending, or at least my interpretation, is thatAlso, I just found it amusing that both of you guys tried spoiler tagging, but neither of the tags are in the right place--at least you had good intentions
leodelgado01
that beard should have won an Oscar.acoltismypassport
Aside from the ninety minute lull in the middle, this was great. The ending is quite possibly one of the most interesting segments I've seen in a long while.MoutardedShroom
Brilliant movie. The hypocrisy, the nonsensical but fun scenes, the characters that feel cold and unavailable, the neverending white, and the gorgeous music... It's a plesaure to get in a dark room full of strangers to see a movie such as thisGalemathias
[spoiler][/spoiler]I suspected it while watching "Play" a few years ago, but now I am sure: Ruben Östlund is a genious!
I find this movie unique. I can't remember having seen something so disturbingly awkward before. It's dead serious and hilarious at the same time. At least that's how I interpreted it.
Unlike Chikamaharry, who commented earlier, I didn't find it emotional until the ending scenes. Everything before that was, the way I see it, more like sterile images of emotional events. There are two reasons why I felt this way. One: there was never a scene in which all characters were emotionally effected by what was happening. There was always one or more characters who did not emphasize with the emotional character. Two: the director makes sure that the audience is physically distanced from the most emotional scenes. For example, the camera backs away a lot when showing the man having an emotional breakdown.
Östlund again proves himself as an extraordinary and intelligent observer of human relations. "Play" was amazing in how it described the relationships between young criminals on a detailed, psychological level. This movie does the same, only the focus is now on a european middle class family.
Chikamaharry
This movie tries with no doubt to actually say something. It tackles head on the stereotypical man, the hero of the family, who always protects everyone. And it has a clear point of view it is trying to reflect. I respect it for that. It brings to light a problem that I feel gets more recognition, but not enough. A+ for that.But, the entirety of the movie just feels ind of weird. A little bit over the top, you do not know how to feel during the emotional scenes, because everything feels kind of off. Not sure why, but didn't really resonate with me.
Other than that: a actually handful of great scandinavian actors in this movie. Hivju is great, and just a lot of fun to see on the screen. Man, that beard. Also some cool visual stuff in this movie. In a lot of the scenes, the camera weren't moving, and stood completely still for a long period of time. Was really cool, and adds a kind of comedic tone to the scenes. Maybe because of that some of the scenes felt kind of off.
The_Comatorium
What would you do in a situation where your life could be in immediate danger? It’s the classic fight or flight scenario that really can’t be answered until the time has come. Tomas and his family found the answer to that question after their vacation lunch is interrupted by a controlled avalanche, or so it seems controlled. What follows is a unique, entertaining, cringe worthy film that deals with the aftermath of such an event. I didn’t expect it to be so funny.I like to think that I would be the kind of man that stares danger in the face and puts up a fight. Fact is, I have no idea if that’s true or not. I’ve been in some situations where I was able to handle myself. I was in a car accident, helped rescue a hurt ATV rider calling for help in the woods, and two friends pass out on me, one from heat stroke and one from exhaustion. All these however were instances where I wasn’t involved or wasn’t involved minimally. The car accident was a low speed rear ending. My life has never truly been in danger. The lives of my friends and family have never been in danger. I’m waiting for the day that I’m walking down the street with somebody I care about and get approached by a man with a knife. Would I run? Would I shield my loved one? I’d like to think the latter, but can I be sure? The reaction is pure instinct and that’s where this film stores all of it’s interest. It provokes these thoughts in the viewing while simultaneously conjuring thoughts about the characters in the film. It was very entertaining.
The film should have been included in this years Oscar ceremony, but what are you going to do? There were so many scenes where family members and friends are trying to get a hold on what happened and how they feel about it. Those instances show the true person behind all the presentation we show other people. It was fun getting to see how this is handled, by both the people affected by the decision, and the person who made it.
Did I mention Tormund Giantsbane is in this? His beard is still amazing. Don’t know what I mean? That’s too bad, I’m not telling.
The film is also shot very well with many standing shots of the Alps with the action happening around the frame, like a moving picture. There was so much white filling every space that it really made you appreciate the darkness and the shadows, much like how we explore the parts of ourselves that aren’t bright and in your face.
It’s a great film.
4/5
www.thoughtsfromthebooth.com
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icheckmoviesaccount
In the age of auto-correct I came here and got to see the word "genious". That's beautiful.Shingwauk
mcmakattack
Östlund consistently finds the perfect balance between tension and humor. This pull back and forth not only creates an uneasy atmosphere cut by wit, but this balance also supports the central themes of his works. Here the characters are subject to their own hypocrisy, at odds with how they think they should behave and their instinct actions. All of this set against a super privileged ski vacation, set with expensive urinals and all forms of convenient transportation.deckard.
i'm pretty sure that ending with the people walking is a little homage to bunuel's "discreet charm of the bourgeoisie"DaniloFreiles
Grazie.
nowhereman136
i dont see what the hype around this movie is all about. It takes an experience this family had for an instance and they dwell on it for two hours. I understand that it has something to say, but it really doesnt tell me much. We know very little about the family outside of their hotel. It's hard to sympathize with anyone since we dont know anything about any of them. The film hits us over the head with this hypothetical situation and asks us to think about it without giving any context. Its a slow movie that might as well be about a family trapped by an avalanche, they dont go anywhere or do anything.The saving grace of this film is the acting and cinematography. The actors power through their drawn out dialogue letting it seem as though the action is building when its all psychological. I dont know, maybe i just don't get it.
5/10