Force-majeure-cover-poster

Force Majeure (2014)

Force Majeure film review

My Ratings: 4.4/5.

Force Majeure is a term generally used to define the risks which are beyond the reasonable control of anybody; legally also known as the ‘acts of God’.

For example an avalanche or even a threat of an avalanche!

Now how does a person react in that split second of time when one assumes his life to be in danger? In such a life-threatning moment will a man prove himself to be ‘man’ enough and defend his family or will he panic and run for his own life?

For Thomas who has come for a ski holiday in the snowy mountains of the French Alps with his wife Ebba and the two kids Harry and Vera, such a decisive moment will have a profound effect on his life and will turn their family dynamics upside down.

Force-Majeure-poster1Directed by Ruben Östlund, Force Majeure is an outstanding dark comedy that delves with certain aspects of our human nature which we poor humans are often not so keen to admit even to ourselves. 

The scenic beauty of the snow clapped mountains captured by Fredrik Wenzel when put in sync with the often used music from Antonio Vivaldis Summer Concerto gives the film an eerie sense of danger, a state of anxiety that perfectly matches with the moods of the characters.

Brilliant performances and impeccable comic timing by the actors – Johannes Kuhnke (Thomas)Lisa Loven Kongsli (Ebba), Vincent Wettergren (Harry), Clara Wettergren (Vera) and of course Kristofer Hivju (Mats).  

Storytelling also at it’s best, plenty of clever dialogues and subtle moments that make this film one of the best of 2014. Among a long list of awards Force Majeure has already won the Jury Prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It is also been selected as the Swedish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Oscars.

Force Majeure is a film that throws light on the overall perception of heroism and what it takes ‘to be a Man’ as it dissects the aftereffects of a momentary act of cowardice.

Watch it.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *