An absolute crowd-pleaser buoyed by a terrific Mads Mikkelsen and directed with assured sincerity by Thomas Vinterberg. A total delight to watch as laughter mixed with tears and hope intermingled with sadness and joy. Coupled with the tragic backstory surrounding the production, this was ultimately a film that celebrated and affirmed life for all its complications and complexities.
Starting with Finn Skårderud's unconventional hypothesis that humans are born with a blood alcohol level deficit of 0.05% per cent, the film used that conceit to explore a myriad of human behaviour either between each other or with society at large, albeit with a slightly Danish/Scandinavian leaning. It looked at all the different relationships one might have, with friends, family and colleague, with your work, your passions, your role in society and your duty to self. It looked at love, at regrets, at passion, at responsibilities.
Essentially, this film used four middle-aged men and their mid-life crises to examine the messiness of life and the relationships that binds us all together for good and for bad.
Crucial to the success of the film was the genuine chemistry between the central four friends played by Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe and Magnus Millang. Their camaraderie anchored the film and made the possibilities of four teachers doing such a reckless, pseudo-psychological social experiment believable.
But of course, lead actor Mikkelsen carried most of the film. His character's psychological changes through the film manifested so clearly - and sharply - in Mikkelsen's physical appearance. His face and his body language was like an extension of his psyche. The transformation ranged from stark to subtle and really was a masterclass in acting. And his eyes...they are so expressive.
And let's talk about that ending. This film had one of the best endings in a long while, and other than Steve McQueen's sultry, sexy 5-minutes plus tribute to love featuring Janet Kay's "Silly Games" in Love Rock, this was also one of the best dance/party/living-it-up sequence committed to celluloid. It was filled with an undeniable and exuberant joy that was so infectious and just so palpable. Paired with Scarlet Pleasure's "What A Life", it was a honest, sincere, hopeful, heartwarming celebration of Life.
At the end of the film, one just cannot help feeling touched and hopeful and thankful to be alive. Such is the power of movies and such is the power of good storytelling. Kudos! Definite a shoo-in for a Best International Feature Film nomination and a dark horse for Mikkelsen to sneak in a Best Actor nomination.
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