Review of Force Majeure (2014) by Tiago C — 27 Jul 2015

Who would think that a seemingly harmless avalanche would entirely change a family's ski vacation and subsequently the enjoyment of others around them? In Östlund's Force Majeure, we join a Swedish family's attempt to venture the fresh, self-generated powder snow in the French Alps.

Their trip thus far is typical: excitement of the mountains followed by overtired, fitful children. We feel as a member of the family, sympathizing with the dynamics of a familiarly uncomfortable and try-hard vacation.

It takes an interesting turn when an avalanche strikes a little close to the lodge at which the family is enjoying breakfast/lunch. The brief moments after will go on to shape the remainder of the film, drastically shifting the family's dynamic.

Without spoiling this certain sudden moment that throws the film into pendulum, it's safe to say that from then on the mother Ebba and father Tomas will do a fair bit of arguing and the children will entertain the not-far-from-the-truth possibility of a divorce.

With long takes of emotional conversations, heated arguments, and even social interactions with others, the characters give us a chance to observe the very moments they're thinking and battling their inner crises.

We'd be without any identification of/with the characters had we not partaken in an almost real-time spectacle of human cognition fighting itself. The wife and husband eventually go on to resolve their problem.

However, it'd be too good to be true if their problems didn't affect the people around them. Not only are the children affected, but so are the other couple. Conversations about natural and parental instinct seem to blow themselves out of proportion, subsequently creating a duplication of Tomas & Ebba's issues in this other relationship.

The film extends to resolve most of the surface arguments, but leaves a little room for chuckling at the closing scene. All in all, a great perspective of the "family vacation" in natural light and a bit feel good when you realize we're all a little bit like the unnamed bunch.

Problems included.