Review of Force Majeure (2014) by Lorrie F — 15 Feb 2015

Although not a great deal happens in "Force Majeure" (roughly translated as "Act of God"), what does happen sets up an emotionally gripping exploration of courage vs. cowardice, the instinct to protect vs. the instinct of self-preservation, and above all, the way in which love allows forgiveness of someone else, and even more, provides a way for that person to forgive himself.

Swedes Tomas and Ebba are vacationing at a ski resort in the French Alps with their two school-aged children when an avalanche strikes. As Ebba leaps up to protect her children, Tomas panics and flees. Although he returns shortly afterward, the damage is done. Ebba has lost respect for him, and the more he tries to deny his actions, the more her disgust and disappointment grow.

Tomas tries to convince himself that he did not abandon his wife and children, but when shown a video of the avalanche, he cannot fool himself any longer ? if he really ever did. Gradually, Tomas' shame, disappointment in himself, and self-disgust begin to consume him, and Ebba must decide if he is worth forgiving,or if she can ever trust him again. And even so, how will he ever forgive himself?

There are a couple of other characters who also suffer from the shame and disappointment of their decisions to abandon those they love? a divorced man who virtually never sees his children; an emotionally walled-off woman who tries to deceive herself into believing her uncommitted, faithless, "open" marriage is fulfilling ? but they aren't nearly as compelling as Tomas and Ebba.

"Force Majeure" seems to have a rather random ending, but in fact, I found myself thinking about it quite a bit afterward. Although Ebba's actions at the end may seem to say one thing, it seems to me that she has actually acted out of love and forgiveness. And more, she has found a way to give Tomas a chance to forgive himself.