Review of Force Majeure (2014) by Walter M — 30 Nov 2014

In "Force Majeure," Tomas(Johannes Kuhnke) and Ebba(Lisa Loven Kongsli) take their two children Vera(Clara Wittergen) and Harry(Vincent Wettergren) from their native Sweden to the French Alps for a ski vacation. As Ebba puts it, this is in order for Tomas to get away and reconnect with his family. And all goes well at first, at least until they try to have lunch out on a veranda...

That central incident serves as a microcosm for the entire relationship between Tomas and Ebba, not only in his initial reaction but in her continued response. And "Force Majeure" would have been perfectly fine if it had settled in there for the long term. Except it doesn't. Soon after, it introduces another Swedish couple, this one more of a May-September relationship, followed by a prolonged debate about what would one do if one found oneself in peril unexpectedly. That would be good on a philosophical level if one were on a golf course and an avalanche happened, but not at a ski resort where there is at least a hint of danger. All of which happens while the resort workers look on helplessly.