Force Majeure
dir. Ruben Östlund · 2014
Plot
A Swedish family travels to the French Alps to enjoy a few days of skiing. The sun is shining and the slopes are spectacular but, during a lunch at a mountainside restaurant, an avalanche turns everything upside down. With diners fleeing in all directions, mother Ebba calls for her husband Tomas as she tries to protect their children. Tomas, meanwhile, is running for his life... The anticipated disaster failed to occur, and yet the family's world has been shaken to its core, a question mark hanging over their father in particular. Tomas and Ebba's marriage now hangs in the balance as Tomas struggles desperately to reclaim his role as family patriarch.
Why watch
An avalanche looms over a picturesque family vacation in the French Alps, but when the disaster fails to materialize, the real chaos begins. Tomas's instinctive flight response during the crisis shatters the family's facade, forcing them to confront the fragility of their relationships and the expectations of masculinity. Watching this film is like navigating a delicate balance between humor and discomfort, as it lays bare the absurdities of human behavior in the face of existential dread.
Talking points
- the nature of courage
- the impact of trauma on relationships
- societal expectations of masculinity
- the absurdity of human reactions in crisis