Nordic Challenge (Official, June 2022)

[DudeLanez]

21. Raven's End (1963, Widerberg) 7/10 #Sweden
22. Adalen 31 (1969, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
23. Man on the Roof (1976, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
24. All Things Fair (1995, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden

Sweden: 19 / Denmark: 2 / Norway: 2 / Finland: 1

01. Intermezzo (1936, Molander) 5,5/10 #Sweden
02. A Woman's Face (1938, Molander) 6/10 #Sweden
03. Ordet (1943, Molander) 6/10 #Sweden
04. Terribly Happy (2008, Genz) 6/10 #Denmark
05. Sebbe (2010, Najafi) 6/10 #Sweden
06. Here Is Your Life (1966, Troell) 7,5/10 #Sweden
07. Who Saw Him Die? (1968, Troell) 7/10 #Sweden
08. As White as in Snow (2001, Troell) 7/10 #Sweden
09. Only a Mother (1959, Sjöberg) 6/10 #Sweden
10. Hugo and Josephine (1967, Grede) 5,5/10 #Sweden
11. Winter Brothers (2017, Palmason) 5/10 #Denmark
12. Border (2018, Abbasi) 6/10 #Sweden
13. The Apple War (1971, Danielsson) 3/10 #Sweden
14. Release the Prisoners to Spring (1975, Danielsson) 2,5/10 #Sweden
15. The Adventures of Picasso (1978, Danielsson) 4/10 #Sweden
16. Girl with Hyacinths (1950, Ekman) 6,5/10 #Sweden
17. The White Reindeer (1952, Blomberg) 5,5/10 #Finland
18. The Wave (2015, Uthaug) 6,5/10 #Norway
19. The Quake (2018, Andersen) 4/10 #Norway
20. Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (1988, Leszczylowsk) 7,5/10 #Sweden
21. Raven's End (1963, Widerberg) 7/10 #Sweden
22. Adalen 31 (1969, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
23. Man on the Roof (1976, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
24. All Things Fair (1995, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden

[magnusbernhardsen]

19. Pitbullterje Norway, 2005

Charming children's film about a couple of outsiders who become friends and stand up to the popular kids.

20. Blasted Norway, 2022

Dreary shlock about a bachelor party that ends up as the vanguard against an alien invasion, armed with laser tag guns.

[sol]

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) Norway
2. The White Reindeer (1952) Finland
3. The Innocents (2021) Norway
4. Involuntary (2008) Sweden
5. The Deep (2012) Iceland
6. Kill Buljo (2007) Norway
7. Knocking (2021) Sweden
8. Kon-Tiki (1950) Norway
9. Holiday (2018) Denmark
10. I blodet (2016) Denmark
11. The Trip (2021) Norway
12. Tuftland (2017) Finland
13. Corridor (2010) Sweden
14. Gilbert's Revenge (2016) Norway
15. Ronja Rövardotter (1984) Sweden
16. Atlantic Rhapsody (1990) Faroe Islands
17. Jar City (2006) Iceland
18. Jackpot (2011) Norway
19. Juha (1999) Finland
20. Play (2011) Sweden
21. Hevn (2015) Norway
22. Resin (2019) Denmark
23. Bleeder (1999) Denmark
24. Breeder (2020) Denmark
25. Død Snø (2009) Norway REVISION
26. Død Snø 2 (2014) Norway REVISION
27. Supercool (2021) Finland
28. Antboy II (2014) Denmark
29. Antboy 3 (2016) Denmark
30. Pusher 3 (2005) Denmark
31. The Mare (2020) Norway
32. The Wave (2015) Norway
33. Entombed (2020) Norway
34. Everywhen (2013) Norway
35. Euthanizer (2017) Finland
36. Heavy Trip (2018) Finland
37. The Return (1992) Denmark
38. Orion's Belt (1985) Norway
39. Cutterhead (2018) Denmark
40. Midsommer (2003) Denmark
41. The Square (2017) Sweden REVISION
42. Gritt (2021) Norway
43. Lamb (2021) Iceland
44. Force Majeure (2014) Sweden REVISION
45. 101 Reykjavik (2000) Iceland
46. Crazy Finland (1967) Finland
47. Happy Ending (2018) Denmark
48. Up and Away! (2018) Denmark
49. The Exception (2019) Denmark
50. Skeleton Crew (2009) Finland
51. The Big Freeze (1993) Finland
52. Feed the Light (2014) Sweden
53. Men & Chicken (2015) Denmark
54. Under the Tree (2017) Iceland
55. The Ringmaster (2018) Denmark
56. Oskar's America (2017) Norway
57. Flickering Lights (2000) Denmark
58. Riders of Justice (2020) Denmark
59. Lake of the Dead (1958) Norway
60. Small Town Killers (2017) Denmark
61. Think of a Number (1969) Denmark
62. The Green Butchers (2003) Denmark
63. Bunny the Killer Thing (2015) Finland
64. Inspector Palmu's Error (1960) Finland
65. In China They Eat Dogs (1999) Denmark
66. It Came from the Desert (2017) Finland
67. Your Flesh -- Your Curse (2017) Denmark
68. Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019) Finland
69. Niko: Lentäjän Poika (2008) Finland

70. The Neon Demon (2016) Denmark REVISION



A wide-eyed Elle Fanning is perfectly cast in the lead role here, credibly transforming from a "deer in the headlights" ingénue to a confident and even arrogant young lady. The ending disappoints though knowing it is coming. While the overt horror turn is nicely symbolic of how the fashion industry chews up new talent, it is all very unsubtle for a film for a film that mostly relishes in ambiguity, though this remains quite an audiovisual assaults on the senses.

Keeping track:

24 -- 18 -- 14 -- 8 -- 5 -- 1

[Traveller]

54. Cool and Crazy (2001) - 4/10 (Norway)

[magnusbernhardsen]

21. Myrin (Jar City) Iceland, 2006

A quite interesting crime story, but it is too convoluted to really win me over. It is good, though.

[DudeLanez]

25. A Swedish Love Story (1970, Andersson) 7/10 #Sweden
26. Evil (2003, Håfström) 6,5/10 #Sweden

Sweden: 21 / Denmark: 2 / Norway: 2 / Finland: 1

01. Intermezzo (1936, Molander) 5,5/10 #Sweden
02. A Woman's Face (1938, Molander) 6/10 #Sweden
03. Ordet (1943, Molander) 6/10 #Sweden
04. Terribly Happy (2008, Genz) 6/10 #Denmark
05. Sebbe (2010, Najafi) 6/10 #Sweden
06. Here Is Your Life (1966, Troell) 7,5/10 #Sweden
07. Who Saw Him Die? (1968, Troell) 7/10 #Sweden
08. As White as in Snow (2001, Troell) 7/10 #Sweden
09. Only a Mother (1959, Sjöberg) 6/10 #Sweden
10. Hugo and Josephine (1967, Grede) 5,5/10 #Sweden
11. Winter Brothers (2017, Palmason) 5/10 #Denmark
12. Border (2018, Abbasi) 6/10 #Sweden
13. The Apple War (1971, Danielsson) 3/10 #Sweden
14. Release the Prisoners to Spring (1975, Danielsson) 2,5/10 #Sweden
15. The Adventures of Picasso (1978, Danielsson) 4/10 #Sweden
16. Girl with Hyacinths (1950, Ekman) 6,5/10 #Sweden
17. The White Reindeer (1952, Blomberg) 5,5/10 #Finland
18. The Wave (2015, Uthaug) 6,5/10 #Norway
19. The Quake (2018, Andersen) 4/10 #Norway
20. Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (1988, Leszczylowsk) 7,5/10 #Sweden
21. Raven's End (1963, Widerberg) 7/10 #Sweden
22. Adalen 31 (1969, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
23. Man on the Roof (1976, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
24. All Things Fair (1995, Widerberg) 6,5/10 #Sweden
25. A Swedish Love Story (1970, Andersson) 7/10 #Sweden
26. Evil (2003, Håfström) 6,5/10 #Sweden

[blocho]

I was going to do Ruben Ostlund for Run the Director, but now, after seeing two of his movies, I have no desire to see a third.

7. Force Majeure (2014, Sweden)
A puzzling movie. It’s a dark comedy of manners masquerading as a family drama, though to what end I’m not sure. Is it meant to mock the rich? The setting of a ski resort, which is depicted as luxurious but also as vaguely menacing and vacuous, might be an indication. But ultimately, I’m not sure. While I liked the acting in this movie and some of the elements of filmmaking, such as some very artful framing, the script felt confused and inauthentic.

8. Play (2011, Sweden)
This movie might be set in Goteborg, but it’s got a heavy dose of Stockholm syndrome. It’s also even more incomprehensible than Force Majeure. I really don’t know what point it’s trying to make. That people in Sweden are too reluctant to call the police? That ethnic Swedes are too passive while Swedes with African heritage are too assertive? In the end, I don’t really care. This is a mess of a movie: glib, self-satisfied, indulgent.

Sometimes movies get a lot of praise for "raising issues," and while I'm somewhat sympathetic to that viewpoint, I also think it can mean some very lazy filmmaking. I think Ostlund, who served as writer and director for both movies, doesn't have a clear idea what he wants to achieve either narratively or thematically.

[sol]

Sometimes movies get a lot of praise for "raising issues," and while I'm somewhat sympathetic to that viewpoint, I also think it can mean some very lazy filmmaking. I think Ostlund, who served as writer and director for both movies, doesn't have a clear idea what he wants to achieve either narratively or thematically.

I'm not sure if you read my Ostlund writeup on the Run the Director thread, so forgive me if I copy and paste a bit here:

What is Östlund about? Blame and responsibility. All of his protagonists are defined by this; accepting blame (or not) for actions that may or may not be their fault and deflecting responsibility where possible.

Play was my favourite of the ones I watched this month and the one most focused on characters accepting blame when they should not. There is a lot of interesting coercion at play and the whole thing is really intense, focused on three friends unsure whether an immigrant gang of slightly older kids will hurt them as they are pretty much forced to go along with them and hand over their belongings.

Force Majeure was a less fruitful rewatch but it rose in my esteem. I still find the film a bit too repetitive, but there is a lot of interest as a blame and responsibility tale with the characters constantly taunted by classical music bursts.

Themes and issues aside, Östlund is a master of unusual framing. Sometimes it calls attention to itself a bit much with characters awkwardly framed cut off-screen and so on as in Involuntary. All of the long distance shots are, however, amazing in Force Majeure, though Play is the best of his films when it comes to framing though with us as viewers often placed at a helpless distance to the characters and forced to observe them while unable to intervene.

Honestly, I think Östlund is one of the most exciting directors working today, though I would probably agree that Force Majeure is generally overpraised.

[sol]

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) Norway
2. The White Reindeer (1952) Finland
3. The Innocents (2021) Norway
4. Involuntary (2008) Sweden
5. The Deep (2012) Iceland
6. Kill Buljo (2007) Norway
7. Knocking (2021) Sweden
8. Kon-Tiki (1950) Norway
9. Holiday (2018) Denmark
10. I blodet (2016) Denmark
11. The Trip (2021) Norway
12. Tuftland (2017) Finland
13. Corridor (2010) Sweden
14. Gilbert's Revenge (2016) Norway
15. Ronja Rövardotter (1984) Sweden
16. Atlantic Rhapsody (1990) Faroe Islands
17. Jar City (2006) Iceland
18. Jackpot (2011) Norway
19. Juha (1999) Finland
20. Play (2011) Sweden
21. Hevn (2015) Norway
22. Resin (2019) Denmark
23. Bleeder (1999) Denmark
24. Breeder (2020) Denmark
25. Død Snø (2009) Norway REVISION
26. Død Snø 2 (2014) Norway REVISION
27. Supercool (2021) Finland
28. Antboy II (2014) Denmark
29. Antboy 3 (2016) Denmark
30. Pusher 3 (2005) Denmark
31. The Mare (2020) Norway
32. The Wave (2015) Norway
33. Entombed (2020) Norway
34. Everywhen (2013) Norway
35. Euthanizer (2017) Finland
36. Heavy Trip (2018) Finland
37. The Return (1992) Denmark
38. Orion's Belt (1985) Norway
39. Cutterhead (2018) Denmark
40. Midsommer (2003) Denmark
41. The Square (2017) Sweden REVISION
42. Gritt (2021) Norway
43. Lamb (2021) Iceland
44. Force Majeure (2014) Sweden REVISION
45. 101 Reykjavik (2000) Iceland
46. Crazy Finland (1967) Finland
47. Happy Ending (2018) Denmark
48. Up and Away! (2018) Denmark
49. The Exception (2019) Denmark
50. Skeleton Crew (2009) Finland
51. The Big Freeze (1993) Finland
52. Feed the Light (2014) Sweden
53. Men & Chicken (2015) Denmark
54. Under the Tree (2017) Iceland
55. The Ringmaster (2018) Denmark
56. Oskar's America (2017) Norway
57. Flickering Lights (2000) Denmark
58. Riders of Justice (2020) Denmark
59. Lake of the Dead (1958) Norway
60. Small Town Killers (2017) Denmark
61. Think of a Number (1969) Denmark
62. The Green Butchers (2003) Denmark
63. Bunny the Killer Thing (2015) Finland
64. Inspector Palmu's Error (1960) Finland
65. In China They Eat Dogs (1999) Denmark
66. It Came from the Desert (2017) Finland
67. Your Flesh -- Your Curse (2017) Denmark
68. Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019) Finland
69. Niko: Lentäjän Poika (2008) Finland
70. The Neon Demon (2016) Denmark REVISION

71. Born American (1986) Finland



Sneaking across the Suomi/Russia border for fun (!), three drunken American tourists are shocked (!!) when they are captured and tortured here. While the tourists are too foolish to ever really be likeable, the film is decent enough at first with grueling and very graphic torture (see above) and a tense church attack. The second half of the movie though is mostly spent in a Soviet prison that feels more like a post-apocalyptic underworld than a realistic gulag.

Keeping track:

24 -- 18 -- 15 -- 8 -- 5 -- 1

[sol]

Spoiler

1. The Worst Person in the World (2021) Norway
2. The White Reindeer (1952) Finland
3. The Innocents (2021) Norway
4. Involuntary (2008) Sweden
5. The Deep (2012) Iceland
6. Kill Buljo (2007) Norway
7. Knocking (2021) Sweden
8. Kon-Tiki (1950) Norway
9. Holiday (2018) Denmark
10. I blodet (2016) Denmark
11. The Trip (2021) Norway
12. Tuftland (2017) Finland
13. Corridor (2010) Sweden
14. Gilbert's Revenge (2016) Norway
15. Ronja Rövardotter (1984) Sweden
16. Atlantic Rhapsody (1990) Faroe Islands
17. Jar City (2006) Iceland
18. Jackpot (2011) Norway
19. Juha (1999) Finland
20. Play (2011) Sweden
21. Hevn (2015) Norway
22. Resin (2019) Denmark
23. Bleeder (1999) Denmark
24. Breeder (2020) Denmark
25. Død Snø (2009) Norway REVISION
26. Død Snø 2 (2014) Norway REVISION
27. Supercool (2021) Finland
28. Antboy II (2014) Denmark
29. Antboy 3 (2016) Denmark
30. Pusher 3 (2005) Denmark
31. The Mare (2020) Norway
32. The Wave (2015) Norway
33. Entombed (2020) Norway
34. Everywhen (2013) Norway
35. Euthanizer (2017) Finland
36. Heavy Trip (2018) Finland
37. The Return (1992) Denmark
38. Orion's Belt (1985) Norway
39. Cutterhead (2018) Denmark
40. Midsommer (2003) Denmark
41. The Square (2017) Sweden REVISION
42. Gritt (2021) Norway
43. Lamb (2021) Iceland
44. Force Majeure (2014) Sweden REVISION
45. 101 Reykjavik (2000) Iceland
46. Crazy Finland (1967) Finland
47. Happy Ending (2018) Denmark
48. Up and Away! (2018) Denmark
49. The Exception (2019) Denmark
50. Skeleton Crew (2009) Finland
51. The Big Freeze (1993) Finland
52. Feed the Light (2014) Sweden
53. Men & Chicken (2015) Denmark
54. Under the Tree (2017) Iceland
55. The Ringmaster (2018) Denmark
56. Oskar's America (2017) Norway
57. Flickering Lights (2000) Denmark
58. Riders of Justice (2020) Denmark
59. Lake of the Dead (1958) Norway
60. Small Town Killers (2017) Denmark
61. Think of a Number (1969) Denmark
62. The Green Butchers (2003) Denmark
63. Bunny the Killer Thing (2015) Finland
64. Inspector Palmu's Error (1960) Finland
65. In China They Eat Dogs (1999) Denmark
66. It Came from the Desert (2017) Finland
67. Your Flesh -- Your Curse (2017) Denmark
68. Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019) Finland
69. Niko: Lentäjän Poika (2008) Finland
70. The Neon Demon (2016) Denmark REVISION
71. Born American (1986) Finland

72. Container (2006) Sweden



This is essentially one long monologue set to random and interchangeable imagery, but there is a little more to it. The proceedings are narrated by Jena Malone who appears to be reading out what someone else has written. Around halfway in though, she is admits that she is Malone, and that she has never even been to Sweden, and subsequently the film becomes deliciously ambiguous regarding if what we are hearing is real, scripted or made up on the spot.

Keeping track:

24 -- 18 -- 15 -- 9 -- 5 -- 1

[blocho]

Sometimes movies get a lot of praise for "raising issues," and while I'm somewhat sympathetic to that viewpoint, I also think it can mean some very lazy filmmaking. I think Ostlund, who served as writer and director for both movies, doesn't have a clear idea what he wants to achieve either narratively or thematically.

I'm not sure if you read my Ostlund writeup on the Run the Director thread, so forgive me if I copy and paste a bit here:

I did see your writeup, and while I recognize the blame/responsibility theme is present (in Force Majeure, I think, more so than Play), I still think Ostlund is for the most part incoherent. Take the wooden cradle subplot in Play, for example. Or the final half hour of Force Majeure.

[jdidaco]

(Screenshot from 'Mannen som ikke kunne le'),

15. Houkutuslintu (The Callbird, Roland af Hällström, 1946) 8/10 (Finland)
16. Blændværk (Delusion, Johan Jacobsen, 1955) 8/10 (Denmark)
17. Klänningen (The Dress, Vilgot Sjöman, 1964) 7/10 (Sweden)
18. Heja Roland! (Come on Roland!, Bo Widerberg, 1966) 7/10 (Sweden)
19. Mannen som ikke kunne le (The Man Who Could Not Laugh, Bo Hermansson, 1968) 9/10 (Norway)
20. Mannen som slutade röka (The Man Who Quit Smoking, Tage Danielsson, 1972) 7.5/10 (Sweden)



And with this nonsensical marvel from Norway, I say that's it for me!!! Thanks again for hosting, peptoad.

!seen 20

Spoiler

1. Kattorna (The Cats, Henning Carlsen, 1965) 7.5/10 (Sweden)
2. Klabautermannen (We Are All Demons, Henning Carlsen, 1969) 8/10 (Denmark/Sweden/Norway)
3. Blóðrautt sólarlag (The Crimson Sunset, Hrafn Gunnlaugsson, 1977) 7.5/10 (Iceland)
4. Hør, var der ikke en som lo? (Did Somebody Laugh?, Henning Carlsen, 1978) 8/10 (Denmark)
5. Bödeln och skökan (Middle Ages Now, Hrafn Gunnlaugsson, 1986) 8/10 (Sweden)
6. Flugt (Flee, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, 2021) 8/10 (Denmark/Norway/Sweden/Finland)
7. Sissit (Commando Assault, Mikko Niskanen, 1963) 8/10 (Finland)
8. Lapualaismorsian (Girl of Finland, Mikko Niskanen, 1967) 8.5/10 (Finland)
9. Glerbrot (Broken Glass, Kristín Jóhannesdóttir, 1988) 7/10 (Iceland)
10. En håndfull tid (A Handful of Time, Martin Asphaug, 1989) 7.5/10 (Norway/Sweden)
11. Pähkähullu Suomi (Crazy Finland, Jukka Virtanen, 1967) 6.5/10 (Finland)
12. Korpinpolska (The Raven's Dance, Markku Lehmuskallio, 1980) 8.5/10 (Finland/Sweden)
13. Jumalan morsian (A Bride of the Seventh Heaven, Markku Lehmuskallio & Anastasia Lapsui, 2004) 8.5/10 (Finland)
14. Nedarma/Matka (Travelling, Markku Lehmuskallio & Anastasia Lapsui, 2008) 7.5/10 (Finland)

[sol]

Sometimes movies get a lot of praise for "raising issues," and while I'm somewhat sympathetic to that viewpoint, I also think it can mean some very lazy filmmaking. I think Ostlund, who served as writer and director for both movies, doesn't have a clear idea what he wants to achieve either narratively or thematically.

I'm not sure if you read my Ostlund writeup on the Run the Director thread, so forgive me if I copy and paste a bit here:

I did see your writeup, and while I recognize the blame/responsibility theme is present (in Force Majeure, I think, more so than Play), I still think Ostlund is for the most part incoherent. Take the wooden cradle subplot in Play, for example. Or the final half hour of Force Majeure.

I don't know if "incoherent" is quite the right word. Certainly there is a lot that feels very random in most of Ostlund's films, those aspects included, but I found both your examples to be thematically on-point in the context of their films. I will say this much though: it is probably a bit hard to really 'get' Ostlund without seeing his whole progression from Involuntary to The Square, and honestly I wasn't too impressed with Force Majeure either the first time round when I saw it out of context of the rest of Ostlund's output.

Involuntary consists of five different tales of blame and responsibility cut together without ever overlapping. While the cuts between the tales soon begin to feel very random, Ostlund very much establishes the world as he sees it through these five tales: societies built on those who shift blame and refuse to accept responsibility with some sometimes absurd extremes. Play to me feels cut from the same cloth. It is another case of Ostlund overlapping tales of blame and responsibility to present the world as a crazy place when we accept responsibility for things we shouldn't and refuse to accept it for cases where we should. And there's a bit of absurdity to the cradle left in the middle of the train carriage with nobody claiming it and responsibility thus shifted onto the train personnel to get rid of it - i.e. a problem that should not be theirs becomes theirs. I mean, I suppose I would agree that the cradle distracts a little from the kids and all the tension there, but I guess I find it to simply be part of Ostlund's blame/responsibility world-building, if I can call it that.

Regarding the final half-hour of Force Majeure, it mostly works along the lines of what the characters discuss regarding not knowing how you would react under a stressful situation. We spend the vast majority of the film on the wife blaming the husband for a poorly judged split-second decision when...

Spoiler

...she makes her own poorly judged split second decision at the end. She panicked. And as a result they all end up having to walk back on foot. I think Ostlund leaves it open to interpretation regarding which was the worse decision; one thing is clear though - in Ostlund's eyes we are all capable of making poor decisions that we would rather like to believe we never made. Was the bus ever really in danger of falling of the cliff? Would she later deny it if it was later proved that everything was completely safe? I don't know. I think it's a very interesting note to end on.

I suppose you aren't interested in podcasting with us about Ostlund? Could be interesting since we have very diverse views. I'll check with Chris, but I don't think it would be essential for you to watch The Square or Involuntary to participate in such a podcast. Would love to take this conversation to a podcast!

[blocho]

Regarding the final half-hour of Force Majeure, it mostly works along the lines of what the characters discuss regarding not knowing how you would react under a stressful situation. We spend the vast majority of the film on the wife blaming the husband for a poorly judged split-second decision when...

Spoiler

...she makes her own poorly judged split second decision at the end. She panicked. And as a result they all end up having to walk back on foot. I think Ostlund leaves it open to interpretation regarding which was the worse decision; one thing is clear though - in Ostlund's eyes we are all capable of making poor decisions that we would rather like to believe we never made. Was the bus ever really in danger of falling of the cliff? Would she later deny it if it was later proved that everything was completely safe? I don't know. I think it's a very interesting note to end on.

I suppose you aren't interested in podcasting with us about Ostlund? Could be interesting since we have very diverse views. I'll check with Chris, but I don't think it would be essential for you to watch The Square or Involuntary to participate in such a podcast. Would love to take this conversation to a podcast!

OK, here's my problem with the ending of Force Majeure:

Spoiler

To me, she didn't panic. She wisely insisted on stopping the bus and getting her family off it. But even while I was watching that scene, I knew that it could be interpreted in your way.

Similarly, the lost-on-the-slopes scene a little earlier felt purposefully ambiguous. Was it meant to be a redemption scene for the husband? He seems to think so. But he also led the family into danger and left his kids alone. And why was he carrying his wife, when she can clearly walk? I even considered the possibility that she staged her disappearance as a way to help him reclaim some pride.

And what's with the cigarette-smoking in the last shot? I have no clue what I'm supposed to take from that.

This is what I meant by Ostlund "raising issues" while being incoherent. I don't mind movies with ambiguity and complexity, but this feels very facile to me.

Thanks for the invite, but no I don't think I want to podcast about Ostlund.

[Traveller]

55. The Painter and the Thief (2020) - 8/10 (Norway)

[sol]

Regarding the final half-hour of Force Majeure, it mostly works along the lines of what the characters discuss regarding not knowing how you would react under a stressful situation. We spend the vast majority of the film on the wife blaming the husband for a poorly judged split-second decision when...

Spoiler

...she makes her own poorly judged split second decision at the end. She panicked. And as a result they all end up having to walk back on foot. I think Ostlund leaves it open to interpretation regarding which was the worse decision; one thing is clear though - in Ostlund's eyes we are all capable of making poor decisions that we would rather like to believe we never made. Was the bus ever really in danger of falling of the cliff? Would she later deny it if it was later proved that everything was completely safe? I don't know. I think it's a very interesting note to end on.

I suppose you aren't interested in podcasting with us about Ostlund? Could be interesting since we have very diverse views. I'll check with Chris, but I don't think it would be essential for you to watch The Square or Involuntary to participate in such a podcast. Would love to take this conversation to a podcast!

OK, here's my problem with the ending of Force Majeure:

Spoiler

To me, she didn't panic. She wisely insisted on stopping the bus and getting her family off it. But even while I was watching that scene, I knew that it could be interpreted in your way.

Similarly, the lost-on-the-slopes scene a little earlier felt purposefully ambiguous. Was it meant to be a redemption scene for the husband? He seems to think so. But he also led the family into danger and left his kids alone. And why was he carrying his wife, when she can clearly walk? I even considered the possibility that she staged her disappearance as a way to help him reclaim some pride.

And what's with the cigarette-smoking in the last shot? I have no clue what I'm supposed to take from that.

This is what I meant by Ostlund "raising issues" while being incoherent. I don't mind movies with ambiguity and complexity, but this feels very facile to me.

Thanks for the invite, but no I don't think I want to podcast about Ostlund.

There are some really good articles on the film; I would particularly recommend this one, which goes into the slopes incident and cigarette, but in true Ostlund style, I won't blame you if you don't feel like reading up more about a film that didn't really work for you.

My take (much briefer):

Spoiler

The acceptance of the cigarette only makes sense if you believe that the husband saw her as panicking (regardless of whether or not her actions were rational). To him, this is his true redemption (more so than finding her on the slopes, which yeah, might have been faked). Finally feeling satisfied that he is no more flawed than his wife, he's happy to admit to being a smoker.

In any case, I still feel like a lot of this boils down to randomness rather than incoherence, but "randomness vs. incoherence" might be a great podcast topic in itself.

[blocho]

The cigarette thing somehow feels both random and incoherent.

Anyway, I appreciate getting your perspective.

[magnusbernhardsen]

21. Den blomstertid nu kommer (The unthinkable) Sweden, 2018

I enjoyed the paranoia and the attack by unknown forces, and the action sequences were very good. The broken family and the longing for the love of the youth took up too much time and space, and took away from what was actually interesting in the fiilm.

[magnusbernhardsen]

22. Ådalen '31 Sweden, 1969

I've had this on my watch list for years, and finally got round to it. I am very happy to have seen it, and it gave me some more knowledge about the Ådalen-shootings. I was left thinking there is an even better movie to be made about this, though.

[maxwelldeux]

7. Force Majeure (2014, Sweden)
A puzzling movie. It’s a dark comedy of manners masquerading as a family drama, though to what end I’m not sure. Is it meant to mock the rich? The setting of a ski resort, which is depicted as luxurious but also as vaguely menacing and vacuous, might an indication. But ultimately, I’m not sure. While I liked the acting in this movie and some of the elements of filmmaking, such as some very artful framing, the script felt confused and inauthentic.

Force Majeure was a less fruitful rewatch but it rose in my esteem. I still find the film a bit too repetitive, but there is a lot of interest as a blame and responsibility tale with the characters constantly taunted by classical music bursts.

I just wanted to jump in that I LOVED Force Majeure - like it's #45 on my favorites list, currently. To me, it was a masterpiece of family drama. You're out in this idyllic resort on a family vacation and should be having an amazing time... but something happens. And it shouldn't really be a thing, but it becomes a thing. Of course it's repetitive - it's because it's now a thing. And everything - every movement, every sound, every word, everything - gets interpreted through the lens of the thing. So it keeps coming up. But rather than being able to escape and get some space to allow things to cool down, you're stuck in a prison of you're own doing.

It brought me to a very specific type of marital fight and all the feelings that come with it - tension, anger, forced calmness, awkwardness, etc. For me, those feelings came right out and made the entire arc of the film unbelievably uncomfortable in the best possible way. I totally see both of your reactions - but it was part of what I liked about it.

[sol]

7. Force Majeure (2014, Sweden)
A puzzling movie. It’s a dark comedy of manners masquerading as a family drama, though to what end I’m not sure. Is it meant to mock the rich? The setting of a ski resort, which is depicted as luxurious but also as vaguely menacing and vacuous, might an indication. But ultimately, I’m not sure. While I liked the acting in this movie and some of the elements of filmmaking, such as some very artful framing, the script felt confused and inauthentic.

Force Majeure was a less fruitful rewatch but it rose in my esteem. I still find the film a bit too repetitive, but there is a lot of interest as a blame and responsibility tale with the characters constantly taunted by classical music bursts.

I just wanted to jump in that I LOVED Force Majeure - like it's #45 on my favorites list, currently. To me, it was a masterpiece of family drama. You're out in this idyllic resort on a family vacation and should be having an amazing time... but something happens. And it shouldn't really be a thing, but it becomes a thing. Of course it's repetitive - it's because it's now a thing. And everything - every movement, every sound, every word, everything - gets interpreted through the lens of the thing. So it keeps coming up. But rather than being able to escape and get some space to allow things to cool down, you're stuck in a prison of you're own doing.

It brought me to a very specific type of marital fight and all the feelings that come with it - tension, anger, forced calmness, awkwardness, etc. For me, those feelings came right out and made the entire arc of the film unbelievably uncomfortable in the best possible way. I totally see both of your reactions - but it was part of what I liked about it.

Sounds like *you* should be the one defending the film on this thread, not me. But yeah - the repetitiveness is not the end of the world; I just massively prefer The Square and Play since they are Ostlund films where new things are constantly happening rather than the same idea being repeated.

[peeptoad]

Alright, the Official Nordic Challenge has Officially Ended...
I'll post the final tally tomorrow morning to give you guys time to post any final viewings (and because I won't be home until tomorrow anyway).
Thanks to all who participated!

[Traveller]

56. The Trip (2021) - 7/10 (Norway)

Thanks for hosting, peeptoad.

[blocho]

9. The Shadow in My Eye (2021, Denmark)
10. Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014, Norway)
11. The Trip (2021, Norway)

[peeptoad]

Final OP update!
Congrats to sol for clinching the win over Traveller, who was very game in second. DudeLanez was another ways back in third, with magnusbernhardsen storming in during the last week to take fourth.

For the countries Sweden, not surprisingly, had the most views, but both Norway and Denmark were tough in defeat!

Happy Summer (except for sol and zzzorf who are in winter right now... ) and thanks for playing!! Please check your final tallies and let me know if anything is off...

Leaderboard

Rank	Participant	Count	Denmark	Faroe Islands	Finland	Iceland	Norway	Sweden
1	sol	72	24	1	15	5	18	9
2	Traveller	56	13		5	2	20	16
3	DudeLanez	26	2		1		2	21
4	magnusbernhardsen	23	2		1	2	13	5
5	jdidaco	20	4		7	2	2	5
6	blocho	11	2			1	4	4
7	3eyes	8	2		1		2	3
8	Torgo	7	1		4		1	1
9	peeptoad	6	6
10	AB537	5	1		1			3
10	maxwelldeux	5			1		1	3
12	zzzorf	3	1			1		1
13	vortexsurfer	2	1					1
14	gunnar	1	1
14	Mario Gaborović	1	1
	totals	246	61	1	36	13	63	72

[magnusbernhardsen]

Thanks for hosting the challenge!

[sol]

Thanks for hosting, peeps.

Really nice to see that while I saw the most from Denmark, Iceland and Finland, it was Trav who managed to top Norway, while the Dude topped Sweden.

This was a really great challenge for me; managed to cross a lot of stuff off my watch-list, several of which made it into either my 500<400 ballot and all-time top movies list.

My top recommendations per country that I saw this month:

Juha (1999) Finland https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158692/
Play (2011) Sweden https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1376717/
Tænk på et tal / Think of a Number (1969) Denmark https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065137/
Undir trénu / Under the Tree (2017) Iceland https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6223806/
De uskyldige / The Innocents (2021) Norway https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4028464/

[peeptoad]

Thanks for the recs, sol. I think I noticed the Innocents on streaming somewhere when I was surfing around a couple of nights ago. I might check that out in Oct if it's horror enough...
Eta. Added Think of a Number to my watch list as well.