Relationship Disaster Movie ‘Force Majeure’ Gets US Distribution; Watch The Trailer
The Swedish filmForce Majeureupends the disaster movie concept. A family finds its ski vacation disrupted when an avalanche threatens the mountain and lodge. And while disaster is averted on a grand scale, the brush with fear and death reveals something disturbing about the family patriarch, and creates some big problems. Check out the firstForce Majeuretrailer below.
WhileWinter Sleepwas the biggest prize winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival,Force Majeure, by directorRuben Östlund, walked away with its own prize. The film competed in the Un Certain Regard section, which is meant to highlight “young talent and to encourage innovative and daring works.” The grand prize winner in this category wasWhite Dog, butForce Majeuretook home the Jury Prize — previously won by films such asPolice, AdjectiveandTokyo Sonata.
This trailer makes the film look pretty great, and indeedForce Majeureearned some great reviews at the festival.The Telegraphcalled it a “brutal satire,” saying it is the director’s “latest brilliantly testing, laugh-as-you-wince experience.“The Playlistechoed the satire estimation, calling it “a brutally smart and original film,” whileTHRcalled it “another solid and provocative feature from Ostlund.”
Magnolia will release the film in the US, reportsVariety. Here’s the plot summary, from the Cannes program.
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.
