Force Majeure

It’s easy to see why Writer/Director Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure has been nominated for Best Foreign Film.

It’s a powerful story of a Swedish family on a ski holiday in the French Alps. 

Wonderfully performed by Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli and real-life brother and sister Vincent Wettergren and Clara Wettergren, all starts off well until, while at lunch, early in the week, an avalanche comes very near the lodge and the father bolts from the table with no regard for his family.

It’s an unforgiveable act of cowardice.  Or, is it?


Östlund weaves an interesting story of a family in crisis that is well worth seeing.

Kudos, also, to Cinematographer Fredrik Wenzel, who, successfully, took on the extremely difficult task of shooting in snow-covered terrain without getting the dark cast to the scenery usually obtained by most, who have tried it.

I give Force Majeure a 4 out of 5.