Four high school teachers embark on a social experiment in
which they spend most of their day-to-day lives completely drunk. DRAMA
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Another Round (2020)Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
Written by Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe, Maria Bonnevie Oscar Wins - Best International Film Oscar Nominations - Best Director |
Thomas Vinterberg certainly loves to cast Mads Mikkelsen as a teacher. Together, this superb actor/director duo have delivered two impressive films about the world of Danish education, but with a unique slant. Another Round shows us a group of four high school teachers who are bored with their jobs and depressed with their lives. So, they decide to liven things up by conducting an experiment based on the writings of Finn Skårderud, who theorized that having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.05 brings out your creative side and makes you more relaxed. So, they start drinking, and things get out of hand fast.
Mikkelsen plays Martin, our eyes through this experiment. He and his wife Anika (Bonnevie) have grown distant, and Martin no longer finds joy in teaching history. After the experiment, he becomes energized and finally reaches the kids. But his marriage continues to suffer. The other teachers, Tommy (Larsen), Peter (Ranthe), and Nikolaj (Millang) all find their jobs have become more enjoyable but their personal lives have suffered. The film really does a great job of showing both sides of the experiment. Sure, they have a great time getting tanked and teaching, but the aftermaths get progressively worse. The ending is a gorgeous blend of both these angles. I'm glad Thomas Vinterberg took home an Oscar for his work on Another Round. He made a dark dramedy that tackles alcoholism, but also shows the benefits of letting the sauce take you for the occasional ride. Denmark is quickly becoming one of my favorite countries in regards to their contributions to film, and this Oscar-winning film is one of the best. |