You won’t have to force yourself to enjoy ‘Force Majeure;’ movie plays Nov. 6
The last film in the Battelle Film Club’s fall series is a good one. Force Majeure has a fairly wealthy family on a ski vacation at a swank resort in the French Alps. The resort is constantly setting off bombs to set off avalanches so skiers can ski safely. One gets out of control and nearly engulfs the family as they’re eating lunch. Tomas, the father, panics and runs, leaving his wife and children to fend for themselves.
Eventually, wife Ebba calls him out about his cowardice. He sees things differently, and it sets up a tense series of conversations, confrontations and communications. This is a fascinating, sometimes too patiently told and often intense character study. There are places where writer director Ruben Ostlund runs a bit amok, but the acting and the story itself make Force Majeure original and good, and one you won’t have to force yourself to enjoy.
Force Majeure
Director: Ruben Ostlund
Stars: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli
Mr. Movie rating: 4 stars
Rated R for mature themes, brief nudity. It plays at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Battelle Auditorium in Richland.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 2:01 PM with the headline "You won’t have to force yourself to enjoy ‘Force Majeure;’ movie plays Nov. 6."