A family of four receives their lunch in an outdoor restaurant overlooking the mountains in a beautiful ski resort. Suddenly there is a loud explosion and an avalanche is happening on the nearby mountain. It is a controlled avalanche, something that frequently happens here as the father explains. But soon it looks as though the cascading snow will engulf them all. The reactions to the crisis by the family members, and the results of these reactions are the focus of Ruben Ostlund's "Force Majeure".
The reaction in question is that of the father, Tomas (Johannes Kuhnke) who seemingly abandons his family in a panic to save his own skin. The avalanche turns out to be a minor thing - though smoke and some snow comes into the restaurant, everyone is OK. But because of Tomas's reaction, his wife and two children are left in a state of anger and dismay. How could he be so selfish and not worry about the welfare of his family?
"Force Majeure" examines how Tomas and his family comes to terms with this decision. The film is an engaging look at how relationships are put in jeopardy and family ties are threatened when one's true colours and cowardice are brought to the fore in an emergency situation. The film really forces the viewer to question his or her own bravery/cowardice when faced with a similar crisis. Tomas's reaction sheds light on the human condition and how the majority of us are out to save our own skin when all is said and done.
The film is sometimes uncomfortable to watch and its mixture of humour with seriousness subtly reinforces a sense of imbalance and uneasiness to its aura.
The cinematography is quite stunning in its various shots of the mountains and resort and the performances are strong. It raises questions as all works of art must and it will leave a strong impression on any viewer.
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