Thomas Vinterberg latest cinema release The Commune (2016) is set
in Copenhagen in the mid 1970’s where we discover that Erik, a teacher of
‘rational architect’, has inherited a large manor house that belonged to his
father. Eric financial circumstances will not allow for its upkeep and he
thinks its best if he sell’s the house, but his wife Anna, a popular TV
newscaster and his teenage daughter Freja want to keep it. Anna convinces Eric
to set up the huge property as a commune and share the upkeep between the
occupants. Invitations are issued and interviews take place. At first it all
works out very amicably with every one getting on well, taking part in the many
kitchen table meetings, the dinners and the parties. That is until Eric falls
for one of his female students and moves her into the commune. At first Anna accepts
the fact that her husband no longer wishes to sleep with her but is happy for Emma
to stay at the commune. But this utopia doesn’t continue and the repercussions from
Eric’s actions affect everyone.
Based on a play called Kollektivet
written by Vinterberg and Mogens Rukov, which was inspired by the directors own
childhood experiences. It’s a ‘family’ drama with a difference, emotionally
moving but at times very funny, the film has a star cast that portray
exceptionally well this touching portrait of a generation of idealists who have
never quite fulfilled their dreams.
Emma gets to know Erik. |
The Danish director and Dogme 95 co-founder is best known
for the brilliant Festen
(1998) another family drama, this time involving a family gathering to
celebrate their fathers 60th birthday during which long buried
secrets resurface, and The Hunt
(2012) which stars Mads Mikkelsen as a teacher whose accused of sexually
abusing a young child in his care. Erik is played by Ulrich Thomsen, who has
appeared in some remarkable World Cinema outings including Festen,
Brodre (2004), the award winning In a
Better World (2010) the German thriller The
Silence (2010) and the Danish police procedural A
Second Chance (2014). The Danish actress and singer Trine Dyrholm plays
Anna who was also in Festen
and In a
Better World as well as the historical drama A
Royal Affair (2012). It also features Vinterberg’s wife Helene
Reingaard Neurmann as Emma, along with Lebanon born Fares
Fares and Danish TV and film actor Lars Ranthe as members of the commune.
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