Downhill (2020)

About Downhill

An American remake of the 2014 Swedish drama 'Force Majeure', ‘Downhill’ revolves around married couple Billie (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Pete Staunton (Will Ferrell) on their family vacation in the Alps. An intended week of quality family time turns sour as a controlled avalanche nearly hits the family, after which Pete's reaction leads to a slow, painful questioning of the couple's relationship. The film traverses through emotional terrain, examining Pete's masculinity. It explores themes of responsibility, family dynamics, relationship under stress, and personal growth.

Making / Production

Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, 'Downhill' was produced by Searchlight Pictures. The screenplay was jointly written by Faxon, Rash, and Jesse Armstrong, offering a blend of comedy and drama in a unique storytelling style that perfectly portrays the turbulence within the family.

Actors

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Played the role of Billie, simultaneously showcasing strength, vulnerability, humor, and empathy.
• Will Ferrell: As Pete Staunton, Ferrell effectively portrays the struggles of a man battling his own insecurities and shortcomings, revealing a side rarely seen in his previous comedic roles.
• Zach Woods: Seen as Pete's co-worker Zach, his character provides comic relief while also highlighting the contrast in Pete's and Billie’s relationships.
• Zoe Chao: Plays Rosie, Zach’s girlfriend, who amplifies the tension between the central characters.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• 'Downhill' is the second American movie after 'Thelma & Louise' to feature Austria prominently in the plot.
• The movie is based on the 2014 Swedish film 'Force Majeure' directed by Ruben Östlund. It's quite rare to see American remakes of Scandinavian movies.
• The avalanche scene was actually filmed at a ski resort in Austria.

Quotes

• "Life is all about decisions, but if you don't have the facts to support your gut then your gut is just an asshole." – Pete Staunton
• "We're in survival mode, we do what we have to." – Billie

Music, Soundtrack

• The musical score of 'Downhill' was composed by Volker Bertelmann.
• His composition effectively amplifies the movie's emotional quotient, enhancing the viewing experience.