About Endlessness (2019)

About "About Endlessness"

"About Endlessness" is a 2019 Swedish drama film directed by Roy Andersson. The film presents a series of vignettes that capture a wide range of human experiences, emotions and circumstances in a surreal, dreamlike yet powerfully poignant narrative. It acts as a reflection on human life in all its beauty and cruelty, its splendour and banality.

Making / Production

Director Roy Andersson crafted "About Endlessness" in his signature style, with static camera shots, understated performances, and meticulously crafted art direction. Despite the short running time of just 78 minutes, the movie took several years to complete. Every single scene was meticulously crafted in a studio to ensure Andersson’s vision was perfectly realized.

Actors

• Tatiana Delaunay as the floating woman: In a surreal sequence, Delaunay displays remarkable calm and tranquillity.
• Martin Serner as the priest: Serner successfully depicts his character's spiritual crisis, creating a character who is both relatable and thoroughly human.
• Bengt Bergius as the man with the severe face: Bergius' portrayal adds a sense of grim yet captivating reality to the narrative.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Despite its short length, the movie took several years to complete due to the detailed set building process.
• The film's title, "About Endlessness," is partially derived from a quote from the 19th-century German philosopher Schopenhaur.
• This film has no main characters, instead focusing on a wide variety of individuals and their experiences.

Awards

"About Endlessness" has been lauded at film festivals around the world. It won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 2019 Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

Quotes

• "I saw a woman who had difficulty keeping her balance because she had drunk too much."
• "I saw a man who stepped out of a store, with a bag of groceries which he gave to a beggar."
• "I saw a couple, in the floating clouds above a cityscape, forever locked in a loving embrace."

Music, Soundtrack

• The music of "About Endlessness" is haunting and aptly complements the surreal, dreamlike narrative. The main theme is a recurring, melancholic melody that underscores the profound themes of the film.
• Apart from the melancholic theme, the movie also uses ambient sounds and silence effectively to heighten the stark visual storytelling.