About Force Majeure

"Force Majeure", released in 2014, is a riveting Swedish drama film directed by Ruben Östlund. The film revolves around a family on a skiing holiday in the French Alps. When an avalanche approaches as they dine on a mountainside terrace, the father, Tomas, prioritizes saving himself over his family. The avalanche turns out to be a controlled blast, but Tomas' act of cowardice shakes the family dynamics.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Plattform Produktion and premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Östlund's meticulous direction and the stunning cinematography shot in the French Alps make it visually arresting. The avalanche scene was particularly challenging as it involved complex stunt coordination and special effects.

Actors

• Johannes Kuhnke as Tomas: Plays the role of the self-absorbed father, whose flawed response during the avalanche disrupts the family's holiday and reveals his true character.
• Lisa Loven Kongsli as Ebba: Tomas’ wife, who is forced to reassess their relationship following his act.
• Vincent Wettergren as Harry: The couple's innocent young son who finds his respect for his father diminished.
• Clara Wettergren as Vera: Their daughter, who is equally affected by the episode.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The director, Ruben Östlund, actually got the idea for the film when he heard about a similar event happening in real life.
• The title of the film, "Force Majeure", refers to a clause in contracts that frees both parties from obligation when an extraordinary event occurs.
• The pivotal avalanche scene was shot at a remote location and took two days to film.

Awards

The film was highly acclaimed and won several notable awards including the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It was also Sweden's official selection for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards.

Quotes

• “Yes, I ran away. But I came back.” - Tomas
• "You saw what happened, and you chose to run." - Ebba

Music & Soundtrack

• The original score for the film was composed by Ola Fløttum. It captures the icy tension and emotionally charged moments with precision.
• One of the standout music pieces is "Sto Cekas Vise", a traditional folk piece that is used in a scene where the family sings in the car.