Another Round
In the same vein as the previous entry of the film Husbands, Another Round is a similar tale of middle-aged men medicating their midlife crisis through the consumption of alcohol. The difference in Another Round however, is that this consumption is scientific research purposes, and also, it takes place in Copenhagen and is spoken completely in Danish. Viewers may notice the popular Danish Actor Mads Mikkelsen who is our leading man throughout the film. He’s accompanied by three of his co-workers, all teachers at a high school, and all around the same age. Operating on a famed psychiatrist’s theory that humans are born with a blood alcohol level of 0.05, the four men embark on a scientific journey where they experiment with meeting that mark every day by drinking one or two alcoholic drinks. At the beginning it is a wondrous discovery and their personal and professional lives improve. But as it goes on and they push themselves further, their physical and mental state begins to unravel.
Balancing the tricky line drama and comedy, the blending of these two is handled well director Thomas Vinterberg, and executes the pacing of the film steadily enough to allow for the arc of each character to develop, and for the gradual build of anticipation for it’s climatic ending. An ending, that is probably one of the best in recent memory, not a twist or shock ending, but one of pure elation and excitement. This film impressed so much, that its reported a American version of the film is being produced and that Leonardo DiCaprio is involved in the project. Noted as a social commentary on the culture of drinking in Denmark, it could no doubt be transposed to anywhere that there are people who are reflecting on their lives with some sadness and regret, and choose the all too common method of numbing their senses with alcohol. If you don’t mind watching a movie in dubbed English, or with subtitles, Another Round is atop the list of international films to see.
Directed By: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe
Runtime: 117 minutes Year Released: 2020