Storyline
A story about the clash between personal desires, solidarity and tolerance in a Danish commune in the 1970s.
Writers: Tobias Lindholm, Thomas Vinterberg, Ulrich Thomsen, Fares Fares, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, Fares Fares, Trine Dyrholm, Helene Reingaard Neumann, Julie Agnete Vang, Lars Ranthe, Ole Dupont, Lise Koefoed, Magnus Millang, Martha Sofie Wallstrøm Hansen, Mads Reuther, Adam Fischer, Rasmus Lind Rubin, Oliver Methling Søndergaard, Anne Gry Henningsen, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Ulrich Thomsen -
Erik
Fares Fares -
Allon
Trine Dyrholm -
Anna
Helene Reingaard Neumann -
Emma
Julie Agnete Vang -
Mona
Lars Ranthe -
Ole
Ole Dupont -
Elegant Gentleman
Lise Koefoed -
Make-up artist
Magnus Millang -
Steffen
Martha Sofie Wallstrøm Hansen -
Freja
Mads Reuther -
Jesper
Adam Fischer -
Architect Student
Rasmus Lind Rubin -
Peter
Oliver Methling Søndergaard -
Johannes
Anne Gry Henningsen -
Ditte
Trivia:
The film is based on Thomas Vinterberg's play of the same name, which is inspired by his colourful childhood in an academic commune north of Copenhagen. See more »
Quotes:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 7/10
The emotional upheaval of a tightly-knit community has become Thomas
Vinterberg's trademark as a film maker. He explored this theme with
great success in 'Festen' and in 'Jagten', and now he does it in
'Kollektivet'. This time, the community is a group of people living
together in a large house, a way of living that was trendy in the
sixties and seventies. The group consists of friends and acquaintances
of architect Erik and journalist Anna. Together, they fill up the huge
villa he inherited from his parents. Anna thinks this social experiment
can add some spice into her life. After all, she has been married to
the same man and doing the same job for fifteen years.
But the cozy atmosphere of having meals and drinking beer together with
a group of friends, turns sour when Erik introduces someone new into
the group: his girlfriend, a young and pretty student. His wife Anna
agrees with this arrangement, and in fact proposes it, hoping to keep
Erik close to her. But predictably, the whole experiment ends in tears,
fights and bitter reproaches.
Vinterberg's film has a different tone of voice than 'Festen' and
'Jagten'. It is a bit more lighthearted, and less harsh. He not only
analyzes the emotional feelings of the characters, but also shows how
society has changed in the last forty years. What struck me, was how
easily Erik gets away with abject male-centred behaviour. He cheats on
his wife practically in front of her eyes, and seems to have hardly any
emotional connection to her or their daughter. In the end, it is his
girlfriend who has to point out to him that his wife is having an
emotional breakdown. But even then, he doesn't see the damage he has
created. Instead, he complains that all these 'women issues' distract
him from his work. Nowadays, a man would get a slap in the face after
saying something like that.
The seventies-atmosphere adds an extra dimension to the film, and the
period setting makes it an easier viewing experience than 'Jagten' or
'Festen'. At the same time, it is also less intense. It's nice to
watch, but doesn't make you shift uneasily in your chair.
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