By Nadia Ranaputri
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| Image credit: IMDB |
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe, Magnus Millang, Maria Bonnevie.
Initially, I had no intention of seeing Another Round. The premise didn't convince me at first, and it seemed slightly ridiculous, given that it's about four guys drinking. I certainly can't relate to the subject matter, but given that Thomas Vinterberg is a well-known and respected director, I suspected that the film has more to it than what it presents itself to be. And of course, that was exactly the case. In addition to that, having Mads Mikkelsen in the lead role was already an intriguing aspect on its own. The more I heard about this film, the more interested I became. So, I took the plunge and watched it myself, and was pleasantly surprised with what this film brought to the table.
Another Round tells the story of four professors who have been friends for a long time. There's Martin (Mads Mikkelsen), a history professor, Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen), a gym teacher and occasional soccer coach, Martin (Magnus Millang), a psychology teacher, and Peter (Lars Ranthe), who leads a choir group. Unsatisfied with their attempts to motivate their fellow students, the group decides to test a theory stating that having a blood alcohol level of 0.05% could lead to an increase in social performance. Essentially, the experiment consists of day drinking, mainly in small and medium doses before heading into work. When the group sees that their experiment has vastly improved their social and work lives, they decide to take it one step further, which leads to the eventual downsides.
Mads Mikkelsen practically carries the whole film, and he does this so effortlessly. He's able to bring Vinterberg's script to life in such a visceral way, that you can't help but be drawn into his performance for every second that he's on screen. His character Martin starts off as a professor who seems to have lost his way of life. He doesn't connect with his students, nor does he have that same familial relationship with his sons and wife as he did then. Once the alcohol theory is brought into the picture, there's a flicker of curiosity from Martin, that maybe, just maybe, what is once considered as theory could be put to the test, and perhaps improve his life in the process. That's when we get to see the more loose side of Martin, and Mikkelsen plays this very well, balancing between different sides of Martin's character in rmagnetic ways. His fellow co-stars are just as impressive. Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, and Lars Ranthe round up the group of professors and each performance adds an emotionally riveting touch to the film, as well as a spectacular chemistry that instantly convinces you that they are indeed, lifelong friends.
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| Image credit: IMDB |
Another Round is more than just a film about drinking culture. Sure, the premise is based around testing a theory about alcohol, but the core of it lies within the friendship of these four professors stuck in a mid-life crisis. It's an introspective look on their lives through the highs and lows. It's a character study, if you will, a look into a friendship and how an experiment could affect their lives. And Vinterberg was able to create a slow but convincing character growth. These characters could have come off as one-note, but fortunately, they don't. Mikkelsen's Martin for example, is concerned with his seemingly dull demeanor, and that his current state affects his relationship with his family and his students. He feels that his marriage is failing, and doesn't know how to fix it, so he confides in his friends. And throughout the film, we see how this seemingly simple experiment takes affects his life, for better or worse. It indulges itself in small moments that make an impact. A simple conversation between friends can lead to many revelations and moments where they could truly confide in each other, or a single night could change a stoic person into the livened person that most of the people in his life wouldn't get to see.
I think the appropriate words for it are honest, genuine, and simple. The film could have easily gone on a very dark route, and while there are dark moments, it doesn't fully veer to that aspect. A film about drinking culture and alcoholism could have ended up as a moralizing tale on the dangers of alcohol, and it is in some way, but it's handled in such a candid way that felt like an honest portrayal rather than something grim or pretentious. It shows many different sides of drinking without settling on one particular side. Yes, at first it may seem ludicrous to teach a class while being a little intoxicated, the film does show how it improved the social performances of the four professors, but it also shows the consequences of going overboard. What was once just a theory was proven right when they become more engaged and active with their students, Martin sets a witty little quiz regarding world leaders and gains the respect of his students, while Peter was able to get his choir class to sing I Danmark er jeg født heavenly. When the professors decide to take their blood alcohol level a little higher, it's quite predictable on where it goes from there, yet that predictability is more to the anticipation and dread that something is going to go terribly wrong, as what started as a social experimentation turned to be something much more tragic.
But even then, it feels realistically wholesome, and surprisingly humorous. It has the right amount of realism and liveliness, with some comedic moments too. It's not a grandeur piece, just a tame film about four lifelong friends. Vinterberg seems more interested in showing the more subtly poignant moments rather than large scale dramatic sequences, not to mention witty and vivacious. There are a lot of moments where the main characters have their fun, and it's just as equally boisterous watching it as it is for the characters on screen. In doing this more grounded approach, Another Round becomes a film that really thrives on its simplicity, but unravels an invigorating kind of depth, the kind where something seems incredibly simple on the surface, then it reveals its hidden layers one by one. It's a humanizing film where the characters are flawed and somewhat a little complex, but still relatable and charming. Some may find it too slow, and might not see the point in seeing four professors get drunk, but I find it genuine and quite charismatic. Vinterberg is one director whose works I would love to discover more. Just recently, I watched the much hyped drama The Hunt, and I have yet to see more of his films. For now, Another Round is another fine entry from Vinterberg. Once you overlook its rather simple premise, you might just find yourself enjoying a meaningful, wholesome, and vibrant little film that's brilliantly carried by its direction and performances.
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| Image credit: IMDB |
Overall verdict: Looking beyond its premise, Another Round is an enjoyable film with more to it than you think. Mikkelsen is the obvious star here, playing up different element's of Martin's character that are unraveled as the experiment goes on. Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, and Lars Ranthe complete the impressive cast that bring equally strong performances. Another Round discusses both sides of alcoholism and drinking culture rather than siding on one aspect of the topic. It doesn't come to the conclusion that drinking is neither good or bad, it really depends on the person. Yet, it is more than a film about drinking. I think the core of it is the friendship between these four professors and how a seemingly harmless experiment impacts their lives and their relationships with their families. There are times where the film is lively, it embraces that feeling of levity and the quieter moments that ground the film. But even between moments of humor, it also showcases the flaws of the characters and as a result, humanizes them. Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm's script and direction creates this authentic and honest portrayal of life, it very much relishes on simplicity without ever feeling dull or pretentious. This is actually my first venture into Vinterberg's work, following the much praised The Hunt afterwards, but it definitely won't be the last.
Stars: 4.5/5
Another Round is available to watch on Amazon Prime
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