A marriage can change for better or worse in the bat of an eyelash. In Force Majeure, a Swedish film by Ruben Ostlund scheduled to open at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on Oct. 31, this is precisely what happens when an avalanche thunders down a mountain in the Alps and alters the lives of a couple.
Force Majeure unfolds over five days as Tomas (Johannes Bah Kuhnke), his wife Ebba (Lisa Loven Kongsli) and their two young children, Vera and Harry, unwind at a ski resort in France. They present a picture of a happy family as they pose for photographs at the top of a snowy peak and rest together on a king-size bed after a full day of skiing.
As they enjoy a leisurely meal at an outdoor terrace facing spectacularly beautiful scenery, a wall of snow bears down on them. At first, they assume it’s a controlled avalanche set off by the resort for safety purposes. But as it moves menacingly close, they panic and run for their lives. The monster avalanche turns out to be much less dangerous than they had assumed, merely covering a few tables and chairs with a light dusting of snow.
Here’s where the film makes a sharp U-turn.
Ebba claims that Tomas fled and left her and the children to fend for themselves. It’s quite an accusation, and Tomas, naturally, wants to put the entire incident behind them. Ebba seems to agree, but she can’t banish it from her mind. Vera and Harry also appear to be have been traumatized. They’re irritable and in no mood to talk.
When Ebba brings up the topic yet again in front of two embarrassed guests, tacitly accusing Tomas of cowardice, it’s clear that their marriage is in jeopardy. Demanding that he take responsibility for his behavior, she plays the avalanche clip on her cell phone. The incriminating images suggest that Tomas was in self-preservation mode.
At this juncture, the film loses momentum, but picks up when Tomas finally acknowledges his moment of weakness. “I’m a bloody victim of my instincts,” he says in a crying fit.
Just when you think that all is lost, the plot twists and turns, transforming the dynamics of the situation in a flash. Force Majeure, a well-crafted movie, is replete with surprises.