Involuntary (2008)
"De ofrivilliga" (original title)

It's almost summer in Sweden and minor indiscretions and misbehavior abound. Leffe likes to show off for his friends and play salacious pranks, especially when he's drinking. Meanwhile, a ... See full summary »

Director:

Ruben Östlund

Writers:

Erik Hemmendorff (screenplay), Ruben Östlund (screenplay)

Stars:

Villmar Björkman, Linnea Cart-Lamy, Leif Edlund

8 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Villmar Björkman	...	Villmar
Linnea Cart-Lamy	...	Linnea
Leif Edlund	...	Leif
Sara Eriksson	...	Sara
Lola Ewerlund	...	Lola
Hanna Lekander	...	Hanna
Olle Liljas	...	Olle
Maria Lundqvist	...	Maria
Cecilia Milocco	...	Cecilia
Simeon Nordius	...	Sonen
Henrik Vikman	...	Henrik
Vera Vitali	...	Vera

Storyline

It's almost summer in Sweden and minor indiscretions and misbehavior abound. Leffe likes to show off for his friends and play salacious pranks, especially when he's drinking. Meanwhile, a righteous grade-school teacher doesn't know where to draw the line: she insists her fellow educators need a bit of instruction. Then there are two young teenage girls who like to pose for sexy photos and to party, but one night in a park, one of them is found passed out drunk by a complete stranger.

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Plot Keywords:

sweden | male frontal nudity | teenager | school teacher | group of friends | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Trinity [uk]

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

28 November 2008 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Involuntary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Coproduction Office, Film i Väst, Plattform Produktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sweden's official submission to 82nd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 2010.

User Reviews

Sheer perfection!

Brilliant film by Ruben Östlund and the cast! This is sheer perfection from the first frame to the last one, and the battle for next year's Best Swedish Film Award seems to be decided. Here is the best Swedish picture in years. It displays in five parallel stories how people reject from speaking up when they have the opportunity, due to more or less rational fears, and once the right moment has slipped away it becomes multiply difficult later.

Most of the parts are played by actors unknown to me, and they are all fantastic. In every scene the dialogue is performed the way people actually speaks in real life (And I'm Swedish, I know what it should sound like.), it's believable and absorbing. Nowhere to be heard is the theatrical and stiff line delivery that so often haunts Swedish cinema. The images are often still in unorthodox angles, while people pass in and out. It is highly innovative and it works out extraordinarily well.

The film is filled with hilarious lines, but it is serious all the way, and the humour is of the kind that makes me shiver with embarrassment. It is downright painful to watch these awkward situations and know that I could so easily be a part of something similar in real life. Not least, the problems with partying and binging is displayed in a refreshingly non-romantic manner. It is all, simply, brilliant!