An enthralling tale of one man working his way through mid-life crisis and the drinking scene of Denmark.
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Another Round aka Druk (which literally translates to binge drinking) is a dramedy film directed by Thomas Vinterberg, based on a screenplay he wrote with Tobias Lindholm. It stars Mads Mikkelsen (of Hannibal fame), Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, and Lars Ranthe.
Mikkelsen stars as Martin, a once lively man who becomes bored and boring overtime – in his life as a husband, father and teacher. One night he celebrates his colleague Nikolaj's 40th birthday dinner with Peter (Ranthe) and Tommy (Larsen). Martin – initially deciding to stay sober – takes a drink after being egged by his friends for being boring and begins to enjoy his night out.
Over dinner, Nikolaj (Millang) tells them about a Norwegian psychiatrist who argues that human bodies are designed to run best with .05 percent alcohol in their bloodstream. Convinced that their alcohol consumption can be used for research, the four agree to partake in the controlled experiment and begin knocking back booze before entering their respective classrooms. The study starts off fairly well, with Martin not only becoming a funny and more inspiring teacher but also an attentive and romantic family man.
Martin's liquid courage begins to take over and he suggests to increase their consumption, believing things might go better with even more alcohol in their system. What could go wrong?
Another Round utilises the drinking culture in Denmark to portray very real scenarios that become of the ups and downs of alcohol consumption. It touches on sentiments that anyone who's had alcohol in their system can relate to. It may leave you wanting to reach for a pint or a glass of wine or two but it also reminds you of the consequences that follow when it becomes an addiction you make excuses for.
The camaraderie between Mikkelsen and his fellow cast mates are the driving force behind Vinterberg’s concise direction and screenplay. Viewers are immediately thrown in to spectate how these men maneuver their way through life. Each actor delivers believable performances that makes you invested in their story.
The final minutes of Another Round is one of the best endings of a film I’ve seen in awhile. If that isn’t enticing enough then here’s a reminder that this film won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film and director Thomas Vinterberg was nominated for Best Director at this year’s Academy Awards.
Pull yourself together. Go see this movie. Drink responsibly.
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