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Written by: Thomas Vinterberg & Tobias Lindholm (screenplay)
Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe
Rated: NR [R]
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Plot
Four high school teachers consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.
Verdict
A thought provoking look at a mid-life crisis dressed up as an experiment. You can't point to the bad and state this movie is a warning without acknowledging that there are benefits. Either way none of the characters could moderate their consumption, and in the end it seems losing control will always be a drink or two away.
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Review
The original title,
Druk, is Danish for binge drinking. This won the Oscar for best international film in 2021.
High school teacher Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) wonders if he's become boring. This is after we've seen him in the classroom and it's clear he's disinterested. Parents are concerned about his ability to teach.
His life is boring either due to his choices or the natural progression of life and hitting a rut that culminates into a mid-life crisis. Martin seeks and answer and maybe this theory about alcohol consumption is the answer. Martin has reached the point in life where he wonders if this is it. The movie doesn't emphasize this, but I'm guessing part of the allure is the rule breaking and consuming alcohol at school while he's working.
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| Mads Mikkelsen, Magnus Millang, Les Ranthe, Thomas Bo Larsen play Martin, Nikolaj, Peter, Tommy |
Martin teaches for a day while buzzed. His friends decide to make an experiment of it, documenting the results. They don't state it, but this feels like a cover or an excuse to make a poor choice. They're not flaunting workplace rules, this is an experiment for the greater good. That sounds nice, but it's an excuse.
The difference in Martin's behavior is clear. He's more engaging in class, but is it because of alcohol or the rush of doing something forbidden? Maybe this new routine is exciting. He proposes the family take a long overdue trip. He enjoys it, but there's no alcohol involved as the rule is only during working hours. While the alcohol may have helped generate the idea, it's not fully responsible as Martin is trying to live his life more exciting. This isn't a result of the alcohol, but because his mindset has changed.
There are studies that micro-dosing LSD will make you more productive, and this seems to be a similar idea.
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| Mads Mikkelsen plays Martin. |
Martin quickly takes this too far. He's not just buzzed, he's drunk. I couldn't help but think this was going to spin out of control. While it's helping Martin, it's not all positive. At what point does confidence and poise become impairment? This can only go so far. It becomes reckless because Martin and his friends aren't in a controlled environment.
Towards the end Martin is at a bar but not drinking. He seems to be getting his life back in order, but then he has a drink and lets go. Martin is dancing in the street completely uninhibited after what he's experienced. There will always be that pull, and being out of control is always just a drink away. If Martin and the others could have moderated their consumption, it would have opened them up to new experiences and thoughts, but none of them could control it. The result was drinking to excess and trying to pick up the pieces after. Maybe that's the message. You can't control a substance that can cause you to lose control. It wasn't the alcohol itself that transformed Martin's life temporarily; it was his mindset.
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