Klassfesten

How many films about class reunions have you seen? Probably too many. This is one the first Swedish ones concerning the subject. The main character, well played by comedian Björn Kjellman is living a dull life with a dull wife and a dull dog and a daughter. He remembers his time in High School as rather terrible, but also his love for the girl Hillevi.

Well, have you seen reunion films before, you have seen this one too. There are funny situations, rather Swedish funny situations with lots of alcohol involved. The film is standable but not its subject. That genre needs to be renewed.

I know i'm hardly the intended audience for this film. I'm not even close to the mid-life crisis yet and therefore i might not understand the finer points of this "comedy". To me this was anyway more depressing than funny.

Magnus is 35 years old. He lives with his wife in a rather dull marriage. One day he receives an invitation to a class reunion, and he is not thrilled. After debating with himself he decides to go to this reunion, and that decision changes his life.

I don't what it is about these Swedish movies about people going through their mid-life crisis. These movies are plentiful and almost ALWAYS depressing. If these movies were something to judge from then the obvious deduction would be that life becomes completely pointless and bereft of happiness the moment you turn 35. Somehow i have a hard time believing that considering that there are plenty of people who live beyond that point without violently committing suicide.

Also what i don't like in these movies is that the resolution always seems to steer away from what would in most countries considered to be politically correct. Rather it's the revelation and the "new life", the guts to start anew, that is always heralded as the positive thing to do. Never to try and work things out in your present situation. This seems if nothing else at least very unrealistic since most people do not feel like throwing everything aside and just starting anew.

Anyway, this movie is rather funny in some parts. But not as funny as it is depressing. Björn Kjellman is great, as he often is, and most of the other actors are also doing a nice job. Also what the directors manage to do is promote sympathy in the characters. You feel for so many of them. They are pathetic but in a way that makes you sympathize rather than despise them. Which also adds some warmth to the otherwise rather bleak story.

So if a black comedy about the mid-life crisis is your cup of tea, then this might be something for you. I rate it 5/10 and hope that in the future these movies could perhaps be a bit brighter.

Someone has said that you seldom regret what you have done but often regret what you did not do. The main character, Magnus, might not regret what he did not do but he definitely wonders about what might have happened would he have run away with, Hillevi, when they both were teens.

Magnus, now in his late thirties is having a slight mid-life crisis. He is living a safe and dull life with his wife, their daughter and experience nothing but a suburban life-style lacking excitement and anything at all relating to "carpe diem". When Magnus receives an invitation to a high-school reunion things change.

The directors, Hannes Holm and Måns Herngren, have once again succeeded in making a movie about a particular stage of life. As a viewer you have a great time laughing away to everyday situations that are so familiar but normally will never be brought up for discussion. There are plenty of great scenes which are familiar to anyone having experienced or heard others mention their class-reunions.

All in all Klassfesten is a terrific movie with great actors and a great story.

Hannes and Måns are fantastic in capturing the surrounding and feeling of the time - both back in the eighties and today. Their characters are spot on (perhaps with exception of Inday Ba's Hillevi). One might have to be in the same age-group as Hannes and Måns to really appreciate the movie, but if you are, then memories will return - guaranteed.

Ye flipping Gods !! This is one of the most awkward movies I have ever seen. It´s a pleasure to watch, in the same way we all enjoy some pain once in a while. Sometimes, I was unable to watch the screen at all. Suddenly, after watching this movie, I feel like killing myself. Obviously, there is no life after 30. The movie is very clear on that. Everyone in the film is really really pathetic. I just wish I die before I turn 30, or ofcourse, have a wonderfull jobb, a wonderfull wife .. a bunch of kids, and a 6 figure income.

7/10