Spillets regler

Movies set in an academic world are few and far between. This kind of setting may seem a bit too dry. But there are many intrigues going on in academic circles. Professors fighting each other for titles and recognition as much as executives in business circles or lawyers in law circles.

In "Moving Up", the debut feature by Danish director Christian Dyekjær, an associate professor in Psychology applies for an opening as a professor, but a colleague of his applies for the same job. The two of them compete for the title by sucking up to the head of faculty while they try to keep up appearances as serious and sensitive intellectuals.

This film doesn't reach the full potential of the premise. "Moving Up" is poking fun at intellectuals playing childish games to get the respect of their peers. But most of the time, it is just a depressingly realistic portrayal of academic circles. It feels more like a tragedy than a comedy. It could use a lot more laughs and caricature to lighten up the grim mood.

Perhaps the real problem of the film is the length of it. While it only lasts 90 minutes, it feels too long-winded and a bit trite. We never leave the offices of the main characters. While this gives us a sense of how limited and isolated the world of the main characters is, it also makes us want to leave it.

Considering that it is a debut feature made on a low budget, "Moving Up" is a decent film. But the filmmakers got lost somewhere on the borderline between comedy and tragedy.