The Cinema of Art: Dogme 95 and Another Round

 Hey Guys!

In March 1993, a group of directors who were disgruntled by the distance cinema had from reality banded together to make films that went back to the roots of pure, simple, and plain visual storytelling. This was the Danish Dogme 95 movement. It was headed by a bunch of renowned filmmakers, most notorious of them being Lars von Trier (Melancholia, The House That Jack Built). This had elements of Truffaut's "Une Certaine Tendance du Cinema Francais" (A Certain Tendency in French Cinema), the article published in "Cahiers du Cinema" in 1964 that arguably kickstarted the French New Wave. With similar intentions, Trier set out to write a manifesto to make cinema a form of storytelling undilated by outside elements, to make it seem more authentic and true to life. He was joined by Thomas Vintenberg (whose newest film is the subject of discussion today).

Together, they wrote the "Vows of Chastity", a set of rules that were designed to bring about said change, and to rid the art of filmmaking from the soulless conventions that were dominating the industry (and still do, I argue but that's a post for another day). Thankfully, this makes Dogme 95, perhaps the easiest of film movements to define. There were many rules, and some of these included: all shooting was to be done on location, without props; sounds that do not exist in the scene cannot be included, diegetic music only;  all shots need to be handheld, that is the only way to achieve stability; natural lighting is the only lighting that can be used, no external lighting, and many more such rules. 

One of the earliest films to follow this format was Vintenberg's own The Celebration, which opened to great reviews at Cannes. The movement still exists today and one can see the occasional film or two pop up that strictly adhere to all of the restrictions put on filmmakers who wish to be a part of the "Dogme 95 Brethren." Now while Trier went on to make more weird and out their films (not to mention some of his more controversial political stances), Vintenberg told stories largely about the human experience. And in his latest outing, Another Round, he provides us with an experience that would sum up the movement very well. The movie, however, started out as "a celebration of drinking", in Vintenberg's own words. He said there had been many films that described the downfalls of drinking alcohol, and he wanted to make a film that celebrated the act.

Another Round tells the story of four teachers, all of who feel a sense of disconnect from their students, the things they teach, and their families. All four of them are going through a midlife crisis one would say. During one of the teachers' birthdays, they make a remark about how one of them used to be full of life and energy, and how he had great things in store for him, but then life happened. This teacher is our protagonist, Martin, played beautifully by Mads Mikkelsen. They decide to put a Norwegian philosopher's idea to the test and maintain a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.05%, enough to keep them buzzed, but not drunk. When this experiment yields great results, they open the doors to disaster when they try to aim for a higher BAC. 

Staying true to the Dogme 95 format, there is very little to no external lighting for the film, all of the shots are naturally composed. The sound design is also very authentic, up until the very end there is no external music that interferes with the film, it is just the sounds that would naturally be present in the scene. However, the aspect I most want to talk about is the camerawork. According to Dogme 95, all shots must be handheld, and there is not a single shot in the film that is not. In many other films, it would provide a sort of disorienting feeling, but here, it complements the story in a way that elevates it to a more sensory experience that most other films can only try to emulate. The film is about alcohol, and the handheld camera gives it a feel similar to that of being slightly buzzed, but not drunk. The natural shakiness and unsteady movements put the viewer next to the four characters of the film, giving a sense that one is experiencing their natural surroundings with them. 

I mentioned earlier that in terms of music, there is not much in the way of external sounds up until the very end. This may be a minor spoiler, but I don't consider it. If you care about that sort of thing and plan to watch it, I suggest you skip this paragraph. The film ends with Martin dancing and celebrating with his students, set to the song "What a Life", by Scarlet Pleasure. It is honestly, one of my favourite conclusions to a film, ever. The sheer exhilaration and ecstasy one experiences when watching this scene tend to linger on even after the credits start rolling. The breaking of the rules of Dogme 95 here adds to the vigour and happiness that Mads brings to his performance. Also, I want to mention here that Mads Mikkelsen is one of the most talented actors we have today. He owns every single role like his own, be it a French poker genius, or a cannibal therapist, or a middle-aged history professor going through a midlife crisis; every character is him and he is every character. 

The film opens with the following quote: 

What is youth? A dream

What is love? The content of the dream  

With Another Round, Vintenberg explores the experience of being alive. It is about the second coming-of-age these men have. What started out as just a funny alcoholic story turned into a deep examination of the human psyche. Vintenberg lost his daughter in a car accident during the making of this film. The only reason he feels he could continue with the project is that she had sent him a letter a few months before her demise, telling him how much she loved the idea of this movie. When the words "For Ida" come up at the end with "What A Life" playing in the background, one cannot help but have a tear in their eye. According to Vintenberg, the film evolved from "a celebration of drinking" to "a celebration of life". 

Another Round lingers with the watcher. In my humble opinion, that is the best kind of film; one that stays with you, one that you obsess over, one that you remember, one that you lng for a rewatch, one that you write long essays about. It is a film about so much more than drinking, it is about life, loss, death, love, and sacrifice. It is about the human experience. It will leave you wanting another round of the film. 

Thanks for reading this far! Leave a comment below about what you thought of the film! 

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