Four bored high school teachers in Copenhagen test a theory that people function better with a little alcohol in their blood. It works at first, then it does not. Vinterberg lets the film be funny and sad at the same time. Watch how the laughs change as the experiment gets out of hand.
Another Round is a 2020 comedy and drama film directed by Thomas Vinterberg. This breakdown covers 4 techniques (2 narrative, 1 psychology and 1 sound), each with the scene where you can see it. If you like how it is made, Fanny and Alexander uses several of the same techniques.
Giving a film 2 very different tones, such as comedy and tragedy, often split into halves. Each makes the other hit harder, and the film never blends them into 1.
How this film uses it
The first half plays like a comedy, with the men loosening up and their classes waking up. After the drinking gets out of control and Tommy dies, the film turns. The comedy does not go away, but it carries a weight it did not have before.
Where to see it
Tommy's death. After the friends' families confront them and the experiment ends, Tommy dies, and the story leaves comedy behind.
Centering a character's fear of being unimportant, replaced or left behind. Their pursuit of rank, success or recognition shows how fragile their self-worth is.
How this film uses it
Martin feels invisible. His students find his history lessons dull, and his home life has gone quiet. The experiment is his attempt to feel important again, and you can see how much he wants it.
Where to see it
Nikolaj's birthday dinner. The four friends talk about the theory over a meal, and Martin listens closely because his own life has gone flat.
Ending the film where it started, or with a scene that echoes the opening. The repeat shows what has changed, or suggests the cycle will keep going.
How this film uses it
The film opens with students racing to drink beer at a lake. It ends with students celebrating their graduation at the harbor, with Martin joining in. The repeat shows how much the teacher has changed.
Where to see it
The harbor celebration. Martin dances among the graduating students and jumps into the sea.
Playing an existing popular song at a precise moment in the film. The song's lyrics, era and associations add irony, period feel or emotion that an original score could not.
How this film uses it
The last dance uses a pop song with a lot of energy. Mads Mikkelsen, who was a trained dancer, goes all in. The song gives the scene its release, and you feel the character let go in a way the rest of the film never allowed.
Where to see it
The final dance. Martin dances with the students to the song "What a Life" and then jumps into the water.
Questions
Another Round: quick answers
What filmmaking techniques does Another Round use?
CineCode breaks down 4 techniques in Another Round (2020): Tonal Bifurcation, Status and Self-Worth Anxiety, Circular Structure and Pop Music Needle Drop.
Who directed Another Round?
Thomas Vinterberg directed Another Round, released in 2020. CineCode also covers The Hunt (2012).
What films are similar to Another Round?
Films that share techniques with Another Round include Fanny and Alexander (1982), After Hours (1985), Small Time Crooks (2000), Take This Waltz (2011).
