Force Majeure

* "I'm a bloody victim of my own instincts!" * This is a really interesting dissection of cowardice, the nuclear family, gender roles, masculinity, and how these all interact to create dynamics that we expect of one another. It's really easy for someone to say they'd do anything to protect their family. It's another thing when you're actually presented with that opportunity. The nuclear family, in theory, sounds like a wonderful thing, but in practice, these family dynamics can be uprooted so quickly (or not if you're Tomas) depending on your perception of and adherence to those roles; the strict cookie-cutter marriage with two kids, a dog, and a picket fence is arguably an illusion if not met with the rigid gender roles of a protective male presence and a nurturing mother. Throughout the entire movie, Ebba is very adamant that Tomas' action is a reflection of his entire character. That he doesn't care and frankly, never has. The ending flips this notion on its head and calls into question whether self-protection is just human nature. It's an extended episode of What Would You Do? gone horribly, horribly, wrong.