Another Round

This isn't exactly a reviw, but more so my thoughts on the entire movie. At first, I was worried. Worried because I didn't know how this movie depicts the topic of alcoholism. But I'm glad that I was worried, because now, I can be even more impressed. For those 4 men alcohol is a way to escape from themselves in a way. Their lives are pretty boring, they have little to enthusiasm or passion. They're closed off shells and drinking helps them become who they want to be: great teachers, husbands, human beings. At the same time: a) they claim to not be alcoholics (even tho they use it at almost every chance they get), b) they ruin their relationships in the long run when the dose becomes too high, c) they cope by it being an "experiment". Martins final resolve with his wife cements the films messaging: "It's not alcohol that people need in you, they just need you. And you don't need alcohol either, when you have yourself and people you love." He dances, celebrates, drinks with his friends and students. Not because he needs to anymore. No internal or external obligation, no experiment, no nothing. He can just accept himself and express the old Martin he always was. And he does it by finally dancing jazz ballet. Symbolic and beautiful.