The Commune
The Commune

The Commune

2016Movie111 minDanish

A funny and moving story of family and free love set in a freewheeling 1970s commune. When Anna and Erik inherit a huge house, they gather a motley crew of cohabitants to reinvigorate their lives, forcing them to reconcile their new values with old habits.

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IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes74%
Metacritic66/100
Google Users77%
Director: Thomas VinterbergGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

In the affluent suburbs of Copenhagen, architect Anna and her TV news anchor husband Erik decide to create a radical new living arrangement: a communal home. They invite friends and family to join them in their large villa, sharing chores, expenses, and life's joys and sorrows. However, the experiment in free love and collective living begins to unravel when Erik falls in love with a much younger woman and brings her to live with them, challenging the very foundations of their shared utopia.

Critical Reception

Thomas Vinterberg's 'The Commune' received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its nuanced portrayal of relationships, the struggles of communal living, and the strong performances from its cast, particularly Trine Dyrholm. The film was noted for its exploration of complex emotional dynamics and the challenges of maintaining idealism in the face of personal desires and societal expectations.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its insightful exploration of modern relationships and the complexities of communal living.
  • Trine Dyrholm's performance is frequently highlighted as a standout element.
  • The film effectively balances drama and humor, offering a realistic depiction of human foibles within an idealistic setting.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally appreciate the film's relatable characters and the honest depiction of relationship struggles within a unique social experiment. Some viewers found the narrative to be slow-paced at times, but most connected with the emotional depth and the realistic portrayal of compromises required in shared living.

Awards & Accolades

Trine Dyrholm won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Director Thomas Vinterberg based the film partly on his own experiences of growing up in a commune with his parents in the 1970s.

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