The Commune
The Commune

Movie spotlight

The Commune

2020
Movie
88 min
Slovak

The desire for freedom during the period of “normalisation” in Czechoslovakia led to the creation of a group of individuals who professed a deep inclination towards the principles of the underground movement. After many years they are unable to face their mutual suspicions of betrayal in the form of cooperation with the state-security police. The memory of their tragically departed guru, philosopher and poet, Marcel Strýko, drifts throughout their story. In an effort to come to terms with the past, an old companion from Prague organises a revival concert in a Gothic cathedral. Will these freethinking members manage to achieve a truce?

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes72%
Metacritic62/100
Google Users75%
Director: Thomas VinterbergGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

In 1970s Denmark, a couple decides to start a commune, inviting friends and acquaintances to live together and share everything. As their unconventional living arrangement unfolds, unexpected tensions, desires, and crises emerge within the group. The experiment in collective living challenges their relationships, forcing them to confront personal boundaries and the complexities of communal life.

Critical Reception

Thomas Vinterberg's 'The Commune' received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its poignant exploration of human relationships and societal ideals. Performances, particularly from Trine Dyrholm, were widely lauded for their emotional depth. While some found its pacing occasionally uneven, the film was recognized for its honest and often uncomfortable portrayal of communal living and its impact on personal lives.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its nuanced portrayal of complex relationships and the challenges of communal living.

  • Trine Dyrholm's performance is a standout, delivering a powerful and emotionally resonant character arc.

  • The film offers a thought-provoking, though at times melancholic, examination of idealism versus reality.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's realistic depiction of relationship dynamics and the struggles within a shared living environment. Many found it to be an engaging and emotionally resonant drama, though some wished for a more definitive or uplifting resolution.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Director Thomas Vinterberg drew inspiration from his own experiences growing up in a commune in the 1970s, aiming to capture the authentic atmosphere and personal dramas of such an environment.

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