The Commune

111 minutes

Danish

Denmark
Sweden
Netherlands

Erik and Anna are a professional couple with a dream. Along with their daughter, Freja, they set up a commune in Erik's huge villa in the upmarket district of Copenhagen. With the family in the center of the story, we are invited into the dream of a real commune. We participate in the house meeting, dinners, and parties. It is friendship, love and togetherness under one roof until and earth-shattering love affair puts the community and the commune to its greatest test.

starring...

Ulrich Thomsen

Erik

Trine Dyrholm

Anna

Fares Fares

Allon

Lars Ranthe

Ole

Julie Agnete Vang

Mona

Helene Reingaard Neumann

Emma

Director

Thomas Vinterberg

Writer

Thomas Vinterberg, Tobias Lindholm

Cinematography

Jesper Tøffner

Music

Fons Merkies

Film Editing

Janus Billeskov Jansen, Anne Østerud

Production Design

Niels Sejer

Costume Design

Ellen Lens

Producer

Morten Kaufmann, Sisse Graum Jørgensen

65% on the CINEMETER

ATL

69% - Apr 9, 2017

A fascinating portrait of a failed experiment. I found that, by the end of the film, I only liked the children--turned off, I suppose, by the self-interest that underlies all of the 'adult' sharing and caring. Furthermore, that house was an introvert's nightmare.
Atlanta Member

100% perfect.
Atlanta Member

Beautifully performed presentation of ideals gone to hell.
Atlanta Member

Brutally honest and wrenching portrayal of the painful nature of being "replaced." So sad that children get caught in the crossfire. I think the commune softened the blow to Freija and Anna and that Freja knew her mother was strong enough to survive. A very astute child.
Atlanta Member

Freija reminds me of the daughter in "A Separation"! Movie dedicates time to showing a child observing the adults...and then is asked to make an important decision: in "A Separation," where do you want to go?:" In "A Commune", "which parent do you think should go?"
Atlanta Member

MIL

69% - Mar 5, 2017

Superior acting in every role!
Milwaukee Member

Such an unpredictable movie with very emotional acting. Very believable. WOW!
Milwaukee Member

75% - Apr 2, 2017

Deeply moving portrait of disintegration and self-redemption. Anna's performance as she melted down was superb [many such comments.]
San Francisco Member

This is what happens when a Utopian ideal runs into human nature. Great drama about a Pandora's box situation.
San Francisco Member

The Big Chill met Big Love met The Survivor and became The Biggest Loser. I loved it - thank you for a movie to think about. I don't know how Emma (girlfriend) could live with herself, and Erik was a piece of excrement.
San Francisco Member

Exactly the opposite way of how I would ever want to live...perhaps that's why I left the theater happy, unlike the characters in the movie! The daughter was the best and strongest character.
San Francisco Member

Be careful what you wish for. ... Emotionally laden in a gut-wrenching way. Venturing out of society's norms can have unexpected consequences.
San Francisco Member

F**king hippies. F**king architects. But seriously, I appreciated the film's messy quality which matched the messy politics and relationships at its core.
San Francisco Member

44% - Feb 26, 2017

This film felt like a collection of fragile eco-systems. . . can people live collectively and without ego? The film says no.
Greater New Haven Member

Marriage is hard work; communes, impossible.
Greater New Haven Member

A very good film, with superb acting.
Greater New Haven Member

Sad, funny and close to the bone.
Greater New Haven Member

Excellently done. Sometimes a beautiful movie isn't a pretty picture.
Greater New Haven Member

Booze, buttocks and butts and - repeat. [Note: this viewer rated the film "good."]
Greater New Haven Member

68% - Feb 26, 2017

A slyly powerful look at the schism between what we think we believe and what we as humans need. Reasoning and "ideals" vs. love and affirmation and "being."
Washington, DC Member

Now I understand why my parents are . . . the way they are. I love how so much of the events and drama played out on Freja's face - an innocent witness to a troubled time.
Washington, DC Member

The best (least depressing) Scandinavian move I've ever seen so far…
Washington, DC Member

Well, that ought to put a stake through the heart of any 70's-era nostalgia.
Washington, DC Member

Like reading a very good novel.
Washington, DC Member

Sex! Cigarettes! Drinking! I'm moving to Denmark! Also, whomever is making turtle-necks in Denmark is making a fortune!
Washington, DC Member

As he said "in a big house you lose each other" - so true! A "70's tale" beautifully acted. A group home with an odd mixture of characters - Erik seemed so ill suited for this gang. Effective filtering, music, settings and glorious acting.
Washington, DC Member

Magnolia Pictures