Another Round Movie Review (2020)
A brilliant film about four teachers who decide to test the effects of maintaining daily low-level intoxication, Another Round is a fascinating look into what this theory will do for their lives.
When I was a kid, foreign films were really foreign. There was a specific “foreign films” section at the video store, and if you watched them, you were considered “artsy.” Foreign films, black and white films, silent films – these didn’t tend to be consumed by the everyday movie viewer. So, thank goodness for streaming. I feel like now, the ability to click a button or hunt down a movie from Korea (like The Man From Nowhere) is just a moment away. And this has opened a whole new world to the people who just want to consume great cinema.
Another Round centers around Martin, a middle-aged teacher, husband, and father of two who has become numb to his life. At friend Nikolaj’s birthday dinner, Martin, Tommy, Peter, and Nikolaj drink too much and have a wonderful time. Later, realizing that none of them have felt so relaxed or engaged with life in a very long time, the four teachers decide to test the Skårderud hypothesis – a theory posed by psychiatrist Finn Skårderud, that claims that humans are born with a blood alcohol level that is 0.05% too low. The men begin secretly drinking and keeping documentation for a future paper on what behavior results their experiment yields at different alcohol levels.
Right from the beginning of the film, you are introduced to the fact that alcohol consumption is a “thing” in Denmark. The word “Druk” (which is the Danish name for this film) essentially means “binge drinking,” so the relay race of students drinking as teams and getting penalties for vomiting presents an immediate understanding of the environment.
This is a fantastic film, and for so many reasons. It never presents alcohol as a serious danger, but the teachers aim to test their theory as methodically as possible, keeping data and notes as they expand the limits. In the beginning, the low level of intoxication makes Martin more fun to his students, more engaged with his family, happier with himself, and connected to his friends. The question is if it can stay that way for all of them.
The men find a raw freedom associated with letting go that so many of us could use. It is easy to get stuck in a rut as you get older and have life’s expectations hovering over you. But this helps them find their curiosity again. They feel younger and more attached to the world – not to mention that having a secret among friends is bonding in and of itself.
This ensemble works beautifully together, but, as always, it is Mads Mikkelsen who is the standout. I love his work, and he is exceptional here. He is a king of reaction shots, and has a way of keeping his emotions and experiences in his body and on his face, which is what puts him up there with the greats.
Another Round is a very special film about friendship and life. It is funny and heart-wrenching, but slightly difficult to discuss without reducing the magic. Just watch it. And, with the life-affirming payoff at the end that you didn’t even know you wanted, you’ll be looking the scene up on YouTube just to get another fix. I already have.
Runtime: 116 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: Not Rated
Languages Spoken In The Film: Danish with English subtitles
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
Available: Free on Hulu and for Amazon Prime members, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
