Four Fun Things

Thank you, I really loved it, just watched it. I am not a literary type but I noticed the dad represents the unbalanced masculine, who could not admit his weakness from his natural instincts and could not embrace his inner feminine. The wife is unbalanced as well. The woman who is sleeping around is the balanced feminine. She is free and feeling at peace in all areas, not fearful or holding back, she’s the only one to stay in the bus. The balanced masculine is the bearded red head, very in touch with his feelings and feminine side and in the end, showed his ability to care gif others in the heat of the moment as well with calm resolve, and carrying the daughter, etc he was very masculine but was balanced. He still had his natural instincts, divorced and with a 20 year old, but he was doing it right. Accepting himself.

Hope I’m not repeating any comments but didn’t see anyone mention it! I loved Force Majeure – the nuance, the tension, the cringe! The only beef I had about the movie that left me a bit perplexed and perhaps disappointed was the ending with the bus scene.

ALSO – SPOILER ALERT!!! DONT READ IF YOU WANNA WATCH!!

The wife/mother leaves the bus after becoming anxious about how dangerously the driver was handling it on the mountain. I read it as a validation of the husband’s actions earlier in the film – evidenced by how he smirked while smoking his cigarette on the way down the hill with everyone else who abandoned the bus, seemingly pleased that she, in a way, behaved the same way he did – leaving and abandoning her children in a moment of panic/fear.

I found this depiction a little bit clunky, right? It was a little too convenient, unrealistic, and perhaps “on the nose” ? I felt it was a bit of a departure from the whole tone/style of the rest of the movie… it was a small complaint, as I loved the movie as a whole, but was wondering if anyone else read the scene the same way I (and my husband) did. Would love to hear thoughts!

I was just thinking about Force Majeure the other day when I read that there was going to be a book coming out about the false missile alert in Hawaii (from the NY Times Summer Reading Article: “Joseph Han’s “Nuclear Family,” about a Korean American family living in Hawaii around the time of 2018’s false missile alert”).

It wasn’t as immediate as the avalanche, but that morning we got the texts and my boyfriend was like, “OK, I’m off to work” and left me home alone (we both were pretty confident it was govt. error). Thankfully, I didn’t hold it against him… arguably I should have just been happy to be alive? :)

My best friend had a baked potato bar at her cabin bachelorette party, and it was a big hit! Comfort food with toppings galore!

Thank for the movie rec Joanna – it was beautifully filmed, funny, truthful. So refreshing xo

My husband would love a baked potato party, such a fun idea! I would never come out with that myself, thank you!

I’m almost embarrassed about to ask this but am I the only one who did not ‘get’ Force Majeure? I thought it was slow and tedious and took ages to come to the point. Yes, the husband panicked and ran when the avalanche hit and he was embarrassed, after all men are supposed to be the ‘stronger’ sex?? Someone please explain the premise of this movie to me.

You sold out the end of a movie? So, why watch it now?

Perfect timing, because Ruben Östlund just hours ago won the Palme d’Or for his newest film, so keep your eyes peeled for that! If you liked “Force Majeure” I highly recommend his previous film, “The Square” (which also won him a Palme d’Or). Watch for the unexplained chimpanzee, if nothing else.

Criterion also recently restored the Danish classic, “Celebration”, seems worth mentioning here. Absurd tense crazy family vibes. https://www.criterion.com/films/28059-the-celebration

I have to see Force Majeur after reading all your recommendations now😀 Being Swedish I have to mention “Låt den rätte komma in” (English titel “Let the Right One In”). Such a gripping film about the beautiful, strange relationship between a troubled young boy and a vampire girl, really worth seeing even though the plot sounds cheesy. I promise it’s not!

(Also, we always eat baked potatoes with crème fraiche, chopped red onion and caviar (not sturgeon though) for dinner. So good!

My partner and I saw “Force Majeure” when it came out and we loved it. We talk about it a few times every year… definitely one of those films that sticks with you.

When I saw the first food candle, I thought someone had put birthday candles in a baguette instead of a cake and I thought, “that feels right.”

I love fake food and I love candles. What an exciting discovery these are!!

I saw Force Majeure when it came out and I still find myself recommending it to people all the time. So good.

My husband & I make baked potato bar for lazy dinners except I prefer sweet potatoes so we have both. Paired with a salad, easy!

Those candles would also make a great April Fools joke! 😂

Joanna, your description of the film reminds me of The Loneliest Planet. It’s about an engaged couple (the guy is played by Gael Garcia Bernal, which never hurts) hiking in the country of Georgia… and something happens that upends their relationship. It’s a slow film but that moment and its consequences are incredibly compelling. Can’t say more without giving it away, but it’s really stuck with me even though I saw it over a decade ago.

We call them ‘jacket potatoes’ at our house cuz my hubby is British and it is fabulous to say. So fun and so visual!! Also- a constant win with the kids!

Yep, I watched Force Majeure and loved how well the marital tension was pulled off and then later watched the American version with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell which was also great.

I eat baked potatoes at least 5 times a week LOL, I love ‘em! Let’s not exclude the sweet potato…..I have a particular penchant for the variety called Hannah (they are white inside and less “sweet”). Topped with puy lentils, tahini and a bit of mayo or pesto tucked underneath is one of my favs

I loved that movie!

My wedding had a mac n’ cheese bar! Same idea, had the base mac n’ cheese and then all kinds of toppings to add in. The whole theme was “fancy picnic food” and it was truly the best wedding food ever.

I always love and appreciate the four fun things and all the responses and comments! Also just wanted to share how life has been so difficult over the past weeks and to help manage my own inner sate of being (despair, grief, horror, anger, helplessness) I have been listening to a short guided loving kindness meditation by Sylvia Boorstein (via On Being), a blessing practice that extends outward to include familiar strangers and strangers all around the world. It has helped me. This morning I included this forum with all the voices from all over the globe, I pictured sort of a pink cloud full of people, and these are at the words, which feel like a balm to me. I offer them here in the hope that maybe someone else will also find them calming, for a few minutes anyway: May you feel safe. May you feel strong. May you feel content. May you live with ease.

I was at a reception once with a grits bar. They were served in martini glasses and it was divine. That is all.

The fruit candles made me smile for the first time this week. Thank you! Love from Buffalo.