There are two different films in ‘Another Round‘ (the Danish title is ‘Druk‘ which Google translates as ‘Excessive Drink’), Thomas Vinterberg‘s 2020 film. One is about alcohol, its positive and negative effects, and how drinking is an integral part of the social life and culture of the community and perhaps of an entire people. The other is about a midlife crisis of four high school teachers who have each, in their own ways, come to a standstill in their personal and professional lives. Can alcohol be a solution? Up to what blood alcohol level? Can the morning after hangover be avoided?
The heroes of the film are four teachers from a Danish provincial town. Drinking seems to be part of the local culture and daily life, in a country where high school students drink countless beers at social events and where the scandals caused by them when under influence are regarded with indulgence as youth outbursts. Even teachers do not avoid the liquors, and even philosophers seem to propose a blood alcohol level of 0.05% as normal. The four teachers begin a ‘psychological test’ of living and exercising their teaching profession in conditions of permanent alcoholism. The results seem very positive for a while. Martin (Mads Mikkelsen), the history teacher we will be following most closely, regains the class’s attention and inspires students’ interest in the subject he is teaching. Even his private life seems to return to a better forgotten path lost due to routine. The music teacher urges the students in the choir to listen to each other and to put their soul into the music they sing. The sports teacher motivates his football team and turns the spectacled boy intimidated by his colleagues into a scorer. Finally, the psychology teacher finds ways to help the terrified student facing final exams. Problems arise as the experiment progresses, alcohol doses increase, and inevitably, the negative effects of alcohol occur, including the tough waking up in the mornings after nights of excessive drinking. But are these changes just because of alcohol or at all because of alcohol? Maybe drinking is just a pretext to overcome the inherent crises of the professional routine, family, or life in general?
The script has sensitivity and subtlety and avoids the pitfalls of extremes. ‘Another Round‘ is neither a plea in favour nor a moralising story against alcohol consumption, although I can guess that Danish viewers in particular have an opportunity to reflect on the role and place of drinking in their society. The study of characters is underlined by the extremely nuanced acting interpretation, especially of course the one of Mads Mikkelsen who adds another special role to his career and collaborations with Thomas Vinterberg. I was also impressed by the cinematic technique imagined by the director and cinematographer. The camera, fixed at the beginning, acquires mobility as the story progresses (along with the increase in alcohol levels) to become chaotic in times of crisis and later broaden the perspective and change the brightness towards the end. The confrontation of each of the heroes with the experiment is different and the outcome is not happy for everyone. Social drama and psychological study, a subtle and ostentatious story about middle age and school, teachers and students, ‘Another Round‘ ends with an unexpected tone of optimism. Highly recommended – one of the most beautiful movies of this very special season.