“Another Round” Review: Let’s Take It Up a Notch, Shall We?

The feeling of euphoria, the suddenly rose-tinted world around you, that little somersault that your heart does when you finally break out of constraints is what cocoons the beating heart of Thomas Vinterberg’s beautiful tragicomedy, “Another Round” (“Druk”). Four friends, worn down by the sheer monotony of life and fueled by an academic curiosity, take a leap of faith and embark on a pseudoscientific quest.

To varying degrees, all four men were putting up with what could be called a midlife crisis, dissatisfied by the humdrum of daily life as high school teachers in Copenhagen, but it's Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) who is in the thickest funk. In the first few shots, we get to see that he has lost all appetite for his profession and feels frigid from his wife and children. One of the elementary scenes that stood out for us was when, amidst apprehensions and disappointments on a fancy dinner table, Martin uncorks his bottled emotions and the misery is despairingly palpable. What follows is a plan to indulge in a little bit of day-drinking every day at the school to see how or if it is at all able to stir their rather dreary emotions back to life.

As a patch over the dolorous musings of their life, alcohol gives these men just the right kick they needed and so they march up this uncertain path (very willingly), with more enthusiasm and guts than what their good ol’ age could have permitted. But where does this ‘spirited’ venture take these men? Does this escapade help them embrace life or do they plunge deeper into the dark recesses of their being?

As exhilarating as the experiment sounds, tethering on the edge of life is quite a feeling to say and the film gradually, swiftly pulls you into its mood. Mads Mikkelsen is an absolute delight to watch, with eyes that speak volumes and a doubtful, vulnerable yet brave persona, not to mention the brownie points he earned from us for his majestic jazz-ballet skills. With bright wide shots and an exquisite soundtrack, ‘Another Round’ is a feast for your senses as you turn from delirious to edgy and then indulgent in this Danish tale.

It is possible to be left a little swayed by the sheer melancholic charm of this brilliantly crafted story of existentialism. Just like fine wine, this movie demands to be savoured till the last sip.