Klassfesten (2002) Reviews

• Bittersweet comedy afraid of the dark

  stefan-1442003-01-19

  The high school reunion is traumatic to anyone with a heart and a brain. Our teen years just keep on nagging us, all of our lives. And nothing makes as good comedy, as the sad sides of life. This film follows the patterns and lands in what could be expected, which is sort of OK in comedy. It does have some amusing twists to it - especially the drastic mixture of past and present. The characters change places with their younger alter egos, like flashbacks but in present time scenes. I would say that this is how our memory works, making us jump in time subconsciously, as if we have forever that teen inside of us. Also, it adds a poetic quality to the film. It's the most endearing with the main character, who interacts constantly with his teenage self, who tries desperately to make him more cool, and urges him to get out of his sheltered existence. Yes, how kindly would we be judged by ourselves in our teens, if they saw us now? To some extent, we can live with it, having other values than we did back then, but in other cases - well, well. I would have loved to see this conflict explored and deepened - that between the adult person and the teenager he once was. Unfortunately, the film stays on the surface of it, probably in fear of darkening the comedy too much. But comedy thrives on darkness, not on light. Happy and well-adjusted people don't invite to laughter, but misery sure does - I think already Aristotle stated this, in what little remains of his thoughts on comedy. Certainly, there is some misery in the film, but just as it is about to really grab us, then comes a smile with snow white teeth, or a joke to release the tension. It is irritating. So also, is the fact that the dialogue contains little worth listening to. The writers/directors have not penetrated the subject sufficiently, or they just don't think so much of it. Still, there were several moments where I laughed out loud, and in between the film was kind of cute.

• Does a class-reunion have the potential to bring life into living?

  cuddlycheerful2002-02-25

  Someone has said that you seldom regret what you have done but often regret what you did not do. The main character, Magnus, might not regret what he did not do but he definitely wonders about what might have happened would he have run away with, Hillevi, when they both were teens. Magnus, now in his late thirties is having a slight mid-life crisis. He is living a safe and dull life with his wife, their daughter and experience nothing but a suburban life-style lacking excitement and anything at all relating to "carpe diem". When Magnus receives an invitation to a high-school reunion things change. The directors, Hannes Holm and Måns Herngren, have once again succeeded in making a movie about a particular stage of life. As a viewer you have a great time laughing away to everyday situations that are so familiar but normally will never be brought up for discussion. There are plenty of great scenes which are familiar to anyone having experienced or heard others mention their class-reunions. All in all Klassfesten is a terrific movie with great actors and a great story.

• Great sense of humour

  kregert2002-02-25

  I liked this movie very much. It captured a great sense of humour, kind of charming more than hilarious. These highschool reunions are very common in Sweden, and are are often connected with a lot of anxiety, agony and social pressure. How did you succeed in life?? But when it comes down to it, things aren't always what they seem. Go see the movie.

• Class reunion after 20 yrs - roles are still the same

  matsolsson2002-04-11

  Lightwight comedy with some funny observations on roles and relations. Two parallell contexts - one about relations within a marriage that has gone routine, and one about revisited relations within a junior high school class. If you liked the other Herngren/Holm movies you will most likely enjoy this one. Well worth seeing.

• Wonderful!

  hdpxx04-imdb2004-02-07

  Hannes and Måns are fantastic in capturing the surrounding and feeling of the time - both back in the eighties and today. Their characters are spot on (perhaps with exception of Inday Ba's Hillevi). One might have to be in the same age-group as Hannes and Måns to really appreciate the movie, but if you are, then memories will return - guaranteed.