ANOTHER ROUND (12A)
Winner of the Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars, this Danish comedy drama stars Mads Mikkelsen as history teacher Martin, whose bored students struggle to follow his haphazard lessons.
Martin’s marriage is stagnant and sons Jonas and Kasper barely register his presence.
During a 40th birthday meal for fellow teacher Nikolaj (Magnus Millang) with colleagues Peter (Lars Ranthe) and Tommy (Thomas Bo Larsen), the men debate Norwegian philosopher and psychologist Finn Skarderud’s hypothesis that humans are born with a 0.05% blood alcohol level shortfall and forge a secret pact to drink their way out of a rut.
The experiment delivers encouraging initial results:
Martin’s students become engaged, music teacher Peter channels a choir’s sweet harmony and sports master Tommy bolsters the footballing prowess of an unco-ordinated weakling named Specs.
“I haven’t felt this good in ages,” gushes Martin, who proposes they all increase their blood alcohol content above 0.05%.
Another Round is a lifeaffirming and crowd-pleasing cocktail that slips down sweetly, even with a generous glug of salty tears in the second half.
In selected cinemas from Friday