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Involuntary

Original title: De ofrivilliga
  • 2008
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
Cecilia Milocco in Involuntary (2008)
In several unrelated stories, the consequences of putting one's foot down - or failing to do so - are explored.
Play trailer1:57
1 Video
15 Photos
Drama

In several unrelated stories, the consequences of putting one's foot down - or failing to do so - are explored.In several unrelated stories, the consequences of putting one's foot down - or failing to do so - are explored.In several unrelated stories, the consequences of putting one's foot down - or failing to do so - are explored.

  • Director
    • Ruben Östlund
  • Writers
    • Erik Hemmendorff
    • Ruben Östlund
  • Stars
    • Villmar Björkman
    • Lola Ewerlund
    • Maria Lundqvist
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    6.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ruben Östlund
    • Writers
      • Erik Hemmendorff
      • Ruben Östlund
    • Stars
      • Villmar Björkman
      • Lola Ewerlund
      • Maria Lundqvist
    • 22User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Official Trailer

    Photos15

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    Top cast58

    Edit
    Villmar Björkman
    • Villmar (Family Segment)
    Lola Ewerlund
    • Lola (Family Segment)
    Maria Lundqvist
    Maria Lundqvist
    • The Actress (Bus Trip Segment)
    Henrik Vikman
    • Bus Driver (Bus Trip Segment)
    Linnea Cart-Lamy
    • Linnea (Girlfriends Segment)
    Sara Eriksson
    • Sara (Girlfriends Segment)
    Cecilia Milocco
    Cecilia Milocco
    • The Teacher (School Segment)
    Ulf Lundstedt
    • Carpentry Teacher (School Segment)
    Leif Edlund
    • Leffe (Buddies Segment)
    • (as Leif Edlund Johansson)
    Olle Liljas
    • Olle (Buddies Segment)
    Mia Eriksson
    • Mia (Family Segment)
    • (as Mia Ericsson)
    Hanna Lekander
    Hanna Lekander
    • Hanna (Family Segment)
    Simeon Nordius
    • Son (Family Segment)
    • (as Simeon Henry Nordius)
    Maricel Amance
    • Filipino Guest (Family Segment)
    Leif Ericson
    • Vilmar's Colleague (Family Segment)
    • (as Leif Ericsson)
    Margret Andersson
    • Colleague's Wife (Family Segment)
    Staffan Mau
    • Discussion Group (Family Segment)
    Eva Mau
    • Discussion Group (Family Segment)
    • Director
      • Ruben Östlund
    • Writers
      • Erik Hemmendorff
      • Ruben Östlund
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.96.7K
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    Featured reviews

    8tom-3160

    Raw but brilliant

    Brilliantly simple in its story, yet it engages you right throughout, Simple doesn't necessarily mean it is not deep and meaningful. This film with its raw truth and its meaningful exchanges, I'ts a typical low budget foreign film, in that it is brilliant(though some of the low budget films are not).

    Brilliant acing by the actors, especially the young girls, and a brilliantly shot film with unusual angles and unusual filming shots, that work well to frame the story.

    A Swedish take on life with dramatic acting and choice of matter, brilliant on all levels and a must see, a clear 8/10.
    taliabo

    unbiased reviews

    The camera angles were interestingly different. Made you think about the conversations and not focus so much on the shallowness of what I call: eye candy syndrome, which Hollywood so likes to depict. One thing that did disturb me when reading reviews was that a few of the very positive ones contained the same misspellings. That is hardly a coincidence. Back to the film: There seemed to be too many thematic subplots going on, despite other reviews that seem to say: "hey, that mirrors life". But generally, the film was entertaining and was an interesting diversion. The homo-erotic male-bonding deal with the guys seemed a bit contrived. I couldn't figure the rhyme or reason there.
    8ingelaallard

    A Swedish story

    Five independent stories which all possess an admirable wit and acuity. They all share one thing - the involved have to stand up for their own will and resist the so often overwhelming peer pressure that we all at some point has been the victim of.

    Ruben Östlund has created a sleek, straight and accurate film where the acting is unbeatable. We have to be alert, listen and try to keep up with the sometimes very complicated plot. The camera is rolling and it allows all the involved to take all the space. The stories has a strange sense of normalcy on the surface, and the every day situations succeeds each other with finesse, perfectly knitted together until the end without any forced resolution or final connection. It is this kind of story I feel can be associated with Sweden. This may be our future culture imprint.

    Ruben Östlund possesses a narration that grabs at his audience and he is not afraid to challenge. It is exciting despite unremarkable equality in the presentation, and the persons in the five stories, feel very real.
    10FunkyFred

    Sheer perfection!

    Brilliant film by Ruben Östlund and the cast! This is sheer perfection from the first frame to the last one, and the battle for next year's Best Swedish Film Award seems to be decided. Here is the best Swedish picture in years. It displays in five parallel stories how people reject from speaking up when they have the opportunity, due to more or less rational fears, and once the right moment has slipped away it becomes multiply difficult later.

    Most of the parts are played by actors unknown to me, and they are all fantastic. In every scene the dialogue is performed the way people actually speaks in real life (And I'm Swedish, I know what it should sound like.), it's believable and absorbing. Nowhere to be heard is the theatrical and stiff line delivery that so often haunts Swedish cinema. The images are often still in unorthodox angles, while people pass in and out. It is highly innovative and it works out extraordinarily well.

    The film is filled with hilarious lines, but it is serious all the way, and the humour is of the kind that makes me shiver with embarrassment. It is downright painful to watch these awkward situations and know that I could so easily be a part of something similar in real life. Not least, the problems with partying and binging is displayed in a refreshingly non-romantic manner. It is all, simply, brilliant!
    8mappedyr

    Very touching

    I was really surprised by this film. It consists of 5 independent stories and though they are completely different they share something common to human beings. Well "Short Cuts" was great and I can really recommend "Fyra nyanser av brunt" in the same genre. But "De ofrivilliga" has something extra. I bet you can recognize some of the awkward situation described in this film.

    It's pretty annoying with the strange camera angles and it's a bit like the habit of using too many close-ups that some directors use. But to some extend it makes sense. You learn to focus on the situation and the interaction instead of the people in the scenes.

    And I really must say that it's fantastic how a writer can invent the strange incidents in the film. I keep thinking - this must have happened for someone in real life. No one can have that wild an imagination.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sweden's official submission to 82nd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 2010.
    • Goofs
      All entries contain spoilers
    • Soundtracks
      Briggens blåögda blonda kapten
      Performed by Benny Anderssons Orkester (BAO)

      Written by Benny Andersson

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Involuntary?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 28, 2008 (Sweden)
    • Countries of origin
      • Sweden
      • France
    • Official site
      • Trinity (United Kingdom)
    • Languages
      • Swedish
      • English
    • Also known as
      • De Ofrivilliga
    • Production companies
      • Plattform Produktion
      • Coproduction Office
      • Film i Väst
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $623,849
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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