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These four terrific actors expertly capture the shift from tired old men to lives of the party, as a few drinks loosen them into joking, dancing idiots. And their forensic approach to blood levels is fascinating. Mikkelsen holds centre focus skilfully, allowing his concealed feelings to emerge so that he's sympathetic even when he's clearly a mess. The camaraderie between Mikkelsen, Larsen, Millang and Ranthe is superbly balanced, shifting from thoughtful to exhilarating to out-of-control drunk.

Skilfully shot and edited, the film is packed with superbly staged sequences in which these men both prove and disprove their hypothesis at the same time, such as when Martin seamlessly navigates the crowded breakroom then walks into a wall. Teens joke about drinking 55 units in a good week (the recommended level is 14). And as these men push their experiment further in the name of science, even they can see that they're heading toward danger. So it's remarkable that Vinterberg and the cast make their point without preaching to the audience or sacrificing the entertaining tone.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

13.Oct.20 lff

The likeable Zia plays Rudro as thoughtful and observant. His easy-going approach means that he struggles with resistance from officials who think art is unholy then blame him for empty fishing nets. His interaction with Tuni is the heart of the film, and Tamanna plays her with alert attention to detail, evoking Tuni's yearning to escape with him. The villagers are all bracingly authentic, with Babu's serenely confident Chairman accepting no guff as he controls everyone and apportions guilt, blithely jeopardising lives.

Tuni believes that change will never come to her close-minded village, but Rudro reminds her that she's the hope for the future. The narrative gently encompasses moments of suspense, emotion and even a tense trial and wrenching sentence. Some of the soapier plot points feel a little distracting, and the editing is perhaps a bit loose, but the story is riveting, a rare glimpse into an intriguing culture. And it's packed with meaning that resonates far beyond this corner of the world.

themes, violence

13.Oct.20 lff

Performances are solid, although it's difficult to follow the mayhem with such sketchy connections between characters. Norvind's Marianne has the most terrifying odyssey, caught outside the house, imprisoned and tortured by an armed gang. As her various somewhat ill-defined relatives, the supporting cast has strong emotional moments. And Del Carmen and Cuautle are notable as family employees who are put through a darkly harrowing wringer.

This is not easy to watch, partly because it's so relentlessly grisly but also because the lack of context leaves the film as merely a blast of anger at a system that is so cruelly out of balance. But the callous murders are gut-wrenchingly hideous, so while Franco is highlighting injustice, he's also showing that, while there are many innocent victims, there are almost no actual good guys. And finally, as a parable about how lawlessness infiltrates every level of society, there's no space for hope here.

themes, language, violence

16.Oct.20 lff