Before you read, yes this has spoilers.

Four high school teachers (Mads Mikkelson, Magnus Millang, Thomas Bo Larsen and Lars Ranthe) consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.

This comedy has sweet and lighthearted moments. But in reality, it’s a lot more dangerous than that.

Before I get too deep, I would like to acknowledge the fantastic cinematography and all the talent in the acting (Mikkelson - I’m talking to you). 

This film, while I really enjoyed it, did make me walk out of the cinema with a sense of confusion. 

It seemed that the story in its entirety skipped a few important scenes. Scenes that felt almost DESTINED TO HAPPEN towards the end.

Essentially, it missed its ‘motto of the story’ chance.

Firstly - an obvious one - the consequences of alcoholism. 

Their (midlife crisis) escapades see no real detriments, only seeing to their associate binge drinking with youthful happiness and energy. The acting and drama of it all almost fooled me with this one.

Secondly, and more importantly, the endemic issue of male mental health issues - with men having the by far the highest rates of suicide.

Despite a close friend and main character (Larsen) having completely lost his purpose and drowned himself in a confused alcohol-infused state, the last part of the film seemed to barely acknowledge this - despite a brief and truly heartbreaking funeral scene.

No one gets the therapy they desperately need, and life goes on - seemingly better than ever.

Indeed, the serious risks and real-life consequences of these men’s actions seems to have completely disappeared. 

For me, the film basically lost its point. 

I won’t repeat myself too much (see my other opinion piece) but the essence of the movie seemed to praise such patriarchal values. 

Is Winston Churchill truely a role model for high school kids? And can he be seen as a flawless leader even despite his alcohol tendencies? Most historians wouldn’t agree.

The women of the film, on the other hand, were treated as objects. Objects that could be easily lost, sacrificed, and then found again - only when it suited the male in his alternative mindset. 

One scene in particular stuck, when Nicolaj’s (Millang) wife stands in the doorway, holding all three children and asks him to pick up fresh cod from the market. He politely agrees to her face, but him and his friends proceed and mock her as soon as she has left the room. They proceed to drink their lives away that night. Quite sad really.

In summary, the actual essence of the film was disguised (for me personally) under the facade and allure of Scandinavian men, spirit, culture and language.

However, what if we stop to think about if this film was produced in Hollywood or Australia?

Say, Mikkelsen was played by Ben Affleck?

For that fact, would it be the romanticised version that it is?