The latest work by the Swedish director is the crowning achievement of his career, earning him the Golden Lion—the most important award at the Venice International Film Festival. Two travelling salesmen, Sam and Jonathan, take viewers on a journey through a kaleidoscope of human destinies, like modern-day Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. This journey reveals the beauty of some moments, the triviality of others, the humour and tragedy inherent in people, the greatness of humanity and its fragility.
The title refers to the birds in Breughel’s painting “The Hunters in the Snow”, which observe the world from above and seem to wonder: “Who are people? What are they chasing so frantically?” Like the director’s other films, this one consists of a chain of episodes culminating in absurd visions, filled with both dark humour and tragedy. To make his work in the form he desired, the director spent seven years making commercials, thereby raising funds for a fully independent film.
Andersson did not want to be subordinate to the expectations of producers; he wanted to make a film in the style for which audiences love him, and he succeeded completely. Shown at numerous film festivals, the film captivates with its intelligent sense of humour, intertextual references and bold perspective on human existence.
Running time: 101 min. Kino Muza invites you on 7 October at 7:00 p.m..
CK Muza/ii