"The Commune is classic Vinterberg, a search for clarity amidst the chaos." – Cinema Scandinavia

Collaborating again with co-writer Tobias Lindholm (A War, MIFF 2016), Danish director Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt, MIFF 2012) returns to his homeland with his new film, inspired partly by his own childhood experiences of living on a commune.

When architecture lecturer Erik inherits his father's vast country estate in a small town north of Copenhagen, his wife Anna suggests they live there and invite their friends to join them. It's the mid-1970s and she's embracing the collective spirit of the time, as well as hoping to inject new life into their marriage. At first it's all nude swims, bonfires and friendly shared meals. But fractures form when Erik starts seeing a student and Anna's jealousy gets in the way of her idealism.

Anchored by a wrenching performance from Trine Dyrholm as Anna (which won her the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 2016 Berlinale), The Commune is an affectionate and perceptive investigation into human relationships and family dynamics, proving yet again that Vinterberg is a master of ensemble dramas.

"From the age of seven to 19, I lived in a commune. It was a crazy, warm and fantastic time, surrounded by genitals, beer, highbrow academic discussions, love and personal tragedies. As a child, every day was a fairytale." – Thomas Vinterberg