Thomas Vinterberg - Druk (2020), 6/10

Druk is charming and fun, even philosophically interesting at times. It is simultaneously propelled and limited by its premise, one that sounds pretty damn silly despite having some stellar moments that work inordinately well. This is partially due to Vinterberg’s style meshing with Mads Mikkelsen’s absurdly charismatic performance as the decaying middle-aged everyman. Unfortunately, some of the plot points and narrative choices are questionable at best, particularly during the middle portion of the film. Some moments feel forced or fall flat, especially when surrounded by scenes that fire on all cylinders. The group of teachers are a mixed bag, but more often than not serve to advance the story in meaningful ways, giving them value. The gym teacher’s story is the only one that feels forced and rushed, particularly in his interactions with the kids, but most of the actual teaching scenarios are relatively unrealistic in comparison to the depictions of their personal lives which feel grounded. Still, the visual storytelling is outstanding, the multiple act presentation effective, and the film generally inspires laughter or genuine sadness. An unlikely yet enamoring achievement.