80
The New York Times by Ben Kenigsberg
The bitterly funny, multistrand Involuntary, from 2008, is a step forward in the director’s ambition.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
60
A challenging and intelligent Swedish drama that still raises laughs.
70
Perfs, by a mixture of non-pros and little-known thesps, are impressively naturalistic and spontaneous. Ostlund has a knack for comedy, although his script, co-written with Erik Hemmendorff, is a little opaque about where it stands on the morality of each strand’s situation.
80
Village Voice by Michael Atkinson
Involuntary doesn't simplify its stories into a single point of view or idea; rather, Östlund is merely visiting these high-pressure moments in which Swedish culture frays, melts down, and betrays its ultra-civilized idea of itself.
88
Chicago Tribune by Michael Phillips
Engrossing and weirdly funny.
80
Beyond theme, however, these stories are united by the agonizing, low-level tension Östlund brings to bear on every scene, which vary in importance, but not in consequences for the characters involved.
50
The Hollywood Reporter by Stephen Farber
We expect these stories to intersect, but instead they are completely self-contained narratives that rarely reach a potent dramatic conclusion. More irritating is Ostlund's shooting style, which consists of very long takes from an unmoving camera, often from the backs of the heads of important characters.
80
The vignettes of rule-breaking and social exclusion have a funny and stinging force.
80
Time Out London by Trevor Johnston
His film is the product of tough-love, arresting, unexpected and worth your time.