Euphoria (I) (2017) User Reviews

Just a couple of pointers to IMDb

[ronw-08814 · 7/10 · 8 June 2018]

Just pointing out IMDb's classification genre as adventure, drama. There is no adventure at all but a heck of a lot of well-acted drama. Secondly, plot synopsis "Sisters in conflict travelling through Europe toward a mystery destination.". Well, there is a tiny bit of travelling (car trip), but not through Europe and the mystery destination is arrived at about 15 minutes into the movie.

Not giving anything away here but I thought it was a well-acted drama on a contemporary and, for some, controversial subject. I "enjoyed" it but it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

'In the end we are all pathetic' Mr. Daren (Charles Dance)

[Weirdling_Wolf · 7/10 · 30 April 2022]

Dusky Alice Vikander and a deadly pale Eva Green play estranged sisters who are somewhat uncomfortably reunited at an isolated, picturesque resort in some lush european idyll, a seemingly genteel environment wherein the well-to-do terminally sick are sensitively given the freedom to facilitate their own death in this conspicuously new-agey, spa-like environment. Acclaimed Writer/director Lisa Langseth's earnest, handsomely shot drama deals tastefully with a contentious theme that evocatively translates into austere, contemplative, if not consistently gripping cinema.

There's a curiously detached quality to the film-making, as though coolly observing the final anxious days of the desperately ailing Emilie (Eva Green) from afar, but the acting is of a high standard, and there are a number of earthy, well-written exchanges between the grieved, antagonistic sisters which rang true, and the always wonderful, preternaturally graceful Charlotte Rampling effortlessly expresses her inimitable gravitas. To be blunt, talky, introspective films about the weighty emotional complexities of assisted suicide are, by definition, going to be a niche affair, but I sincerely applaud Langseth for making it, and the final fragile moments of Emilie's bespoke 'leaving' was certainly impactful.

Great performances from the lead actor/actresses

[mwsmbngsimon · 7/10 · 24 June 2018]

It's a great watch, starts off alittle bit boring and insensible probably because when u read the title "Euphoria" and the plotline, you expect something else.

I loved the individual performances from the lead actresses and the actor in the supporting role. In the start of the movie, I was pissed that I couldn't see any chemistry between the two sisters but as the movie preceded it was totally justified. The polarities of the two sisters was just amaizing, one fighting hard to keep her demons buried and the other one freely expressing her emotions. Charles Dance, what an amazing actor! his supporting role was just on point and fit right in the mix up.

You want to watch a sad movie that is well crafted and the performances are on point, I suggest u watch Euphoria.

I don't understand the bad reviews

[mariamru · 6/10 · 17 June 2018]

To me we don't see very often movies about dead and illness from this perspective. That's why I think it's not a common script and I like that despite it's a little bit slow.

Fun times (not)

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 18 October 2018]

Euphoria this isn't. Well not in the sense you may think at least. More of moral bliss, enjoying certain things in life in a quieter fashion. I did not read what this was about, but even so you can feel a weight on Eva Greens shoulders when she meets up with Alicia Vikanders character. Two different people and yet related, with quite some past.

Of course that past will unravel and unfold during the running time of the movie and while some things feel petty, it's still human emotions. And then you have decisions that are being made against the will of a character and other things that may make you wonder ... many things not just about life. Depending on your state of mind, on your current situation and other things

Maybe i was not in the right mood for it

[sjalkarjadottir · 5/10 · 1 December 2018]

I was bored .. plain and simple. The story is beautiful, the emotions are there, the acting is great .. and the cinematography is spot on.

There are no surprises in the story, no twists. It is straight forward at a brisk pace towards the conclusion.

But you kind of have to be in the mood for a story about existence, questions of meaning, value of life and the human psyche - or you will likely be - bored.

That does not mean that the story was flawless. I couldnt stand the protatonists as well as most of the side characters. They were all terrible - as in terrible people. Lacking communication skills as well as coping mechanisms.

I also did not like the cult like setting .. with its somber mood and kind of "numbing filter" over everything. (kind of muted sounds, slow movement and all) and also poor world building. You do not see enough people that are not "protagonists" of this resort but that keep it running .. people that would be the polar opposite of the residents, people with meaning and purpose .. a side effect that should affect the entire "life" there.

Anyway, i could write up plenty of problems i had with the movie as a story .. but as i said, mainly because i was not in the mood for it.

A dark story

[zolizolidus-35734 · 7/10 · 2 February 2018]

This one is so difficult to review and write about without spoiling it.

I really like the story and all the actors show up and makes this an interesting story to follow.

I never seen Eva Green in such a dark character like this. I really enjoy what she puts on the screen but many time I have to think when I watch the movie. Is that really her ?

Charles Dance character is fantastic to watch. I really enjoy the talk he have with Alicia Vikanders character aside of his last scenes.

The photo is pretty and the music works well.

This aint a happy story to watch so if you are looking for something to cheer you up, this aint it. Im not much for taking sides in the controversial subject that this movie is about, but I figured that I really dont have to.

I can sit down and just take in the movie as it is.

I watched this at the Dragon in Göteborg at the Göteborg fesival and it was a great joy to listen to Alicia Vikander and Lisa Langseth doing a Q and A about the movie.

This was the third movie with Alicia and Lisa working together and the fist international movie for Lisa.

Deep Meditation on Life and Mortality, Amazing Actors

[Blue-Grotto · 8/10 · 21 October 2017]

"To be one with the night," said the poet Gunnar Ekelöf "one with the crowds of flowers leaning out of darkness to listen to something I had on my tongue to say but never got said." Two sisters aim to get this chance, this moment together. Emilie is an extrovert, a New York photographer, and Ines is her polar opposite. They drifted apart in their adult years and Emilie is trying to pull them back together again with a mystery, luxury trip she is paying for deep in Eastern Europe. Ines agrees to go, yet comes to regret her decision when Emilie insists upon confronting their shared past and altering their future.

This deep meditation on life and mortality explores the nature of honesty and trust. It encourages us to live authentic lives, keep an open perspective and release internalized feelings. Actors Eva Green and Alicia Vikander are amazing, as is the supporting cast. I immensely enjoyed the classic introvert and extrovert clash. Even though it is a Swedish film, the actors speak English throughout. The soundtrack could have been better. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

A healthy look at a poignant topic.

[sharoncthompson · 7/10 · 11 July 2019]

I can see how some people may think this film depressing. I myself did not take this view at all, finding the film surprisingly watchable and thought provoking. Based on a topic that is discussed with varying opinions, this film looks at the bare foundations without distracting from the inevitable. Well worth watching and not at all depressing depending how you look at life itself. Cinematography is amazing, acting is excellent, topic is an interesting well discussed issue and the film is very well done.

Boring !

[sparsh-hardik · 6/10 · 20 August 2019]

The story is half-baked and it lacks substance, although some dialogues are very meaningful. The character seems are wasted.

If this is you're film you'll love it. I didnt. I wanted to barf every 5 minutes

[boydpeters · 6/10 · 24 June 2018]

Poignant, reflective, silence, unspoken. Where is Terence Malik? They did a good job of making Eva Green look very Ill. Personally I couldn't warm to it because the sister was poor written as cliche sour. She was one dimensional to the detraction of the film. I couldn't make it to the end because I identify with going on a bender in Bangkok as my way out and not sitting naked on a swing listening to a string quartet. I get the string quartet. They wanted to make the whole dignity thing classy. For me it must made it nauseous. I figure it ends in a predictable way. If you are a middle aged woman who goes to art house films you'll love this. If you are the Subaru driving bearded husband who drinks Chardonnay with her you will tell her you loved it. It looks well done, just not my thing

Riddled with cancer

[Bgappl07 · 3/10 · 24 December 2020]

OK quite frankly I had no intention of writing a review about this movie because truth be told I had to stop it and go back to it about five times wasn't that it was incomprehensible it was that it was boring But something happened right in about the middle of it that angered me so much I'm writing this now We get to see the heroine's body almost right in the beginning of this riddled with cancer that's why she's there she's dying then in the middle she has an erotic experience with another sick person and that just infuriated me I had the misfortune to have a husband who died of stage four cancer when he was 42 years old believe me when I tell you and he was not mis- formed it was internal that there was absolutely no sex drive none So to see this romanticized on screen when this is not supposed to be a fantasy just hit me the wrong way As I stated this movie did nothing for me from the get go and when I got to this point that just clinched it for me. it's just not a good choice of a movie.

Could be useful for some.

[Clipster12 · 6/10 · 23 July 2018]

This film takes the best 5 minutes from Soylent Green and spins it into a full blown movie. Poignant.

Shallow

[ferdinand1932 · 2/10 · 9 June 2018]

With a script that has the maturity of a first year college rumination about meaning and life, this catatonic film shuffles like arthritic legs. If only it had been half as long it might have had made the endurance lighter for all.

The characters and the premise are faintly lifted from Thomas Mann's 'Magic Mountain', as seen by Peter Greenaway, with all the arch cleverness and consequent life taken from it because it lacks intellectual agility. It is mediocrity aspiring to be grand and deep simultaneously. The movie title itself anxiously announces that intention. The paradox in this context is a cliche.

The dialog is deliberately stilted, artificial, and as such, this heightens the effect of portent and significance but is an adopted gesture of such superficiality as to strain the attention and interest of a viewer.

And the grist of the narrative is a quasi Bergman reckoning of family happiness and enmity. It's triteness and source material are evident and make one return to the original rather than waste time with this third generation copy.

Family reunion

[laurent-milot · 10/10 · 11 September 2017]

Just out of the TIFF's world premiere of Euphoria, starring Alicia Vikander and Eva Green as main protagonists, two sisters vacationing for an unusual family reunion. This is a challenging movie to describe without spoiling it, but spoiling it is destroying its appeal, so I will just say that the actresses will take you on a roller-coaster of emotions, the cinematography is majestic, the supporting cast is full of surprises and that its subject is treated with an unusual mastery. The feminine touch of the director transpires everywhere in the movie, which gives it an unusual tone and daring sensuality. A fantastic movie to see absolutely!

Flop

[jeffheiden · 1/10 · 6 June 2018]

These reviews look to be written by relatives of the cast.. The acting is bad and the execution is worse, shallow and passé as if the dialogue was written by a teen. NOT worth the time. Look up reviews elsewhere as I can't even be bothered to expend the energy to go in depth on how disappointed I was with this garbage.

The norweigans have the upper hand in the movie industry any day in scandinavia, swedens movie industry is on about as high a level as their politics - straight down.

Eva Green marathon

[yusufpiskin · 5/10 · 24 May 2020]

After watching this, I realized I still know next to nothing about any of the characters and I feel nothing. Because how am I supposed to care about someone I have absolutely no connection to. So I feel the movie failed in drawing compelling characters and driving home the sort of philosophical message is was maybe kinda sorta going for. Also at ending scene is the worst my...

Dr. Kevorkian will see you now

[mavnick-1 · 4/10 · 15 July 2019]

The music totally destroyed this film. Alicia must have owed someone a favor to put her career on the line.

Beautiful - difficult - essential

[I_Ailurophile · 10/10 · 30 May 2021]

I was drawn in by the cast, ever curious to watch the films of Eva Green and Alicia Vikander. The basic premise doesn't truly inform what the narrative is about, and I didn't read of it otherwise, so I was quite caught off guard. But it's a pleasant surprise, because 'Euphoria' is a fantastic movie.

It's not an easy watch. It's at best awkward to see Emilie (Green) and Ines (Vikander) struggle through the pains of their estrangement, if not just as acutely distressing. And well before the climax rolls around, there's no shortage of scenes that are achingly heartfelt, as beautiful as they are excruciating in their emotional turmoil. Yet through it all, you just can't look away.

With the quiet (...or sometimes not so quiet) drama that unfolds, 'Euphoria' is focused squarely on its characters, and the cast is outstanding. I've long admired Eva Green for her skill and versatility. She so readily embodies both a soft grace, and a willful force of personality; tenacity, and vulnerability. Her performance as Emilie is not truly any different, if perhaps a bit understated compared to more fantastical roles she's taken on. I'm less familiar with Alicia Vikander, yet I'm immediately so impressed by her here that I want to see everything else of her films. She gives Ines a profound stubbornness, and anger, that belies deeply rooted hurt. If she brings even a fraction of that same fire to roles in other films, watching them all feels like a bare necessity.

And to watch Green and Vikander together, there's an irresistible magnetism to their instances as scene partners. There's one particular scene, near the end, when the dialogue ceases, and for a moment Emilie and Ines share a long gaze between them. The camera cuts between Green and Vikander, and without a single spoken word, the look in their eyes says everything.

All this is to say nothing of the phenomenal supporting performance from Charlotte Rampling as Marina, whose warmth and steadfastness is still another fine anchor for the film. Nor the subdued, sparing music of composer Lisa Holmqvist that so perfectly complements the duration. Lisa Langseth's screenplay is as engrossing as her direction is eye-catching. And all the while, the film has important ideas to convey about family, and life - how we live it, and how it ends.

I watched this with no particular expectations save for the skill and reputation of its stars, and I'm utterly blown away. 'Euphoria' is beautiful, with severe emotional heft we feel keenly, and came and went in 2017 with far too little notice. Everyone should watch this; I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Awful music

[willpage-908-755472 · 5/10 · 14 June 2018]

A pretty predictable movie with great performances. Ruined so much by an awful unimaginative score. The string quartet was almost turnoffable and the repeated theme of monotous chords boring and uninspired. Music can make a movie. In this instance it failed it. Shame.

Eva Green : 5 points .

[SilviaSironifromArgentina · 5/10 · 22 November 2020]

I give this very boring film 5 points just because Eva Green was great. Just that. No more comments....

Highly underrated

[jcpolm · 8/10 · 22 February 2022]

Not sure why this has such a low rating. It is filled with incredible acting, and broaches a heartfelt and wildly serious topic on assisted suicide. Tragic and uplifting simultaneously, it addresses death and life in a fantastic form. Not for everyone, but definitely for anyone who has thought about their own demise or has known people with health issues that destroy their lives.

Sense how death and life are as strong as wine inside you...

[dariailieva · 10/10 · 22 June 2018]

Wonderfully simple and touching film that perfectly gives flesh to the atmosphere of the poem Euphoria by Gunnar Ekelof. I read the poem after seeing the movie, but reading it before would be a good way to tell whether the film is for you. For me this was the first movie that I cried through beginning to end, it really shook me hard, felt extremely real and I could relate to every single character, especially Emilie. I suppose not everyone's life experience allows them to feel what this film presents, even though it's quite universal. It deals with the shaky ground between reconciliation and things left unsaid, weakness and strength, darkness and light, pain and avoidance. It makes you face the instinctive human fear of death in the most exquisitely gripping way. The structure and pace of the film were on point for me, the cast superb, as well as the minimalistic soundtrack - Bowie has the perfect vibe and mood for a cathartic experience as this one (or maybe it's just me being a fan). I went in with no expectations and ended up with a favorite movie and poem, which will be seen and read again and again.

Not A Movie For Religious Folks. A Thoughtful Film About Life

[nichieonline · 10/10 · 25 August 2019]

This is not a movie for religious folks. If you are religious you will not only likely not appreciate it, but you may well be offended by it.

This is a beautiful and thought provoking film with a lot of depth and excellent acting.

Eva Green is fantastic, Charlotte Rampling wonderful and Charles Dance great. The Direction and Cinematography is just superbly done.

This is a movie about family relationships and its challenges, about life and death and coping and not coping.

Leaves you with a lot to think about.

It's a good movie to watch when you're depressed or feeling sorry for yourself.

An existential journey

[Fjlovie · 8/10 · 2 February 2021]

A very specific film that not everyone will understand. Very strong cast and script-cuts right into the heart. There are no words that can really do it justice. I emphasize this is not for everyone, but it is very well made and beautiful in its own way.