A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence

You can watch “Pigeon” right here, right now

Sam and Jonathan, a pair of hapless novelty salesman, take us on a kaleidoscopic tour of the human condition in reality and fantasy, unfolding in absurdist episodes: a sing-along at a 1940s beer hall, a randy flamenco teacher, a thirsty King Charles XII of Sweden en route to battle, and a mischievous metaphor for the horrors inflicted by European colonialism. It is a journey that unveils the beauty of single moments, the pettiness of others, life’s grandeur, and the humor and tragedy hidden within us all. Written and directed by Roy Andersson (ABOUT ENDLESSNESS)

Sweden / 101 min / in Swedish with subtitles

♦ What a bold, beguiling and utterly unclassifiable director Andersson is. He thinks life is a comedy and feels it’s a tragedy, and is able to wrestle these conflicting impulses into a gorgeous, deadpan deadlock.–The Guardian

♦ The film is A MASTER CLASS IN COMIC TIMING, employing pacing and repetition with the skill of a practiced concert pianist. –Variety

♦ Maybe if Wes Anderson and Lars von Trier tried to write a sitcom together, the result would be something like A Pigeon Sat on a Branch. –Salon.com

♦ You just have to watch it, then grab a net and try to coax your soul back down from the ceiling. –The  Telegraph