Songs from the second floor

This surrealistic masterpiece is the first one of this century

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Songs
• from
• the
• second
• floor
• Roy
• Andersson

[Jagvillhejhej]

No no no. This scene and the whole of this movie is about how every parts of the society has become subservient to the economy and growth. No values is left, our God is the economy. Thats the reason for the child sacrifice, to improve the economy, just like our ancestors sacrificed humans to appease the gods. In this scen you have to the left; the church, to the right people from the university, and the red stuff in the background is the Trade Unions and Labor Party.

[diskkkkko]

I can't believe people still balk at the concept of absurdism in 2008.

You don't seem to understand that the discomfort you feel when viewing this interpretation of the world IS the point of the film - not to be "entertaining" or cool.

If you can't deal with art depicting life in what is a stylised yet brutally honest package, made by a virtuous director, then you do absolutely nothing to assist the ideals that you believe your defending. You are in fact perpetuating society's stagnation.

[Jukeboksi]

What I'm trying to say is, the key is never letting go of your childhood.

[Jukeboksi]

...and what we have become. Thus the mind makes the ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice of imagination. The sacrifice of 'what if?', the sacrifice of true, complete freedom, the sacrifice of love. And we come face-to-face with this trauma time and time again...True, complete apathy and hopelessness or a world filled with possibilities waiting to be explored. What's it gonna be?

Well, ain't that bleak. Must we make that choice? Must we make that sacrifice? Over and over again?

[Jukeboksi]

Actually, I think I got it now. The death of a child(hood). The ultimate trauma man faces. For reason and feel to coexist peacefully, the childish way of thinking of the world and about the world, must be discarded. This goes against all our senses though! How can it be so? We are in a state of shock and disbelief. What are our options? Despair, or hope. And when we become so shortsighted as to act only upon those two lingering feelings, we lose sight of what we are, what we were...

[Jukeboksi]

I think it also says a lot that the woman pushes the child down. Maybe even her own child?

[ceciraidilia]

great film.

[SteffanLlwyd]

@stockon You are right that I don't understand it, but for the reasons I have given. I don't think I can provide you with much more insight into my negative appreciation of the scene. I understand what it is meant to do, I think. But for me it remains an offesnsive way of making a point as it involves cheap manipulation of the audience. Absurdism depends on visual jokes (or puns, if you like). This joke does not work for me and this is maybe why, as you quite rightly say, I don't get it.

[stockon]

@SteffanLlwyd

I just don't think you understand it man.

And roller coaster rides dont need to be "reframed" as entertainment because they ARE entertainment.

And a representation of something is not the same as the act. This is not a SNUFF film you know? or did you?

[SteffanLlwyd]

@stockon We are animated by emotions and this places the appeal of art (and revulsion) in the same category of experience as the appeal (and revulsion) of entertainment. It is possible to find pleasure in fearful feelings (eg roller-coaster ride) by reframing it as entertainment. The reframing of abuse as art or entertainment does not work for me. The truth of the film (that abuse exists) therfore has a voyeuristic rather than insightful quality for me. Clearly others feel differently!

[stockon]

@SteffanLlwyd

You mistake art as entertainment