A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

Name: A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: June 3, 2015
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Holger Andersson, Jonas Gerholm, Lotti Törnros, Nils Westblom, Ola Stensson

2015

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence (US)

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: June 3, 2015 | Not Rated

Starring: Holger Andersson, Jonas Gerholm, Lotti Törnros, Nils Westblom, Ola Stensson, Viktor Gyllenberg

Summary: 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 diabolical metaphor for the horrors inflicted bySam 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 diabolical 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. [Magnolia Pictures]… Expand

Director: Roy Andersson

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Alan Scherstuhl

Jun 2, 2015

Some critics find Andersson's latest redundant, arguing that its sketches lack the freshness of those in Songs From the Second Floor. I found it the fullest flowering yet of his approach, with Andersson orchestrating his finest dada — and even risking tenderness and horror. Read full review

100

The Guardian Xan Brooks

Sep 14, 2014

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. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Jul 26, 2020

At its worst, Pigeon and its predecessors seem to say, life is cruel. At its best, life is meaningless. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a laugh. Read full review

Deborah Young

Sep 14, 2014

Though it abounds in the kind of sardonic humor intrinsic to life’s absurdities, the film is rarely laugh-out-loud funny. In a nutshell, quiet desperation prevails. Read full review

Cath Clarke

Jun 2, 2015

Excruciatingly funny and streaked with coal-black humor. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Jun 3, 2015

The uninitiated, meanwhile, can start with Pigeon and work their way backward through Andersson’s trilogy. It only gets better in reverse. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jun 25, 2015

Beware of any advertising that labels Andersson “wacky” and this a comedy. Even by deadpan Swedish standards, this is pretty dry. Read full review

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User Reviews

joehavermann

Jan 2, 2016

*MILD-TO-NONEXISTENT SPOILERS: Describes a couple of the stories, but
in the type of depth that you'd expect from a traditional newspaper
review* A man half-heartedly looks at a series of exhibits in a museum before pausing with mild interest at a pigeon on a branch: it's dead,*MILD-TO-NONEXISTENT SPOILERS: Describes a couple of the stories, but
in the type of depth that you'd expect from a traditional newspaper
review*

A man half-heartedly looks at a series of exhibits in a museum before
pausing with mild interest at a pigeon on a branch: it's dead,
obviously. In the distance is a skeleton of a dinosaur, ancestor to the
modern bird. So begins this extraordinarily dry, Swedish existentialist
comedy – a collection of vignettes that poke fun at the absurdity of
the human condition. In an early scene, a man lies dead on the floor of
a cafeteria that looks like it's located in an airport. Unfortunately,
the EMT reports, the man cannot be revived. But this creates a dilemma
because, as the cashier explains to the authorities, the man had just
paid for a beer and a shrimp sandwich. Yes, the authorities agree, it
would be unethical to charge people for a meal that has already been
paid for. And so the cashier calls out to the gawking onlookers: "Would
anyone like a shrimp sandwich? Or a beer? It's free." I don't think I'm
ruining anything when I say that arguably the film's crescendo is a
debate among people standing at a bus stop over what day of the week it
is. The stories are told with extreme irreverence, and at times they
tread into the surreal. They are so thematically similar that the work
feels more like a feature-length film than a series of shorts. This
film is an example of the sum being greater than the whole of its
parts. Told individually, the stories are funny, but taken together,
they create a film that is thought-provoking and strangely moving.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

smartmart

Nov 8, 2015

Full of beauty and hilarity, this is a film that certainly isn't for everybody, but I definitely enjoyed it! There are so many great comic moments, as well as a wonderful emotional side. Watch the trailer, if you don't think it looks good to you, then you probably won't enjoy it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RonWillis

Jan 6, 2017

I believe a few people will think this film brilliant, and a lot of people will think it is nonsense. I tend to lean toward thinking it is brilliant. In a film where it seems not much is really happening, what does happen happens so oddly as to become beautiful. I was mesmerized.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Raven25

Aug 19, 2015

The reason this movie has been reviewed so highly by critics is because it criticizes the capitalist economic system and it does so with taste and grace. It is not really a comedy, just a dark satire of the issue. The movie is well done, but ultimately unoriginal. It rehashes socialistThe reason this movie has been reviewed so highly by critics is because it criticizes the capitalist economic system and it does so with taste and grace. It is not really a comedy, just a dark satire of the issue. The movie is well done, but ultimately unoriginal. It rehashes socialist rhetoric that is getting onto one hundred years old (but it does it well). The criticisms are valid and true but unfortunately as with all socialist rhetoric, it proposes no alternatives. I find it ironic that only a few decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a communist country, the same grey and drab imagery full of emptiness and suffering is being used to criticize capitalism in this movie.

If you're already a socialist or feel like having that political agenda shoved down your throat for one hour and forty minutes, go for your life. Otherwise, just watch some of the funnier bits on youtube.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

First off, I hadn't realised this is apparently the 3rd in a trilogy of films, which is the first thing we learn via text on screen at the start of the film.
The people depicted all appear literally bright white, as if ghostly figures. It is quite quirky and a bit surreal. The surroundingsFirst off, I hadn't realised this is apparently the 3rd in a trilogy of films, which is the first thing we learn via text on screen at the start of the film.
The people depicted all appear literally bright white, as if ghostly figures. It is quite quirky and a bit surreal. The surroundings depicted appear somewhat cartoonish at times, although I'm not sure I can explain why. Something about it makes it seem as if we're witnessing a dream. The comedy present is very much dark comedy but I did find myself laughing at times. It is somewhat bleak in tone but it also features some rousing musical numbers and I found myself quite enjoying it, as I wasn't sure what to expect next, given its quirkiness. It is very bizarre and I feel it contains a number of allegories. Its hard to describe this film otherwise, although it moves at a plodding pace, so if you like fast paced films then this won't be for you. It is very much observational based. I should say that it turns darker and more sombre towards the end.

Would I recommend it? yes I would, if your looking for something different and not full of cliches and especially if you like world cinema, then this may interest you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jppl1999

Jul 15, 2015

Different. Funny in a certain level; not the events that occur inside it but the movie itself. It is definitely not for all the public but at least is worth a try because of what it tries to represent: human nature, by focusing on the behavior and how melancholically each subject interactsDifferent. Funny in a certain level; not the events that occur inside it but the movie itself. It is definitely not for all the public but at least is worth a try because of what it tries to represent: human nature, by focusing on the behavior and how melancholically each subject interacts with the humans around him/her.

I repeat, it is not a movie for everyone; it is just dry.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

marcopoloneck

Aug 2, 2015

I love foreign films and thought this film would be perfect for my tastes. I was wrong. This had to be one of the most boring stupid films I have ever went to see and I see a lot of good films. I kept waiting for it to come together but never did.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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