How to Get Rid of the Others

Loved this film!

The setting was brilliant and it was well utilised: There will always be something a little creepy about such horrendous violence being committed in a setting associated with innocence and education. It was well used within the film at certain points to illustrate the abhorrence of the violence, such as the Folke vomiting in the sink from seeing Ole's corpse. That sink is probably used to wash paint pots, and children's hands before snack. It just adds to the creepiness.

I find it such an interesting approach in the global context as well, as England has the same issues with the welfare system and currently has a government that demonises the working class and those using the benefit system (Obviously not to this point) and let's face it everyone has been there in that conversation. That one bloke at the pub, That kindly older lady who starts a lot of sentences with 'I'm not racist but...' whose ideas for running the country involve 'Sending all them foreigners back home who are stealing our jobs' and look down on the 'dole dossers'. Hell this is illustrated perfectly in the scene where Sidse's parents are taken and one perfectly polite middle class supporter of the bill comments to his friend about the difference this will make to their income tax.

This film is so interesting because from a psychological perspective: these people with these views, if given authority and put under pressure from military or professional personnel: how far would they really go in this pursuit? Anyone who thinks I'm being too extreme: Google the Milner experiment on obedience.

I liked the whole Folke-being-Nancy's-child-bred-from-incest sideline as well just as a reflection on who really fit the criteria? The M. P. may be just as likely as the owner of a topless bar.

The final scene with the suicides was superb. The perfect send off for these characters.

My criticisms of this film would be few: I would have really liked to know more about Melanie and China, who seemed to fulfil their roles within the group dynamic, but weren't wholly explored as characters. And I think I seemed to have missed something at the scene on the boat: Did Folke simply give up? Did he go into hiding to battle on Sidre-style. Personally I hope so.