User reviews

This amazing short was awarded the Golden Bear in the Berlin Film Festival this year (2010).

Based on a real incident, this short was filmed in just one take. It looks like a video surveillance film, but it says much more than any video surveillance would say.

"Incident by a Bank" recreates in real time a failed bank robbery that took place in Stockholm in June 2006. About everything goes wrong in front of us, not only the robbery but also the reactions of the people in the street, especially two friends out for a stroll who become spectators, commentators, and ultimately documentary makers(!). To say the least, their reactions to the unexpected are both composed and odd (precisely because they are composed).

The result is both chilling and amusing. I don't know Ruben Östlund who directed this but I'll certainly keep an eye on him from this moment on.

This is an reenactment of observations which was observed beside a bank in Sweden, in 2006, a true story, made by Swedish film maker Robert Østlund. It's an observation of a bank robbery which looks like a joke with a lot of spectators . Some are interfering, some are not, and some are even filming the incident, so the film gets some kind if meta theme as well.

For those who have seen Play by the same director, the style is recognizable. Observations seen from a distance, and you are observing.

It's quite dramatic, still it's also a bit funny, due to the perpetrators. Not an everyday event, but told the way it is, and almost making it an every day event.

The reenactment is quite impressively made. It looks like it's completely real. It's only done in a minutes with choreography, and shot in one long one take, with impressive 96 actors, both professional and non-professionals.

Incident by a Bank (2010) Director: Ruben Östlund Watched: 10/1/18 Rating: 7/10

Social psychology at its best, Östlund's precursor to "The Square". We're self-conscious of our laughs- Based on a real event! How would you react? Hundred actors, Ten minutes, One take. Grand!

Nonet, conventionally defined as "a group of nine people or things- especially musical"- is a poem with the syllable composition 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. #Nonet #PoemReview #Crime #HardTruths #OneLocation #OneShot #Short #SocialPsychology #Swedish

The English title of this short film is "Incident by a Bank" and that is exactly what it is – an incident that was witnessed by passersby outside of a bank. While regrouping their possessions on a bench, two men spot two youths on a moped acting a bit suspicious and decide to keep an eye on them. What they see is two rather clueless young men who plan to rob a bank, and the whole event unfolds in front of the witnesses.

When I read about this film I had thought it was a comedy where some ridiculous events would unfold in a failed robbery; although the robbery is a failure, it isn't particularly hilarious but this was my preconception, not the film's aim. Instead it is supposedly a very accurate re-enactment of the events witnessed by real people as they stared on, bemused by what they saw happening on a normal day on a normal street. Although not hilarious, the film made me feel like I was on the street with the witnesses and, just as they were watching to see what happened, so was I. In this regard the substance of the film didn't hit me as more than just a little incident before I, like those on the street, carried on with my day, but it worked well for what it was and it doesn't propose to do more than that (even the title is simple and descriptive).

So on the first watch you are looking at the "incident" and are bemused by it, however on reflection there is more to be impressed by. Shot all in one take, this film takes in a fairly busy street with a handful of vehicles going by and probably something in the order of 100 people involved in the one take. Some of them are in the windows of an office and we see them react to noises, others are in the street or on a student float or involved directly in the robbery but they all have one thing in common – they react in such a way that is natural and makes you totally forget that any of this needed coordination – it simply plays as a real street scene. I don't know how many times they ran the re-enactment but I would be interested to find out just because this sort of thing is not easy – all it takes is someone to drop something they weren't supposed to and, instead of just carrying on, they break character and thus ruin the whole take. While it is "just" a short film, the way it is pulled together technically is very impressive – this is not a grainy "two person" re-enactment like you'd see on Crimewatch, this is a genuine real street that feels like it would in you went there today. Quite a feat.

So, in terms of the "incident" itself the film is interesting as it puts you in the same bemused positions as those on the street when the real incident took place. However, in addition to this the short is technically impressive – not because it looks technically impressive, but because it comes off as so natural that you forget that all of it is a re-enactment.

**Review: "Incident by a Bank" - A Tense Masterpiece**

Incident by a Bank is a riveting showcase of tension and cinematic innovation. This Swedish gem unfolds in real-time, focusing on a bank heist that exposes the fragility of human behavior under stress. Östlund's deft use of a single continuous shot creates an immersive experience, making viewers feel as though they are right in the midst of the unfolding chaos.

The film's standout feature is its seamless cinematography, which captures every anxious moment with striking immediacy. The actors deliver performances brimming with nuance and authenticity. Their portrayals, combined with sharp, naturalistic dialogue, breathe life into the story and amplify the film's dramatic impact.

Visually, "Incident by a Bank" excels with its minimalist yet effective approach. The absence of a musical score and reliance on ambient sounds heightens the film's realism, drawing viewers deeper into the tense atmosphere. The fluid camera work reflects the unpredictable nature of the heist and adds layers of psychological depth.

In essence, this is a masterful short film that exemplifies Östlund's skill in blending suspense, humor, and social insight. Its innovative technique and strong performances make it a standout piece of cinema, offering a fresh and compelling take on the heist genre.

A different perspective about a bank robbery . The exact definition. But it represents more. Because you are a part of it. In easy way, you are one of two friends. And witness , with the same ladder of feelings and reactions, to the incident. Curiosity and need to define and to preserve what you see. And the people around the bank. And the guys. All is so well crafted than you seems it as almost a personal experience.