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Like his previous features SONGS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR and YOU, THE LIVING, master Swedish director Roy Andersson takes up the theme of “being a human being” with this meticulously crafted, dreamlike black comedy. 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 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.
 
Director and Scriptwriter: Roy Andersson
Cinematographers: István Borbás, Gergely Pálos
Music: Traditional
Production Design: Ulf Jonsson, Julia Tegström, Nicklas Nilsson,
Sandra Parment, Isabel Sjöstrand
Coordination and continuity: Jane Ljung
Costume: Julia Tegström
Make-up and Hair: Linda Sandberg
Sound: Robert Hefter FSS
Sound Mixer: Robert Hefter FSS, Owe Svensson FSS
Editing: Alexandra Strauss
Casting: Sophia Frykstam, Zora Rux, Katja Wik, Stig-Åke
Nilsson, Andrea Eckerbom
Holger Andersson - Jonathan
Nils Westblom - Sam
Charlotta Larsson - Limping Lotta
Viktor Gyllenberg - King Carl XII
Lotti Törnros - The Flamenco Teacher
Jonas Gerholm - The Lonely Colonel
Ola Stensson - The Captain/Barber
Oscar Salomonsson - The Dancer
Roger Olsen Likvern - Caretaker
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“IF YOU ONLY SEE ONE MOVIE THIS SUMMER, SEE A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE. It builds to an ineffable beauty so sublime that you might have a hard time remembering what it is that other films are even trying to accomplish.” – David Erlich, Time Out NY
“IT’S BEAUTIFUL AND HAUNTING. Once you've seen his work you'll almost assuredly be converted to his warped-as-f*** sensibility.” – David Fear, Rolling Stone
“THE WITTIEST, MOST ENGAGING BLACK COMEDY I’VE SEEN IN AGES. Impeccably crafted and visually arresting.” – Tony Pipolo, Artforum
“THE FUNNIEST FILM OF THE YEAR. Surprisingly profound. GRADE A.” – Eric Kohn, Indiewire
“IT’S CINEPHILE CHRISTMAS. It brings Roy Andersson into the company of Beckett and TS Eliot, and captures the awful, glorious absurdity of being a human.” – Jessica Kiang, The Playlist
“CRITIC’S CHOICE. Director Andersson is a brilliant joker. There is ample pleasure to be gleaned from his formal discipline and his downbeat wit.” – A.O. Scott, NY Times
“A master class in comic timing.” – Peter Debruge, Variety
“A SOURCE OF JOY FROM START TO FINISH.” – Howard Feinstein, Filmmaker
“A+. A sort of Saturday Night Live of the soul.”- Catherine Bray, HitFix
“5 out of 5 stars. GLORIOUS. 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.” – Xan Brooks, The Guardian
“5 out of 5 stars. IT’S HEAVEN. You just have to watch it, then grab a net and try to coax your soul back down from the ceiling.” – Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
“5 out of 5 stars. A comedy as weird and wonderful as its title. It exists in some surreal place where Ingmar Bergman meets The Office.” – Kate Muir, The Times [UK]
“Andersson is in a class of his own.” – Tim Grierson, Paste
“TRULY ASTOUNDING. Open-minded audiences will be elated. Andersson is an artist to treasure.” – Nicholas Barber, BBC.com
“It's impossible to not to get some joy out of just gawking at his films.” – A.A. Dowd, AV Club
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