A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
Seen it?2014 | 101 min | Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and fantasy fans. If you loved Code 3 or Monty Python and the Holy Grail, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
- It's in Swedish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An absurdist, surrealistic and shocking pitch-black comedy, which moves freely from nightmare to fantasy to hilariously deadpan humour as it muses on man’s perpetual inhumanity to man.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Venice award: Golden Lion. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 36K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Roy Andersson
- Holger AnderssonJonathan
- Nisse VestblomSam
- Viktor GyllenbergLe Roi Charles XII
- Lotti TörnrosLe Professeur de Flamenco
- Jonas GerholmLe Colonel Solitaire
- Ola StenssonLe Capitaine/Barbier
- Oscar SalomonssonLe Danseur
- Roger Olsen LikvernLe Gardien
- Charlotta LarssonLotta la Boiteuse
- Göran HolmBargäst