Collection of four existential comedy dramas from Swedish director Roy Andersson. His debut feature 'A Swedish Love Story' (1970), charts the relationship that develops between Stockholm teenagers Annika (Ann-Sofie Kylin) and Par (Rolf Sohlman) after meeting at a family gathering in the countryside at the height of summer. The two youngsters carve out their own passion-infused reality, oblivious to the disillusionment and social tensions of the world around them.
In the Cannes Special Jury Prize-winner 'Songs from the Second Floor' (2000), a man burns down his furniture store, a huge traffic jam clogs the city's streets, hordes of people arrive at the airport with their possessions piled high on luggage trolleys and respectable businessmen congregate to sacrifice a young girl. Proceeding from one absurd scenario to the next, the vision of a society coming apart at the seams follows a selection of characters searching for meaning in their lives. 'You, the Living' (2007) explores the 'grandeur of existence' in fifty surreal short sketches.
Following a group including a teacher, carpenter, thief and psychiatrist the story explores the humanity and common threads that link their everyday lives. 'A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence' (2014) consists of twelve self-contained vignettes and follows characters including Jonathan (Holger Andersson) and Sam (Nils Wesblom), two travelling salesmen who make a living selling joke products. Their stock is limited, however, as they only have three lacklustre items for sale: vampire teeth, canned laughter and a rubber mask, which they take from shop to shop whilst struggling to obtain orders.
Meanwhile, King Karl XII of Sweden (Viktor Gyllenberg) rides into a bar to procure the barman's services in the war against Russia.