Get ready for Ruben Östlund’s upcoming film, The Entertainment System Is Down. The two-time Palme d’Or winner at Cannes, has assembled an A-list cast for this social satire, including Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, and Daniel Brühl.
The film’s plot centers around a long-haul flight where, to the horror of the passengers, the entertainment system goes down. With nowhere to turn for digital distraction, the passengers are forced to confront the uncomfortable reality of being alone with their thoughts.
The director’s commitment to authenticity extends beyond the script. To create the most realistic airplane setting possible, he has acquired a retired Boeing 747 which will be used full-scale during studio filming. Yep, the whole plane! Why? Well, he is interested in exploring what happens when people are stuck together in a plane, when faced with boredom.
Kirsten Dunst and Keanu Reeves’ Film Took Inspiration from a Shocking Psychological Study
The movie’s inspiration comes from a study at Virginia University called ‘The Challenge of the Disengaged Mind.’ It found that people really don’t like being alone with their thoughts, even for a short time spanning 6 to 15 minutes.
The researchers took things a step further by giving the participants the option to administer themselves a mild electric shock by pressing a button. But guess what? A surprising number of people (a quarter of the women and two-thirds of the men) decided getting shocked was better than being alone with their thoughts, as reported by Deadline.
One individual, in particular, found the experience of being alone with his thoughts so intolerable that he ended up shocking himself a staggering 190 times within the span of 15 minutes. The Swedish director, finds this both funny and unsettling. He thinks it’s a great way to explore how we humans avoid boredom at all costs.
Ruben Östlund’s Dark Comedy Stirs Excitement
Ruben Östlund’s upcoming film, The Entertainment System Is Down, is his second English-language movie and his seventh overall. He’s famous for his darkly funny style, as seen in award-winning films like Force Majeure and Triangle of Sadness, which delve into social awkwardness and class issues. This new project is expected to be just as insightful and engaging as his previous works.
The film is a joint effort between Sweden, Germany, and France, bringing together Östlund with his trusted partners: producer Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober. With a stellar cast, an original storyline, and a director renowned for his daring approach, the film is already creating quite a stir.
The Entertainment System Is Down could hit theatres in 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new Keanu Reeves and Kirsten Dunst movie about?
The film, from director Ruben Ostlund, stars Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, and Daniel Bruhl in a story about passengers on a long-haul flight whose entertainment system fails, forcing them to sit with their own thoughts. Ostlund reportedly built a full-scale studio set from a retired Boeing 747 to capture the confined, authentic in-flight setting.
What real study inspired the film’s premise?
The article reports that the premise draws on real psychological research examining how people tolerate being alone with their thoughts for short periods. In that study, participants could choose to give themselves mild electric shocks rather than sit quietly, and the article reports that a notable share of both men and women opted to shock themselves.
What other films is director Ruben Ostlund known for?
Ostlund is a two-time Palme d’Or winner known for socially awkward, darkly comedic films like Force Majeure and Triangle of Sadness. This project is reportedly his second English-language film and seventh overall, continuing his focus on exploring class dynamics and uncomfortable social situations, this time set in the confined space of an airplane cabin.
