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Incident by a Bank
Händelse vid bank
This short film put (now two-time Golden Palm winner) Ruben Östlund on the map of European cinema: Incident by a Bank is based on true facts and stages a surreal, failed bank robbery that the filmmaker himself witnessed in 2006, in central Stockholm.
The film is composed of one single shot in which just under a hundred people carefully portray the incident. As he often does, Östlund observes the human behaviour of individuals but also of the group. How does one react to these events? Who intervenes? How paralysing is the bystander effect? Moreover, Östlund translates his core interests into cinematic language, which adopts the behaviour of a surveillance camera, zooming and panning to constantly reframe its gaze, and therefore also the audience’s.
By constantly keeping the viewer at a sterile distance from the main action, Östlund slowly shifts the focus from the robbery to those witnessing the situation from a safe distance. The passivity of each character is far more interesting than the money, stolen or not. An old man is the only one who intervenes, pushing over the thieves' scooter. Other than that, no one even bothers to call the police. Everyone just stares incredulously at the situation and finally ignores it.
Bio Ruben Östlund
Ruben Östlund (1974) is one of Sweden’s most prominent and daring filmmakers, renowned for his satirical sharpness and his exploration of social behaviours and moral dilemmas. With films such as Force Majeure (2014), The Square (2017), and Triangle of Sadness (2022), he has achieved international success and won prestigious awards, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes twice. Östlund’s films challenge viewers to reflect on societal norms and group dynamics, solidifying his position as one of contemporary cinema’s most unique filmmakers.
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- This film was #44 in the “Greatest” Short Films of All Time 2025