A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

PG-13

Released Jun 3, 2015

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

List

89%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

66%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Novelty salesmen (Holger Andersson, Nils Westblom) observe as their fellow humans drift through lives of desperation and loneliness.

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Critics Consensus

Expertly assembled and indelibly original, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch concludes writer-director Roy Andersson's Living trilogy in style.

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Noel Murray

Nashville Scene

Thematically, the movie repeatedly contemplates crushing failure, although it's not devoid of hope.

Aug 4, 2016

Full Review

Adam Nayman

Reverse Shot

I'm sympathetic enough to Andersson's project and his sensibility to concede after several months of disappointed reflection that Pigeon's redundancy is merely a case of diminished artistic returns than a lazy repackaging job.

Dec 7, 2015

Full Review

Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

[A] singular, engrossing collection of vignettes with a cumulative, disconcerting power.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2015

Full Review

Fernando E. Juan Lima

Otroscines.com

Between deadpan and nonsense, with a tone of apparent non-acting that dialogues perfectly with the very muted color palette, this is - so far - Roy Andersson's best film... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/5

Dec 29, 2023

Full Review

Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

Darkly glib and exceedingly bizarre.

Aug 1, 2023

Full Review

Dustin Chang

Floating World

It starts with variations of mundane death. In death, we are all equal. But we are all equally miserable in Roy Andersson's films. I still loved it.

Feb 14, 2021

Full Review

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g j

Rather like a Quentin Dupieux film, just not remotely funny in the slightest.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

Logan D

The story of two hapless sad sack novelty salesmen is interspersed with numerous tales of the lives of others. Once I began viewing this I realized it was by the same director of About Endlessness, which I viewed a year or so ago. Much like Anderson and Yorgos Lanthimos he has a definitive stamp he places on his films. His is slow cinema via self contained tableaux, each shot emphasizing long takes. No zooms, no pans, no hand held. There's a thread of loneliness throughout the film but I found the moments spent with Jonathan and Sam to be hilarious.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If you're looking for a weird movie, you've come across the right one. Beautifully shot but somewhat drags in pace. I suggest a one time view if nothing else! I will say it was endearing enough to make me want to watch the other 2 movies in the trilogy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

Full Review

Erick A

If you're looking for a weird movie, you've come across the right one. Beautifully shot but somewhat drags in pace. I suggest a one time view if nothing else! I will say it was endearing enough to make me want to watch the other 2 movies in the trilogy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

Full Review

Petros T

Doubtlessly Roy Andersson has an eye for creating wonderful shots, and there is no shortage of those in "En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron". At its best, the film displays the relatable slices of life and thought-provoking musings on the human condition that he knows to deliver so well. Nevertheless, it is marred by several pointless vignettes, occasional sluggishness and the permeating feeling that he is going over the same ground once again - and with the exact same approach.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/03/23

Full Review

Santiago M

The first time I saw a work from Andersson, but not the last one...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

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Roy Andersson

Director

Holger Andersson

Jonathan

Nils Westblom

Sam

Charlotta Larsson

Lotta

Viktor Gyllenberg

Karl XII

Lotti Törnos

Flamenco Teacher

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Synopsis

Novelty salesmen (Holger Andersson, Nils Westblom) observe as their fellow humans drift through lives of desperation and loneliness.

Director: Roy Andersson
Producer: Pernilla Sandstrom
Screenwriter: Roy Andersson
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Fonds Eurimages du Conseil de l'Europe, ZDF/Arte, Arte France Cinema, Nordisk Film & TV-Fond, Svenska Filminstitutet, 4 1/2 Film, Norsk Filmfond, Roy Andersson Filmproduktion AB, Coproduction Office, Sveriges Television, Essential Filmproduktion GmbH
Rating: PG-13 (Some Disturbing Images|Brief Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $222.3K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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