MovieChat Forums > Turist (2014) Discussion > Reminds me of...

Reminds me of...

posted 8 years ago by AndyK (69)
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A picture the title of which I can't remember, nor do I know enough about to find. But it was recent, within a year or two, I believe. English language. A couple hikes through the hills of Central Europe with a local guide. At some point they encounter another, armed local whom the man manages to offend in some way. Suddenly the local points his rifle at them. The man, acting on reflex, jumps to hide behind his girlfriend/fiance/spouse, but a moment later, realizing his mistake, quickly moves in front of her to block the rifle.

In spite of that, the damage is done. Mainly to the man's psyche. As in Hohere Gewalt, there's an alpha male also in the picture, & this feeds the man's paranoia over how he is now perceived.

Of course, this other film isn't a comedy of any sort, it's entirely dramatic. But I thought more authentic & nuanced in creating a similarly themed scenario.

Now, for the life of me, I can't remember how it came out in the end...

[–] lefecious (25) 7 years ago

Yup, I saw that movie you're referring to. It was called The Lonliest Planet. After seeing Force Majeur (Turist) though, it really makes the Lonliest Planet pale by comparison.

Lonliest Planet was boring. Nothing happened in that entire movie outside of the 5 minutes where the gun was pointed at them. Then afterwards there are a few indications that the girl doesn't respect him anymore, and is even bonding with the hideously ugly tour guide instead of her boyfriend, and then the movie ends. It was extremely low stakes as well, because it was just a young couple dating, so who cares if their relationship ends?

In Force Majeur, the stakes are higher because this is a marriage with kids involved. It's so much more uncomfortable to see things unraveling because it impacts more than just the two adults.

[–] liscarkat (18373) 5 years ago

Reminds me of a Hemingway short story called "The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber", in which a man has a moment of panic, and his girlfriend/wife (I can't remember what her exact status was) goes into total emotional sadist mode and drives him to suicidal bravery to prove to her (and himself) that he's a real man, even though she has thoroughly proved she wasn't worth it. The movie, "The Macomber Affair", starring Joan Bennett, Robert Preston, and Gregory Peck, followed the original story better than most films do.

[–] AndyK (69) 5 years ago

Thanks for the reference. I'll check it out.

I do find this topic fascinating, because I've always wondered if my own reflexes would betray me (or my loved ones) in such an event. Given the example in the Loneliest Planet, the man's action was pure reflex, no more his fault than having one's leg jump after being tapped with a rubber hammer. But the image, however brief, of him standing behind his girlfriend is powerful. Understandable that it might wreck their relationship.

In Force Majeure actions were more thought out, there was more time to react. I don't doubt most people would do the right thing.

Then there's the Aurora Theater shooting. Remember that one? Jamie Rohrs is there with his fiance & two children. When the shooting starts, he jumps off the balcony, makes his way outside, with no regard for fiance or kids, actually gets into his car & drives off, not returning until a call from the fiance (made on the phone of Jamal Brooks, the young man who saved her & Rohrs's kids, getting shot himself in the process) asks him where the hell he is.

Then, on TV the next morning, with her still in the hospital from her own gunshot wounds, he asks her to marry him. There in front of the camera, she has little choice but to say yes.

Now that's cowardice to the nth degree.

I'm waiting for that movie....

[–] MrFilmJunkie (898) 2 years ago

yeah, it reminded me of "the lonliest planet", too. i must say i was disappointed by "turist", it's basically a less subtle rip-off with an avalanche instead of an armed foreigner, and snow/hotel rooms instead of the beautiful georgian landscapes.