Songs from the Second Floor (original title: Sånger från andra våningen) is a surreal, darkly comedic, and haunting Swedish film directed by Roy Andersson. Known for his unique visual style—static long takes, muted colors, and bleak humor—the film examines the absurdities of modern life, capitalism, and faith in a society on the brink of collapse.
Detailed Summary
A City Falling Apart
The film doesn’t follow a traditional narrative. Instead, it unfolds through a series of vignettes set in a gray, decaying city that seems to be slowly disintegrating under the weight of its own modernity. The story loosely revolves around Kalle, a middle-aged man who has just burned down his furniture store for insurance money. Covered in soot and guilt, he becomes one of the many lost souls wandering through this existential wasteland.
Bureaucracy, Religion, and Despair
Across the city, we see scenes that blend humor with tragedy—a man clinging to his boss’s legs to avoid being fired, religious processions led by priests who seem as lost as their followers, and businessmen consulting fortune tellers instead of economists. The film is a biting critique of consumer culture and spiritual emptiness, presented through static tableaux that feel both dreamlike and disturbingly real.
The Parades of Madness
As the film progresses, the sense of reality begins to unravel. A seemingly endless religious procession moves through the city carrying crosses, as if society has resorted to ancient rituals to make sense of its pain. The dialogue is minimal, the tone apocalyptic. Every character is either lost, broken, or complicit in a society that values profit over humanity.
The Poet and the Prophet
Kalle’s son, a poet, has been institutionalized for going insane after realizing the futility of human existence. He represents the film’s conscience—the one person who sees the absurdity of it all, yet cannot live with it. His madness mirrors the city’s own collective psychosis.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Songs from the Second Floor reaches its most surreal and unsettling moments. The city continues to crumble under its own moral and existential decay. Kalle, guilt-ridden over his insurance fraud and his son’s condition, drifts through the chaos in a state of numb reflection.
The most haunting sequence comes when a group of desperate businessmen perform a horrifying ritual sacrifice—throwing a child off a cliff in a bid to appease unseen forces and restore the economy. It’s an unforgettable metaphor for how society sacrifices innocence for progress.
In the closing scene, Kalle sits in his car in a fog-covered wasteland. His face is empty, his spirit broken. Around him, people wander aimlessly through the mist, muttering lines about faith and failure. There is no catharsis, no redemption—just an eerie calm as humanity trudges toward meaninglessness.
The film ends quietly, without resolution, emphasizing Andersson’s central thesis: life is absurd, suffering is universal, and hope is both necessary and impossible.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. There are no post-credits scenes in Songs from the Second Floor. The credits roll in silence, leaving the viewer to sit in the heavy atmosphere of what they just witnessed.
Type of Movie
This film is a surrealist dark comedy and existential drama, deeply rooted in absurdist philosophy. It’s part of Roy Andersson’s so-called “Living Trilogy,” a series exploring human loneliness and modern alienation.
Cast
- Lars Nordh as Kalle
- Stefan Larsson as Tomas (Kalle’s son)
- Bengt C.W. Carlsson as Lennart
- Torsten Ekbom as The Preacher
- Lucia Nifontova as The Sacrificed Girl
- Roland Hedlund as The Businessman
Most of the cast are non-professional actors, chosen for their expressive faces and “ordinary” appearances, which enhance the realism of Andersson’s surreal world.
Film Music and Composer
The film’s haunting score was composed by Benny Andersson (of ABBA fame) in collaboration with Roy Andersson. The music is sparse, melancholic, and often uses choral arrangements that evoke both church hymns and funeral marches—perfectly aligning with the movie’s tone of quiet despair.
Filming Locations
Songs from the Second Floor was shot almost entirely in Roy Andersson’s Studio 24 in Stockholm, Sweden. Every scene was filmed on carefully constructed indoor sets, giving the movie its painterly, artificial look. The lack of natural light or outdoor filming enhances the feeling of a suffocating, surreal world that could exist anywhere—or nowhere.
Awards and Nominations
- Cannes Film Festival (2000) – Jury Prize (Winner)
- European Film Awards – Nominated for Best Director
- Swedish Guldbagge Awards – Won Best Film, Best Direction, Best Cinematography
The film received critical acclaim for its originality and philosophical depth, cementing Roy Andersson’s reputation as a master of deadpan surrealism.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Andersson took five years to complete the film, crafting each shot like a painting.
- Each scene was built from scratch—over 50 meticulously detailed sets were constructed.
- The director insisted on no camera movement; all shots are static to mimic still-life compositions.
- He cast ordinary Swedes instead of professional actors to achieve authentic awkwardness.
- Andersson reportedly tested over 3,000 extras for the film’s background roles.
Inspirations and References
- The movie draws heavily from Franz Kafka’s existential dread and Samuel Beckett’s absurdism.
- The visual style is influenced by René Magritte and Edward Hopper, blending surrealism and isolation.
- Religious parades and sacrificial imagery reference both Christian rituals and modern capitalist “worship.”
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No official alternate ending exists, but several minor deleted scenes have been mentioned by the production team. One featured an extended monologue by the poet son about “the collapse of meaning,” which was cut for pacing. Another reportedly showed Kalle attempting to reconcile with his son, but Andersson removed it to preserve the film’s bleak tone.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Songs from the Second Floor is not adapted from a specific book, but it’s inspired by poetry, especially César Vallejo’s collection “Songs of Despair.” The film’s title even references Vallejo’s poem about human suffering and spiritual loss.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The businessman clinging to his boss’s legs in the hallway.
- The religious procession moving through the city with giant crosses.
- The ritual child sacrifice.
- Kalle confessing his insurance fraud in a surreal courtroom-like setting.
- The poet’s eerie monologue from the asylum.
Iconic Quotes
- “It is hard to be human.”
- “Forgive us our debts, but don’t forget to collect interest.”
- “Everything is going backwards.”
- “We thought it was the future, but it was only the end.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The recurring bird imagery symbolizes lost freedom and spiritual decay.
- Each vignette contains a subtle mirror—a metaphor for introspection and self-criticism.
- The number 2000 appears frequently, symbolizing the dawn of a new millennium that offers no salvation.
- Andersson includes a brief self-portrait in one scene—he appears as a bystander in the background.
Trivia
- The film’s script is only 55 pages long, despite its 98-minute runtime.
- All sound effects were created in post-production, not recorded live.
- It’s the first Swedish film to win the Jury Prize at Cannes.
- The title sequence was hand-painted, not digitally created.
Why Watch?
Watch Songs from the Second Floor if you want a movie that makes you think, feel uncomfortable, and laugh nervously at the absurdity of existence. It’s a cinematic poem about human folly—bleak but strangely beautiful. This is not an easy watch, but it’s a profound one that lingers for days.
Director’s Other Movies
- A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)
- You, the Living (2007)
- About Endlessness (2019)
- Giliap (1975)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Seventh Seal (1957)
- A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)
- Brazil (1985)
- Holy Motors (2012)
- Eraserhead (1977)
- The White Ribbon (2009)
