"You give Roy Andersson 76 minutes, and he'll give you the universe. "
—IndieWire
"After 50 years of filmmaking, has this intrepid explorer of existential darkness gone searching for something close to contentment? When he allows himself to find it, even if only in a fleeting wisp before the literal parade of suffering resumes, the moment feels like the richly rewarding culmination of his whole singular career"
—AV Club
"What an amazing experience this film is: and Andersson incidentally has done for Stockholm in the movies what Godard did for Paris and Allen for Manhattan. Andersson's films are endlessly rewatchable"
—The Guardian
"About Endlessness finds Roy Andersson's mood of free-floating pathos exquisitely rendered"
—The Film Stage
"Short, bittersweet and exquisitely imagined, Roy Andersson's latest compilation of mordant existential sketches finds him on familiar turf, and that's fine"
—Variety
While our theater is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still watch newly released independent and international films at FACETS.
By purchasing a "ticket" to one of our Virtual Cinema screenings, you help support FACETS mission and filmmakers from around the world who do so much to enrich our shared film culture.
Swedish auteur Roy Andersson (A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence) once again ponders the human condition, and the meaning of life, in a series of wry, mordant, impeccably art directed sketches and tableaux that span WWII to the present day. These dreamy, deadpan, and mostly unrelated vignettes feature an assortment of impassive characters in a variety of ordinary and fantastical settings, from the mind of a tormented priest to contemporary cafes and the skies over Cologne. These vignettes play out in a single take, viewed by a locked-down camera with a static frame that holds its human subjects in the philosophical distance of a deep-focus long shot. Andersson won Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for this series of uproarious and existential vignettes about the futility, vulnerability, and hilarity of life.
Directed by Roy Andersson, Sweden, 2019, 76 mins. In Swedish with English subtitles.
In addition to the feature, there will be an exclusive pre-recorded discussion between filmmaker Roy Andersson and Palme d'Or winning/Oscar nominated filmmaker Ruben Östlund (The Square, Force Majeure).
Pick a film to watch featured on our Virtual Cinema schedule
Click the Watch Now button on the screening page for the film you choose
Fill out the information requested by the third-party that you'll be redirected to, which will usually include registering a name/email and using a credit card to rent the film
Enjoy the film knowing your supporting FACETS and independent filmmakers across the world
What is FACETS Virtual Cinema?
While our theater is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still watch newly released independent and international films at FACETS. The Virtual Cinema offers these films through third-party websites with 50% of the proceeds go to FACETS.
By purchasing a "ticket" to one of our Virtual Cinema screenings, you help support FACETS' mission and filmmakers from around the world who do so much to enrich our shared film culture.
How long will my rental last?
This depends on the third-party site. On average you'll have 2–4 days after your purchase to watch the film. But to be safe, you should check the length for each rental you purchase through our Virtual Cinema.
Do FACETS Members get a 50% discount for the virtual cinema?
Unfortunately, discounts are on a case-by-case basis, depending on the distributor, and we can't guarantee that FACETS Members will get a discount on every rental.
What does it mean when I get redirected to another website?
The films offered at our Virtual Cinema are hosted by a third-party service. Which means you'll be redirected to another site to watch the film. Even though you're watching on a different site, 50% of the proceeds go to support FACETS.
Can I stream a film on my TV?
There are multiple ways to stream our Virtual Cinema screenings to your TV. The easiest way is to connect your computer to your TV with an HDMI cable—click here for step-by-step instructions.
You can also stream films using a smart TV (Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku), but the specific approach will depend on the third-party site. For more information, please refer to the customer service information provided by the third party.
I'm having issues with the third-party website, what should I do?
If you're having problems with the third-party streaming website, we recommend you reach out their customer support team directly to answer your question. If you've done this and are still facing an issue, feel free to reach out to us at help@facets.org.
Additional Questions?
If this page hasn't answered a question you have, feel free to contact us at help@facets.org and we'll do our best to provide you with an answer.
"What an amazing experience this film is: and Andersson incidentally has done for Stockholm in the movies what Godard did for Paris and Allen for Manhattan. Andersson's films are endlessly rewatchable"