Review Tales

Certain parts of Danish cinema are widely known around the world and are quite popular, but I notice a trend in this popularity – it is very often the same few actors and directors. Everyone knows Mads Mikkelsen and Thomas Vinterberg, but how many people know the likes of Ulrich Thomsen or Tobias Lindholm? I want to enlighten more people on the wonders of the lesser-known Danish cinema scene, so here are 11 great Danish films that are largely unknown outside of Denmark.

1) Land of Mine (2015)

Land of Mine tells the largely unknown story of how the Danish and British armies orchestrated a massive operation after the end of the Second World War, where the aim was to clear the Danish beaches of mines put there by the Germans during the occupation. To pull this off, they used German prisoners of war – a large majority of whom were just kids – to do this dangerous job.

This film brilliantly shows the relationship between a Danish officer and his squad of young German boys, as they work towards clearing a beach, and how poorly these boys were treated by the Danish and British officers. A must watch for any fan of history, as it does a great job at highlighting the questionable things done by the allies, showing that no war is ever 100% black and white.

2) Flickering Lights (2000)

Flickering Lights is often regarded in Denmark as one of the best comedies ever made, and with good reason too. This hilarious crime comedy focuses on a small gang led by Torkild (Søren Pilmark), as they try to pay off a debt to the crime boss known as ‘The Faeroeing’ (Peter Andersson). Things don’t go as planned though when they decide to try to trick The Faeroeing and escape to Barcelona.

This film was also one of the breakout roles for Mads Mikkelsen who we all know and love today. While being one of the funniest examples of the dark classic Danish humour, it also has moments of tragedy as it gives insights into the childhoods of the main characters – Torkild (Søren Pilmark), Peter (Ulrich Thomsen), Arne (Mads Mikkelsen), and Stefan (Nikolaj Lie Kaas). A brilliant display of comedy mixed with darkness, and the sole reason no Danish person can think of blowing eggs without laughing. 

3) A Hijacking (2012)

This film may remind you of Captain Phillips (2013), as it takes place on a cargo ship that gets hijacked by Somali pirates, but it actually predates the Tom Hanks film, released a year earlier. A Hijacking stars Pilou Asbæk and Søren Malling as the two main characters Mikkel Hartmann, the ship’s cook, and Peter C. Ludvigsen, the CEO of the shipping company, and could almost be categorized as a psychological thriller, as most of the film is just phone calls between Ludvigsen and the Somali pirates, as they try to negotiate the release of the hostages onboard the ship.

The whole film is driven by the incredible dialogue written by Tobias Lindholm, who also directed this, and who some may know from directing ‘The Good Nurse’ (2022). The tension is high throughout the entire film, and I would argue it is the better modern piracy film between it and Captain Phillips (2013).

4) Armadillo (2010)

Here we have a horrifying documentary that follows young Danish soldiers, as they are shipped out to Afghanistan for a 6 month trip as part of the NATO operations to keep peace in the country. It follows these boys over the course of their entire trip and even follows them into combat situations.

We see some of the real horrors of modern warfare shown to us with real people. As the tagline of the documentary says, “For you it’s a movie, for them it’s reality”. Although the military involvement in Afghanistan was stopped in 2021, this documentary is still very relevant, and a great depiction of what it is like for the soldiers at war today.

5) The Green Butchers (2003)

Yet another dark comedy from the same director and writer as Flickering Lights (2000), starring some of the same actors, and this one is also in the top 5 of many Danish comedy lovers. It follows Svend (Mads Mikkelsen) and Bjarne (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), who own a not very successful butcher shop, but when they accidentally freeze a man to death in their meat freezer, they decide to sell his meat in secret to the people of the town in order to get rid of the body.

This obviously causes many more problems, and on top of that, they have to deal with Bjarne’s disabled brother Eigil (also Nikolaj Lie Kaas). This film is a guaranteed laugh for anyone who likes dark humor, and a must-watch if you wish to get into Danish cinema.

6) A Royal Affair (2012)

This film is a captivating romance drama about a very real love triangle that involved the Danish Royal Family in the 18th century. The King, Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), is mentally unstable, and finds a great friend in his personal doctor, Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), but he takes advantage of the king’s poor mental health and begins practically running the country with his more liberal ideas, while also having an affair with the queen, Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander). 

The film has incredible performances from the main cast, and beautifully retells the true story of Denmark’s insane king and the doctor who changed the country forever. You will find yourself laughing at the king’s actions, but also saddened by the entire situation around him, but most of all you will be entertained by a great story, only made better by the fact that it’s true.

7) Love Is All You Need (2012)

This romcom by director Susanne Bier starring Trine Dyrholm and Pierce Brosnan (yes, James Bond is in a Danish romcom) is a touching story about a hairdresser who has lost her hair to cancer, and finds her husband cheating on her. Her daughter is getting married in Italy so she goes to the wedding, but faces a good few challenges there that create both funny and touching moments. It is a film that is loved by many, and even if you aren’t into romance I can guarantee you that you will still be able to have a good laugh at this wholesome piece of cinema.

8) The Shadow In My Eye (2021)

Here we have another true story based on Denmark’s World War II history. A young boy named Henry (Bertram Bisgaard Enevoldsen) witnesses a fighter plane shooting a car, violently killing everyone inside, and is traumatized to the point of being unable to speak. He moved away from the countryside into the city of Copenhagen to live with relatives for a while, as he was afraid of large open spaces after the plane attack.

Tragically Copenhagen was the location of the Danish Gestapo HQ which the British Air Force wanted to bomb, however, a horrible twist of fate resulted in the school Henry and his cousins attend getting bombed instead. This tragic drama relives the accidental bombing of a school in Copenhagen by the British Air Force, that killed over 80 children, and it is absolutely gut-wrenching to watch as parents desperately try to find their kids.

9) Summer of ‘92 (2015)

On a much lighter note we now have one of the best sports films ever made if you ask me. It revolves around the events of the summer of 1992, when the Danish national football team won the European Championship – despite not even qualifying for it in the first place. It mainly follows the head coach, Richard Møller Nielsen (Ulrich Thomsen), who was despised by the media, the public, and even some of his own players.

We’re taken through the frustrations of not qualifying for the tournament, the surprising invitation caused by the Yugoslav civil war, and the triumphant feelings of victory, while also having a sub plot focusing on the player Kim Vilfort (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) and his daughter Line (uncredited) who is sick with cancer. The whole film is a very heartwarming and wholesome story that will just give you a big smile – and maybe some tears too. 

10) The One and Only (1999)

The One and Only is another romcom by Susanne Bier, this time following a couple who are adopting a baby from Africa, and another couple who just got pregnant. I will refrain from giving many more details as the things that unfold in this story have a great shock value to them, and I would hate to take those away from you. This is yet another Danish comedy that has made all Danes able to laugh at something that isn’t itself funny, just like Flickering Lights (2000) did with egg blowing, this time with the board game Ludo.

11) A War (2015)

The final entry on this list is another dialogue-driven drama from Tobias Lindholm, again starring Pilou Asbæk, this time as an army officer in Afghanistan called Claus. After some intense times for his squad, Claus decides to join them on a recon mission, but as they come under heavy fire, he makes a decision that results in the deaths of civilians, which causes him to be sent home, charged with breaching the rules of war. 

This emotional story takes us through the intense trial of Claus where we hear from multiple other soldiers who were there, while it also shows us the toll this takes on Claus and his family, and is a tense watch that is relevant now more than ever.

These films offer a window into the depth and variety of Danish cinema, showcasing talents and stories that go beyond the familiar faces and names. Give them a watch, and you may find yourself falling in love with Danish cinema as much as I have.