It has long been known that an American remake of the Oscar-winning Danish film Another Round (2020)—or Druk as it is called in the original Danish—is in the works, set to be directed by Chris Rock and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. As a Dane myself and a lover of Danish cinema, I must admit that I am very skeptical of this.
Some people in Denmark think it’s a bad idea when Americans remake any of our films, but I think it’s perfectly fine if they can make it work. I would say that the American remakes of Danish films in the past have been a mixed bag, but I cannot hide how highly I rate The Guilty (2021), a remake of the Danish film of the same name from 2018. The concept of that film works brilliantly within American culture; in fact, I would argue the whole plot actually works better in an American setting than a Danish one.
This brings us to my issue with this remake. The entire film revolves around some very Danish values, particularly Danish drinking culture. The Danish education system also plays a huge part in the original film, and both of these factors, which were essential to the success of the original, are very different in Denmark and the United States.
I simply do not see the plot working in a U.S. setting unless some major changes are made to the story. At that point, they might as well make an original film instead of remaking another one.
One of my biggest concerns is the school aspect of the film. In the original, the main characters are high school teachers, meaning they’re teaching kids between the ages of 16-19. These students consuming alcohol—particularly in the final scenes, where they participate in the Danish graduation tradition of driving around in a truck while drinking—is a very important part of the film. However, as we all know, the minimum drinking age in the U.S. is 21.
Sure, they could change the high school setting to college, but that doesn’t alter the significant difference in drinking culture. This cultural gap means that either the film just won’t work if they try to replicate the original story, or they’ll have to alter it so much that it will become unrecognizable.
The only small bit of hope we can hold onto is the involvement of Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm, the creators of the original, as executive producers who may have some oversight of the production. I don’t like being negative; in fact, I’m often very positive about upcoming films, even when others are doubtful. But this is different. I fear this film is going to be a huge mistake. I am very intrigued to watch it when it finally releases, but my expectations will be very low.
Hailing from Denmark, Andreas brings a bold and refreshing voice to the world of cinema. His sharp, often provocative takes don’t always align with conventional cinephile perspectives, but they never fail to spark engaging and spirited discussions. Known for his unwavering admiration for icons like Tom Hanks, Pilou Asbæk, and Steven Spielberg, Andreas is a cinephile with a unique viewpoint that transcends geographic boundaries. His playful, insightful approach makes him a vibrant figure in the film community—a movie lover with a knack for keeping conversations exciting and unpredictable.