Scandinavian Cinema
'Scandinavian' is an Alice grouping which includes Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. To find films from one of these countries specifically use the 'By Country' link on the left hand menu.
From the sublime to the ridiculous; from Bergman to Lars von Trier, there is something in this section for everyone.
Films from this region are often deeply personal and have a brutal honesty about them. Characters are often deeply flawed or troubled but not judged. The Dogme 95 collective (founded by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg) exemplifies this attitude in their manifesto. Not just the stories but the film-making process itself is absolutely 'no frills'. (Visit www.dogme95.dk for more details.)
Other notables in this section include the quirky Finlander, Aki Kaurismaki, Fridrik Thor Fridrikkson from Iceland and Norwegian, Erik Skjoldjaerg.
Pictured: "It's one of the most delicious parts I've ever played. I've never been such a bastard before." Stellan Skaarsgard on his role in the rivetting 'Zero Kelvin'
The Kingdom (1994)
8.4/10
Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Ernst-Hugo Jaregard, Kirsten Rolffes, Ghita Norby
This joyfully creepy and surrealistic Danish medical thriller/satire, is full of jaded New Age practices, a nationalistic neurologist longing for his... Read more
The Last Sentence (2012)
6.1/10
Director: Jan Troell
Starring: Pernilla August, Jesper Christensen, Bjorn Granath, Ulla Skoog
Set between 1933 and 1945, 'The Last Sentence' from director Jan Troell focuses on the life and career of Torgny Segerstedt, a Swedish newspaper edito... Read more
The Legacy: Series 1 (2014)
7.7/10
Starring: Trine Dyrholm, Jesper Christensen, Marie Bach Hansen, Carsten Bjornlund, Mikkel...
Aka "Arvingerne". "The Legacy" is a modern family portrait. The series plays out at the legendary manor Grønnegaard, southern Funen, where the interna... Read more
The Legacy: Series 2 (2015)
7.2/10
Starring: Trine Dyrholm, Marie Bach Hansen, Carsten Bjornlund, Mikkel Boe Folsgaard, Jespe...
Grønnegaard now embodies the spirit of the family feud that has caused the four siblings so much sadness and anger. Signe, struggling to get her hemp... Read more
The Legacy: Series 3 (2016)
7.1/10
Starring: Carsten Bjornlund, Mikkel Boe Folsgaard, Marie Bach Hansen, Trine Dyrholm
In Season 3, Signe has big visions and plans to expand her farm with a neighbouring farmer. Emil has moved into Gronnegard where he takes care of Melo... Read more
The Magician (1959)
7.5/10
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Max von Sydow, Ingrid Thulin, Gunnar Bjornstrand
Set in the 1840s in Stockholm, the mystery and enigma of life and death itself are embodied in Vogler, the magician who runs "Vogler's Magnetic Health... Read more
The Man Without A Past (2002)
7.7/10
Director: Aki Kaurismaki
Starring: Markku Peltola, Kati Outinen, Juhani Niemela, Kaija Pakarinen
The second part of Aki Kaurismaki's "Finland" trilogy (coming after "Drifting Clouds"), the film follows a man who arrives in Helsinki and gets beaten... Read more
The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen) (2017)
7.2/10
Director: Aki Kaurismaki
Starring: Sherwan Haji, Sakari Kuosmanen, Ilkka Koivula
Khaled, a Syrian refugee stows away on a freighter to Helsinki. Meanwhile, Wikström is a traveling salesman who wins big at a poker table and buys him... Read more
The Other Side Of Sunday (1997)
7.1/10
Director: Berit Nesheim
Starring: Marie Theisen, Hildegun Riise, Bjorn Sundquist
Aka 'Sondagsengler'. This Academy Award nominee for best foreign film, set in 1950s Norway, is a lyrical, biting look at a small church community and... Read more
The Out-Laws (AKA Clan) (2012)
Starring: Barbara Sarafian
Clan draws you into the lives of the Goethals sisters, tied together by the premature death of their parents, they've clung to each other like a real... Read more