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'
You, The Living (2007)
7.5/10
Director: Roy Andersson
Starring: Jessika Lundberg, Elisabeth Helander, Bjorn Englund, Leif Larsson
A tragi-comic panorama of the human condition, Swedish director Roy Andersson ('Songs from the Second Floor') has stitiched together 50 short scenes o... Read more
Europa ( aka Zentropa ) (1992)
7.7/10
Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Jean-Marc Barr, Barbara Sukowa, Udo Kier, Ernst Hugo
This penetrating and mesmeric trip into the dark soul of Europe follows a young American pacifist of German descent who sojourns to post-WWII Deutschl... Read more
The Five Obstructions (2003)
7.5/10
Director: Lars von Trier, Jorgen Leth
Starring: Jorgen Leth, Lars Von Trier, Jacqueline Arenal, Daniel Hernandez Rodriguez, Patr...
Idiosyncratic director Lars von Trier has pulled out all the stops in this virtually unclassifiable film as he challenges his mentor, director Jorgen... Read more
Suddenly (2006)
6.3/10
Director: Johan Brisinger
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Anastasios Soulis, Moa Gammel, Catherine Hansson, Sten Ljunggre...
Lasse (Michael Nyqvist) is a contented man with a loving wife and two healthy children, until a tragic car accident claims the lives of his spouse and... Read more
Jackpot (2011)
6.6/10
Director: Magnus Martens
Starring: Kyrre Hellum, Mads Ousdal, Henrik Mestad, Arthur Berning, Andreas Cappelen, Lena...
Jo Nesbø has sold over 9 million books - This film is based on a story you haven't read. Oscar Svendsen wakes up, terrified and bloodied; a shotgun in... Read more
Death of a Pilgrim (2013)
6.9/10
Starring: Rolf Lassgard, Helena af Sandeberg
Aka "En pilgrims död". A Nordic crime mini-series about the murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme and the fall of the welfare state. The series... 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 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 Virgin Spring (1960)
8.1/10
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom
This stunning work stars Max Von Sydow in an exploration of a father's revenge for the rape and murder of his daughter. The highly contrasting black a... Read more
As It Is in Heaven 2: Heaven on Earth (2015)
Director: Kay Pollak
Starring: Thomas Hanzon, Jakob Oftebro, Niklas Falk, Lennart Jahkel, Frida Hallgren, Bjorn...
Following the death of world renowned conductor Daniel Darius, the love of his life, the beautiful soprano, Lena, is expecting his child. Lena's desir... Read more