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'
Open Hearts (2002)
7.6/10
Director: Susanne Bier
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Paprika Steen
A young engaged couple in Copenhagen, Cecille (Sonja Richter) and Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), finds their relationship changed forever when Joachim is... Read more
The Killing: Series 3 (2012)
4.3/10
Starring: Sofie Grabol
A.k.a. "Forbrydelsen". Detective Inspector Sarah Lund (Sofie Gråbøl) returns in the third and final series of The Killing Trilogy. The financial crisi... Read more
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
7.8/10
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Starring: Ewa Froling, Marika Lagercrantz, Michael Nyqvist, Ingvar Hirdwall, Noomi Rapace,...
Aka "Men Who Hate Women". Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger... Read more
The Absent One (2014)
7.1/10
Director: Mikkel Norgaard
Starring: Fares Fares, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Pilou Asbaek
In 1994 two young twins are found brutally murdered. A number of clues point in the direction of young upper class students from a nearby boarding sch... Read more
The Bridge: Series 3 (2015)
6.7/10
Director: Various
Starring: Kim Bodnia, Sofia Helin, Sarah Boberg, Puk Scharbau, Lars Simonsen
13 months later Saga Norén is still working at Malmö County Police, but she misses her only friend Martin Rohde who is serving a ten year prison sente... Read more
The Killing: Series 2 (2009)
5.7/10
Starring: Sofie Grabol
A.k.a. "Forbrydelsen". The body of a slain woman is found in a Copenhagen park commemorating the Danish Resistance in WWII - a symbolic act? An ex-sol... Read more
Happy, Happy (2010)
6.5/10
Director: Anne Sewitsky
Starring: Agnes Kittelsen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Joachim Rafaelsen, Maibritt Saerens
Anne Sewitsky directs this offbeat black comedy/drama from Norway. Family is the most important thing in the world to Kaja (Agnes Kittelsen). She is a... Read more
The Hunt (2012)
8.3/10
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Thomas Bo Larsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrom, Susse Wol...
"The Hunt" is a disturbing depiction of how a lie becomes the truth when gossip, doubt and malice are allowed to flourish and ignite a witch-hunt that... Read more
Pusher (1996)
7.4/10
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Kim Bodnia
Dubbed a Scandinavian 'Trainspotting' by critics, this edgy Danish drama follows a small-time drug dealer who loses his stash during a police raid lea... Read more
The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (2013)
Director: Felix Herngren
Starring: Robert Gustafsson, Iwar Wikilander, David Wilberg, Mia Skaringer, Jens Hulten, B...
Allan Karlsson (Robert Gustafsson) is still at it at 99, when he uses dynamite to deal with the fox who attacked his cat Molotov. That gets him put in... Read more