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'
Evil ( aka Ondskan ) (2003)
7.8/10
Director: Mikael Hafstrom
Starring: Andreas Wilson, Henrik Lundstrom, Gustaf Skarsgard, Linda Zilliacus
In the mid-'50s, teenager Erik Ponti (Andreas Wilson) suffers serious abuse at the hands of his father. When he carries this violence into his school... Read more
Letters to Father Jacob (2009)
7.4/10
Director: Klaus Haro
Starring: Heikki Nousiainen, Kaarina Hazard
Newly pardoned from a life prison sentence, bitter and sullen Leila is assigned to work in a secluded parsonage reading and composing letters for Fath... Read more
Thelma (2017)
7.7/10
Director: Joachim Trier
Starring: Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Henrik Rafaelsen
A college student starts to experience extreme seizures while studying at a university in Oslo, Norway. She soon learns that the violent episodes are... Read more
Show Me Love (1998)
7.6/10
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Starring: Rebecca Liljeberg, Erica Carlon, Alexandra Dahlstrom
Aka 'Fucking Amal'. Elin and Agnes are two teenage girls growing up in a small Swedish town. Elin is bored with her life in a community where things a... Read more
Headhunters (2011)
7.6/10
Director: Morten Tyldum
Starring: Aksel Hennie, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Synnove Macody Lund, Eivind Sander, Julie O...
Aksel Hennie stars as Roger, a corporate headhunter who supplements the income necessary to fund his luxury home and lavish lifestyle by moonlighting... 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
Autumn Sonata (1978)
8.3/10
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Lena Nyman
A stunning union of two of Sweden's national treasures, Ingmar Bergman directs Ingrid for their only joint effort. Ingrid plays a mother who, after fo... Read more
Edvard Munch (1976)
8.4/10
Director: Peter Watkins
Starring: Geir Westby, Gro Fraas, Eli Ryg
This biographical dramatisation of Norway's most famous artist reveals the tumultuous events of his life as recorded in Munch's own memoirs. With stuf... Read more
A War (2015)
7.1/10
Director: Tobias Lindholm
Starring: Tuva Novotny, Charlotte Munck, Soren Malling, Pilou Asbaek
A tense, measured investigation of the moral ambiguity of combat, Tobias Lindholms rattling new military drama has already proven its international r... Read more
A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010)
6.9/10
Director: Hans Petter Moland
Starring: Bjorn Sundquist, Stellan Skarsgard, Gard B Eidsvold, Bjorn Floberg
Reluctantly discharged from prison on parole after 12 years for murder, Ulrik is ordered by the kingpin of his old gang to settle some scores with a s... Read more