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'
Princess (2006)
6.8/10
Director: Anders Morgenthaler
A visually striking animated feature from Denmark with a missionary priest named August abandoning his profession after the death of his drug-addicted... Read more
Heartbreak Hotel (2006)
5.2/10
Director: Colin Nutley
Starring: Helena Bergstrom, Maria Lundqvist, Claes Mansson, Johan Rabaeus
English filmmaker Colin Nutley once again works with his Swedish wife, Helena Bergstrom, in this intelligent and sharply funny drama about two forty-s... Read more
The Eagle - A Crime Odyssey: Volume 1 (2006)
Starring: Jens Albinus
As international terrorism and organised crime become more and more intertwined, Western nations face a growing threat to their security. In Denmark,... Read more
Pusher 3: I'm the Angel of Death (2005)
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Zlatko Buric, Marinela Dekic, Ilyas Agac
The concluding chapter in Nicolas Winding Refn's brutal underworld trilogy finds middle-aged, Balkan-born drug kingpin Milo (Zlatko Buric) desperate t... Read more
Adam's Apples (2005)
7.8/10
Director: Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Ulrich Thomsen
A wickedly dark comedy about an overly-optimistic preacher with a penchant for taking in lost causes to help around his remote church who finds his ro... Read more
Zozo (2005)
6.7/10
Director: Josef Fares
Starring: Imad Creidi, Antoinette Turk, Elias Gergi, Yasmine Awad, Carmen Lebbos, Viktor A...
The Lebanese civil war is in full swing, but young Zozo (Imad Creidi) and his family try to carry on as normally as possible. Zozo's grandparents have... Read more
Accused ( Anklaget ) (2005)
7.1/10
Director: Jacob Thuesen
Starring: Troels Lyby, Sofie Grabol, Louise Mieritz, Soren Malling, Michael Asmussen
Henrik is a swimming teacher whose life is turned upside-down when he is picked up by the police one day following an accusation of incest from his di... Read more
Overcoming (2005)
7.1/10
Director: Tomas Gislason
Starring: Bjarne Riis, Ivan Basso, Carlos Sastre, Michelle Bartoli
Focusing on the Danish team at the 2004 Tour de France, this documentary follows cycle guru Bjarne Riis as he tries to push his bikers to the limit in... Read more
Pusher II: With Blood on My Hands (2004)
7.4/10
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen
Hard-boiled sequel to the 1996 Danish crime thriller picks up the story of small-time thug Tonny (Mads Mikkelsen) as he is released from prison. Eager... Read more
In Your Hands (2004)
6.9/10
Director: Annette K Olesen
Starring: Ann Eleonora Jorgensen, Trine Dyrholm, Nicolaj Kopernikus Christiansen, Sonja Ri...
Set in a women's prison, this award-winning film is the 10th feature to be made adhering to the strict rules of the Dogme Manifesto, introduced by Lar... Read more