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'
As It Is In Heaven (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Kay Pollak
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Frida Hallgren, Lennart Jahkel, Ingela Olsson, Niklas Falk
Daniel (Michael Nyquist) is an internationally acclaimed, though temperamental and lonely, conductor when a physical break-down prompts him to return... Read more
Brothers (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Susanne Bier
Starring: Connie Nielsen, Ulrich Thomsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Michael's life is on track, he has a successful military career, a beautiful wife, Sarah (Connie Nielsen) and two loving daughters, but he's about to... Read more
The Queen of Sheba's Pearls (2004)
5.2/10
Director: Colin Nutley
Starring: Helena Bergstrom, Lorcan Cranitch, Lindsay Duncan, Tim Dutton, Rollo Weeks, Eliz...
Set in post-war England, a young man celebrates his 16th birthday when a strange and beautiful woman appears at the door. She bears a striking resemb... Read more
The Green Butchers (2003)
7.3/10
Director: Anders Thomas Jensen
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Line Kruse, Bodil Jorgensen, Ole Thestrup, Nic...
A dark cannibal comedy from Denmark where two affable losers have opened a butcher's shop. Considering their lack of business know-how, the venture se... 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
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
Kitchen Stories (2003)
7.3/10
Director: Bent Hamer
Starring: Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norstrom, Reine Brynolfsson, Bjorn Floberg
A Swedish researcher strikes up an unlikely friendship with a cranky Norwegian farmer in this splendidly low-key comedy of manners. It's the 1950s, an... Read more
Noi the Albino (2003)
7.4/10
Director: Dagur Kari
Starring: Tomas Lemarquis, Throstur Leo Gunnarsson
Aka "Noi Albinoi", "Noi". Is he the village idiot or a genius in disguise? Seventeen-year-old Noi drifts through life on a remote fjord in the north o... Read more
Lilya 4-Ever (2002)
7.9/10
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Starring: Oksana Akinshina, Artiom Bogucharskij, Elina Benenson
Lukas Moodysson's third feature, following 'Show Me Love' and 'Together', is a touching and tender insight into the life of Lilya, a chirpy girl of si... Read more
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