With Christmas around the corner, it’s time to get some festive viewing in your schedule, so we decided to work on a little list for you of Nordic movies and TV series to throw in the mix and squeeze in before the 25th.
So grab your gingerbread and glögg and get these on your box…
FILM
Riders of Justice
Denmark | Now TV & Sky Cinema & VOD
We all still argue about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie – well, it is (and so is Lethal Weapon). So it will come as no surprise that we are going to label Riders of Justice as a Christmas movie too. The film starts with a Christmas story and ends with a shoot out during Christmas. Christmas jumpers are worn, presents are shared, black comedy galore – we are totally backing this as your ultimate Nordic Christmas movie!
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Finland
The title is a bit of a giveaway, but everyone should be aware of this classic Finnish movie that takes you on a very sinister journey to Christmas when some archaeologists dig up a naked and bound Santa. Things get more and more peculiar when his elves appear keen to get their leader back.
Rare Exports is a lot of fun, in perhaps that same way that one might find Gremlins fun as a Christmas movie. Perhaps this one is a little darker but it has some brilliant moments of humour and silliness!
Echo
Iceland
We have covered Echo before after discovering it last year. We loved it so much we watched the movie on a projector on Christmas day. A beautiful and artistic piece of Icelandic cinema that gives us a montage of short scenes in the build-up to Christmas.
The Guardian described it as having a ‘mesmerising mosaic of Icelandic festivities‘ which is the perfect way to describe this movie, which was also nominated for the Nordic Council Film Prize in 2020.
It isn’t the easiest movie to find, but there are copies available on French website jour2fete. It isn’t cheap but if you think this might be your cup of tea, then it’s great for multiple watches every Christmas, or any time.
AURORA
Finland | Amazon Prime
When discussing the film Aurora with its lead star Mimosa Williamo, Nordic Watchlist asked her if she’d consider it a Christmas film and her response pretty much nails it on the head:
I never thought of it as a Christmas movie, even if it takes place during Christmas, but now that you say it, why not? There’s snow and inflatable Santas, what more does one need for Christmas?
So there we have it amongst the snow and inflatable Santa’s there is a love story there plus some fantastic comedy moments. You can read more about the movie and interview with the star here it is definitely one to add to the list.
TV SERIES
Home For Christmas
Norway | Netflix
Dive into this fun rom-com set in beautiful snowy Norway, Home for Christmas is funny, moving, awkward, cute, and to top it all off it is filmed in one of Norway’s most Christmassy locations – Roros.
The series follows Ida Elise Broch’s Johanne who puts her life into chaos one Christmas by telling her family she is finally bringing someone home for Christmas for them to meet. What follows is a mix of disastrous dates, hot hook-ups, and awkward moments.
The show ran for two seasons and is a perfect binge-watch if you fancy something a little different. Be sure to read our interviews with co-creators Kristian Andersen and Amir Shaheen.
ELVES
Denmark | Netflix
Just released on Netflix is the six-episode atmospheric Danish series called Elves (aka Nisser), which is a freaky family drama set at Christmas and combines fantasy, folklore, and horror.
You can read our interview with the writer and creator Stefan Jaworski to find out more.
And there we have it – some extra Christmas movies to squeeze into your calendar to watch before the big day! Enjoy!
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Feature by Alex Minnis
