It has been another incredible year for Nordic Documentaries in 2023 – and we have barely scratched the surface. The challenge continues for people outside of the Nordic region to have the ability to see these and so we, as an international audience, are still missing out on some fascinating pieces of work.
Despite this, we have managed to access a lot, and so here is our 10 Best Nordic Documentaries of 2023.
10: After Work | Director: Erik Gandini
Italian-Swedish film maker Erik Gandini’s documentary, “After Work,” delves into the profound role that work plays in our lives. While work ideally provides meaning and purpose, it should not monopolize our existence entirely.
The film takes us on a global journey, exploring various corners of the world where work is not fulfilling its intended role. A Gallup study reveals a disheartening reality – most people are not engaged or happy at work. This prompts reflection: is work inherently devoid of enjoyment? Can we envision a more satisfying alternative?
The documentary raises thought-provoking questions about the balance of work and life, from those who overwork, to those underemployed or jobless. In the face of the looming threat of AI, it challenges us to view the changing job landscape not only as a risk but also as an opportunity for more creative and fulfilling endeavours. After Work compellingly presents these inquiries, leaving viewers with a plethora of reflections on the nature and future of work.
9: Fighters | Director: Jon Haukeland
Jon Haukeland’s Fighters is a cleverly put-together Norwegian documentary film that has its two central subjects re-enact the story of how they met and the challenges that they both faced from that moment onward. Mamo is a kid on the wrong side of the tracks and when his path crosses with youth worker Berat, it looks like the pair can work together to get him back on the right side of them, but could Berat’s own challenging past cause issues?
The documentary has fictious elements blended in and in doing so this plays out like a film acted out by its real subjects – its a clever move and the film has proven a great success in Norway.
8: Vintersaga | Director: Carl Olsson
This particular film has undeniably become one of our favourites, and part of its allure might stem from the reminiscent echoes of another documentary we love – Iceland’s Echo. In this piece, director Carl Olsson, known for his outstanding work in “Meanwhile on Earth” (available on Netflix), embarks on a journey through a series of vignettes set against the backdrop of dark winters in Sweden, drawing loose inspiration from the Swedish song “Vintersaga.”
Within this cinematic exploration, audiences are treated to a rich tapestry of humour and beauty, with the added thrill of discerning potential interconnections among the various stories. This film not only captivates with its visual and narrative allure but also invites viewers to revel in the delightful puzzle of interconnected tales.
7: The Home Game | Directors: Smari Gunn & Logi Sigursveinsson
The Home Game had almost sneaked past us this year until Smari Gunn got in touch with Nordic Watchlist to share his uplifting Icelandic documentary. Watching a feel-good documentary feels like a bit of a rarity these days, or maybe that is the ones we pick, but The Home Game certainly delivers a feel- good vibe to it – even for someone who doesn’t like football.
The film follows a town’s effort to get a home game on the local pitch in the Icelandic FA Cup which has a David versus Goliath feel to it – they need to enter the side, they need to find a side, and then they even need the draw to be at home – not an easy task to make happen!
Smari has commented that he is confident the film will get a UK release in 2024.
6: A Tiger In Paradise | Director: Mikel Cee Karlsson
Our first and only entry which is actually available to watch now in the UK, as it is being shown exclusively on MUBI. A Tiger In Paradise is the first of two Platform Produkktion films which feature in our Top 10.
A Tiger in Paradise is a little different in that it is in many ways a music piece, that is also philosophical, comical, and honest. Fans of Jose Gonzalez will thoroughly enjoy this and the pairing of him with Swedish director Mikel Cee Karlsson, with whom he has worked with for numerous music videos, is the perfect combination.
Nordic Watchlist spoke with both the director and artist earlier in the month. Watch the film over at MUBI where it is currently streaming exclusively.
5: And The King Said What a Fantastic Machine | Director: Axel Danielson & Maximilien Van Aertryck
This is another film that has been having an incredibly successful year at the film festivals, and we are delighted to share that the film will get a UK release in April next year. The film focuses on the evolution of photography: from one single image that featured the first-ever person to be caught on film, to people participating in life-threatening stunts, such as the one pictured below, to get a viral photo on the ‘gram.
The film incorporates a whole collection of classic clips from the internet that feel both nostalgic but also prompt you to contemplate how much we live through our devices now, creating billions of images. What is it that compels us to document our lives in this way and what are the positives and negatives?
4: Labor | Director: Tove Pils
One of our standout selections from the Copenhagen Documentary Film Festival, CPH:DOX, was Swedish Tove Pils’ Labor – a compelling narrative delving into the personal experiences of a friend engaged in sex work in San Francisco.
The director said of the film in an interview with Nordic Watchlist: “As a queer filmmaker, I wanted to focus on the experiences of queers in the sex industry, specifically in San Francisco, a city with a long history of activism, resistance and sexual liberation“.
The film is made up of trippy visuals as we listen to the narrative of Tove’s subject; the film never needing to provide a darker or controversial visual narrative which makes it more engaging as an experience.
3: Apolonia, Apolonia | Director: Lea Globb
Apolonia, Apolonia has been having such a successful run since it first premiered at CPH:DOX, it has continued to pick up momentum during the course of the year picking up awards at various festivals and even ended up being screened at the BFI London International Film Festival – one hopes that this might be an indication that the film will get a UK release.
The Danish film is a deeply personal portrait of Apolonia Sokol, a talented but slightly troubled artist who is trying to find her place in the world while grappling with womanhood, relationships, trajedy and the pariarchy.
2: The Gullspång Miracle | Director: Maria Fredriksson
Maria Fredriksson’s The Gullspång Miracle was an absolute ride. Where some documentaries might slow down in the middle or even struggle to conclude, this continues to blow your mind as the film continues. It’s a fascinating Swedish mystery about two sisters who look to buy an apartment in the small Swedish town of Gullspång. To their surprise, the seller looks just like their other sister, who killed herself 30 years earlier. Or did she?
The film has its European premier at Sheffield Doc Fest where we spoke to the film’s director Maria Fredriksson.
1: A Storm Foretold | Director: Christoffer Guldbrandsen
We got a preview of “A Storm Foretold” earlier in the year and were totally blown away by this fascinating story, pulling back the curtain on a figure involved in American politics who truly was like a pantomime villain. The twists and turns that unfold during the film as they build towards the climatic moment in Washington make it a documentary that keeps you on the edge of your seat and shaking your head in disbelief.
Read our interview with the film’s Danish director Christoffer Guldbrandsen and the videographer Frederik Marbell.
That’s our top 10 fasinating documentaries to come from the Nordic region in 2023 for you to add to your watchlist!
