Here we are, nearly at the end of 2023 and another Top 10 for you all to comment and debate on. We must point out that this list is based on which films have been released in the UK in 2023 and are accessible. Therefore you will find quite a few missing which we hope we will be able to add in 2024!
Before we get stuck in, a few honourable mentions that didn’t make the top 10; A Beautiful Life was a musical number on Netflix which was beautifully put-together with a fantastic soundtrack by the incredibly talented Christopher. Another Netflix production was Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction which was great fun, and the festive There’s Something in the Barn which was good wholesome Christmassy horror comedy.
Now onto the official countdown:
10 – Attachment | Director: Gabriel Bier Gislason | SHUDDER
This is a hidden gem which can be found on Shudder (which actually has a phenomenal list of Nordic Horror films). It is a mix of English and Danish language and can be best described as a LGQBTQ+ romantic horror – yes you read that right.
There are four fantastic performances here with Josephine Parks (The Nurse), Ellie Kendrick (The Levelling), Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing) and David Dencik (The Chestnut Man) which make this a must-watch in our opinion – we can’t wait to see what director Gabriel Bier Gislason comes up with next.
9 – The Year I Started Masturbating | Director: Erika Wasserman | NETFLIX
We had seen this and spoken to director Erika Wasserman back in 2022 so we were delighted when we saw that her feature The Year I Started Masturbating had been picked up by Netflix.
Something fresh and different for our Nordic-loving audience, this comedy is made particularly brilliant due to the performance by Katia Winters (who appears again in another one of our picks of the year).
If you haven’t seen it yet be sure to give it a watch, how could you pass on possibly one of the best film titles of the year.
8 – A Day and a Half | Director: Fares Fares | NETFLIX
Netflix brought us A Day and a Half in the summer time, a debut feature by the incredible talented Fares Fares. It was exciting to see what the director can do behind the camera, and he also appears in front of it in this aswell, which is pretty impressive.
The films stars two other favourites, with Alexej Manvelov and Alma Pöysti, the latter having a phenomenal year.
We spoke with Fares Fares about directing his first feature along with his co-stars Alma Pöysti and Alexej Manvelov
7 – Sisu | Director: Jalmari Helander | Sky Cinema
Those of you fitting Rare Exports onto your essential Christmas viewing list might like to combine it with watching Sisu, Helander’s third feature. Whilst there is absolutely nothing in it that relates to Christmas, is it is great fun seeing some recognisable faces from his previous films.
Much like a few of our upcoming selections, there is plenty of violence in this one which was quite a riot and saw the film perform incredibly well worldwide.
Fans of Netflix’s The Trip (which also starred Aksel Hennie) would very much enjoy this!
6 – The Conference | Director: Patrick Eklund | NETFLIX
This film came out of nowhere and caught us totally by surprise – a Swedish slasher movie released to an International audience!
When you mix that dark scandic humour with some absolutely brutal kills, along with a solid cast, you can’t really go wrong. Eklund’s horror comedy really was a hoot to watch, the last 40 minutes really took it up a notch when it comes to violence.
For horror fans out there who passed this one by, go back and watch it please it is brilliant.
5 – Fallen Leaves | Director: Aki Kaurismäki | MUBI
Currently in cinemas and arriving soon exclusively to MUBI, Fallen Leaves has been on a phenomenal roll ever since it was screened at Cannes Film Festival earlier in the year. It was one of the only Nordic films to be present there and it has certainly proven a huge hit.
One of the film’s stars, Alma Pöysti , picked up a Golden Globe nomination which is a very special moment for Nordic cinema, and so well deserved for the actress.
You can read our interview feature with the films two lead stars to find out more about the story and working with director Aki Kaurismäki, who creates a unique world in Fallen Leaves.
4 – Godland | Director: Hlynur Pálmason | BFI Player
Godland is quite a masterpiece, a slow burn of tensions that one might be very familiar with from the director’s previous work with A White White Day and Winter Brothers.
It was quite a spectacle to witness this at the BFI Imax but the film acts just as much as a cinematic getaway to the volatile lands of Iceland and a brilliant central performance from Elliot.
Read our interview with director Hlynur Pálmason and be sure to also check out his short film Nest , which you can find on MUBI.
3 – Holy Spider | Director: Ali Abassi| MUBI
From its gorgeous film poster design, to the festival run it had in 2022, Ali Abassi’s Holy Spider arrived onto MUBI earlier in the year and we were certainly impressed by his follow up to Border (a film that still creeps me out just thinking about it).
Holy Spider is a dark and urgent film with an incredible central performance along with a soundtrack that will haunt you days.
2 – Beautiful Beings | Director: Guðmundur Guðmundsson | Amazon Prime
This was almost our film of 2022 but it never ended up being released in the UK until the beginning of 2023.
It a phenomenal piece of work down to everyone involved, from the acting – the debuts of these kids is next level – to the stunt work (those fight sequences left me feeling bruised), to the way this is so delicately handled by Guðmundsson. It is by no means an easy watch but it is a powerful one that will stick with you.
Listen to Alex discuss the film with Sarah Popcorn chat on Youtube!
1 – Sick of Myself | Director: Kristoffer Borgli | BFI PLAYER
Drum roll….
Kristoffer Borgli sure knows how to bring out the best in his cast, most recently his second feature has earned Nicolas Cage much accolade and a Golden Globe nomination.
Here in his Norwegian feature ‘Sick of Myself‘ it is Kristine Kujath Thorp who puts in such a special performance in this dark body horror comedy and social satire.
We haven’t stopped thinking about the twisted plot, how it shocks you and makes you laugh in equal measure, the abhorrent characters, and how it prompts some interesting discussions – making it our top film of 2023.
What were your favourite Nordic films you caught this year – any glaring omissions here? Which ones do you hope to see in 2024?
