It has been a much more quieter month for films, TV series, and book releases but the Nordic Watchlist team still managed to discover some Nordic gems. Here is our Nordic Spotlight: Best in Screen and Page for May.
FILM: The Promised Land | Blu Ray, DVD, & Digital Online
ALEX & CLAIRE: A rewatch of Nikolaj Arcel’s The Promised Land cemented the fact that it is one of our top Nordic films of the year so far. A second watch allows for one to get really immersed more into the characters and the scenery in one of our favourites Mad Mikkelsen performances since Another Round. The stellar cast still dazzles every time you see them appear on screen and we very excited to see Amanda Collins make an appearence in the second season of House of The Dragon next month.
FILM: The Gullspång Miracle | BBC iPlayer
We are were over the moon when Met Film got in touch with us to let us know that The Gullspång Miracle was coming to UK screens – it was one of our favourite documentaries from last year and we had really hoped that if one Nordic documentary might make it her it would be this one as it was such a crazy and emotional story.
You can read our interview with the director Maria Fredriksson.
BOOK | Murder Under The Midnight Sun by Stella Blómkvist
GLEN: Both Iceland and Norway saw strong book releases in May, but for book pick of the month, the award will probably have to sit unclaimed on the shelf because the true identity of author Stella Blómkvist is almost as big a mystery of the cases she solves.
Murder under the Midnight Sun sees Blómkvist investigate a case full of mistaken identity, family intrigue and the shady dealings of big business. We may not know the identity of the author but in this book we learn more of the character and the motives that drive this flawed lawyer.
A long successful franchise in Iceland, this second English translation is a welcome addition to the reading list.
What else happened in May?
- Glen reviewed Murder Under The Midnight Sun
- Alex spoke with director Amir Chamdin about his new series about Borje Salming which aired in the USA.
- Glen reviewed the Skolt Sami film Je’vida
- Our new writer Mary checked out some other Nordic gang culture TV Series to recommend
- After the success of Deliver Me on Netflix Alex got to speak to the series director Anna Zackrisson.
- Next up on Glen’s book review list was Helga Flatland’s Toxic.
- Tim shared May’s big Nordic Home & Design news.
- Mary took a look at some English language series featuring Scandinavian stars!
- And then to wrap things up May also took at look the Iceland documentary The Day Iceland Stood Still.
What series did you discover and enjoy this month? Anything we have missed and need to catch?
