We thought it was going to be a relatively quiet month, but we were very wrong. In fact, it was one of our busiest here at Nordic Watchlist, with a ton of films and TV series to watch, review, and discuss with the people behind them. If that wasn’t enough, we also received the brand new Eva Björg Ægisdóttir novel!
We need a holiday—which, in fact, we are taking in July, so things might slow down a bit then!
FILM: ROSE | Selected UK Cinemas and On Demand
GLEN: If there was any doubt that Sofie Gråbøl is one of Scandinavia’s finest actresses, then Rose, Niels Arden Oplev’s deeply personal story based on his own sister’s life, firmly dispels that doubt. A masterclass in acting, Gråbøl is mesmerising as Inger, a woman living with schizophrenia who undertakes a road trip to Paris to confront demons in her past.
Oplev handles the piece with a touching sensitivity, yet never shies away from showing the pain this debilitating condition can cause not only the patient but their loved ones as well. A landmark film that moves, inspires and gives a voice to an often-hidden side of mental health.
FILM: Birthday Girl | Selected UK Cinemas and On Demand
MARY: This film seems likely to fly under the radar but is definitely worth seeking out. A crime thriller, Birthday Girl enjoys the claustrophobia of a single setting to really hammer home its message. Trine Dyrholm and Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl are fantastic as mother and daughter dealing with the aftermath of a traumatising assault.
Oscillating between the disorientating neons of the public spaces of a cruise ship and the sterile hostility of investigation rooms, director Michael Noer is relentless in his pacing and “reveals”. Gritty and realistic and neatly avoiding cliches, Birthday Girl is all too familiar for those who have not been believed.
FILM: Four Little Adults | Selected UK Cinemas and On Demand
MARY: When you’re still thinking about specific little details from a film weeks after you’ve watched it, you know it’s a good one. Selma Vilhunen’s Four Little Adults sees a priest and an aspiring politician bring polyamory into their marriage in the most polite yet surprising way.
It’s an intense watch, fuelled by the spectrum of human emotions, and a neat exploration of identity and connection. Alma Pöysti and Eero Milonoff will battle for your sympathies in the lead roles, whilst Oona Airola and Pietu Wikström flesh out what it means to be in a non-conventional relationship. There are plenty of dramatic close-ups, lots of temper tantrums and – perhaps most importantly – meaningful demonstrations of what it means to love and be loved. A must watch.
TV SERIES: Jana – Marked For Life | BBC iPlayer
ALEX: I had great fun with Jana – Marked For Life, and we were very happy that the series made its way to the BBC, especially after the confusion about it coming to Amazon Prime but only in the Nordics.
Madeleine Martin relishes her role as Jana, who plays quite a shady ‘good guy’. She investigates a murder that triggers memories of her fragmented past. Soon, she is getting violent with old people, choking people out, and all the while keeping relatively calm. It is great fun to watch, especially with such a fantastic cast around her.
BOOK: Boys Who Hurt by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
GLEN: Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s Forbidden Iceland has become something of an international hit, and Boys Who Hurt, the fifth instalment, more than lives up to expectations. When a body is found in a remote summerhouse, it soon becomes clear that this is not some random isolated crime.
Ægisdóttir’s skill is her ability to craft novels that draw us in with beautifully crafted plots, rich in detail that delve deep into character as well as providing the requisite twists and turns of any good thriller. Boys Who Hurt showcases a writing masterclass, a plot that sees the reader avidly turning the page but also providing plenty to muse over long after the last page.
What else happened in June?
- Director Michael Noer took the time to chat to Alex about Prisoners and Birthday Girl
- Mary got a double helping of Eero Milonoff when she reviewed Four Little Adults and What Remains
- Alex spoke to the legendary Alex Høgh Andersen about his new series on USA Viaplay – Call Me Dad
- Mary reviewed Michael Noer’s Birthday Girl and was totally hooked!
- In fact Mary went on the rampage with further reviews for the following films: USA Viaplays The Most Remote Restaurant in the World and Lasse Hallestrom’s Hilma, documentary Lie To Me
- Alex spoke to Roisin Geraghty and Stuart Sloan about their Nordic documentary focus at Docs Ireland.
- Glen Interviewed director Niels Arden Oplev about his personal connection to Rose
- Mary was full of praise for Rose too in her review of the film
- Alex spoke to two very talented actresses; Jana – Marked For Life’s Madeliene Martin and Birthday Girl’s Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl
What series did you discover and enjoy this month? Anything we have missed and need to catch?
