We are not kidding you when we say that August is going to keep you very busy if you are looking forward to watching some BRAND NEW Nordic series! That’s right – you have read that correctly – brand new series are arriving on Walter Presents, Viaplay UK & USA. And to add to that, the release of the Danish documentary “A Storm Foretold” is now available, and our favourite film of last year was “Paradise is Burning”.
So grab a cup of tea and your calendar – here is our Nordic New Releases: August Monthly Guide
FILMS & TV SERIES
A Storm Foretold | Documentary Film | Out Now | BBC iPlayer
This is a MUST WATCH – an English language documentary by director Christoffer Guldbrandsen which we first saw at CPH:DOX in March 2023 and its release now couldn’t be at a more interesting time!
Danish director Christoffer Guldbrandsen shares his experience shadowing Donald Trump’s aide, Roger Stone, in the years leading up to the controversial 2020 elections. Stone is a man who is known as the master of dark arts when it comes to politics, and has a flamboyant personality that is both amusing and uncomfortable at times to watch.
Guldbrandsen’s timing couldn’t have been better as a sequence of events unfolded in front of his eyes that lead up to the Capitol Hill riots in January 2021.
Read our fascinating interview with the director and his producer to learn how this all came to be and the challenges that came with it.
Hostage | TV Series | 16th August | Walter Presents/Channel 4
For those of you who loved Stockholm Requiem, you will be very happy to see that this follow-up standalone series has finally gotten a release here in the UK.
Civil servant Fredrika Bergman (Liv Mjönes) is on the brink of a promotion at the Swedish Department of Justice when she’s assigned to review the case of Professor Said Kehlifi (Tsahi Halevi), a Syrian academic detained under mysterious circumstances by Swedish Security Services (SÄPO). When a plane is hijacked and the hijackers demand Kehlifi’s release, Fredrika is pulled into the high-stakes investigation by SÄPO’s Eden Lundell (Ana Gil de Melo Nascimento). Tensions rise as Fredrika discovers the co-pilot is Erik, son of her former boss, Alex Recht (Jonas Karlsson), a legendary police investigator.
Evil | TV Series | 16th August | Walter Presents/Channel 4
In 1950s Stockholm, teenager Erik Ponti leads a gang of money-lenders who terrorize their school, using violence to maintain control. However, at home, Erik is powerless against his abusive stepfather, enduring brutal punishments with no escape, while his mother remains helplessly silent. After a violent incident at school leads to his expulsion, Erik’s mother sends him to the prestigious boarding school Stjernsberg, hoping for a fresh start.
Determined to leave his violent past behind, Erik promises his mother to change. At Stjernsberg, he falls for Marja, a strong-willed kitchen girl who despises violence, and bonds with his gentle roommate Pierre. Neither knows about Erik’s troubled history, giving him hope for a new beginning. But when older students try to force Erik into the school’s brutal hazing rituals, he faces a difficult choice: stand up and risk everything he’s begun to build, or submit and lose his newfound sense of self.
We have heard very good things about this series and look forward to catching it later this month!
Haaland, The Big Decision | Documentary | 19th August | Viaplay USA
One of the most expensive footballers in the world, Erling Braut Haaland has been a superstar striker since his pre-teen days at Bryne FK.
Tommy Barstein’s documentary finds Haaland at a crucial junction in his career. With his contract at German side Borussia Dortmund coming to an end, he must decide where to go next. Will he remain in the Bundesliga, head for La Liga or Ligue 1?
Whilst it is no secret that Haaland ultimately chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and head for the English Premier League, the documentary offers up fascinating insight as to why this choice was made.
Featuring talking heads, home videos and spectacular goal montages, this is one not to miss for football fans.
The Hypnosis | Film | 16th August | MUBI UK
Let us be clear – MUBI’s August slate is phenomenal, so if there was ever a time to purchase the streamer for a month or two, now certainly is it. Among all the other incredible films they have coming, one of them is a film we have been patiently waiting for ever since the BFI London Film Festival – Ernst De Geer’s The Hypnosis.
Vera (Asta Kamma August) and André (Herbert Nordrum), an ambitious couple, are gearing up for the opportunity of a lifetime: pitching their startup at a high-stakes, prestigious competition that could change their future. As the big day approaches, Vera decides to try hypnotherapy to quit smoking, hoping to kick the habit for good. However, the session has an unforeseen consequence—Vera loses all her social inhibitions. As the competition looms, Vera’s newfound bluntness and unpredictability start to cause chaos in both her personal and professional life. Now, with everything on the line, Vera and André must navigate this unexpected challenge, balancing their dreams with the quirks of Vera’s altered behavior.
We can’t wait for this!
The Minister (Season 2) | TV Series | 19th August | Viaplay UK
The acclaimed Icelandic political drama, starring Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Trapped) as Iceland’s newly elected Prime Minister, Benedikt Ríkharðsson, returns for a gripping second season. The eight-part series premieres in the UK on Viaplay on 12 August.
Following the dramatic conclusion of season one, where Benedikt revealed his bipolar disorder to the nation, season two sees him back in action, determined to transform Iceland’s mental health policies while facing new political and personal challenges.
We are so excited to Ólafur Darri Ólafsson back on our screens – it seems like such a long time since we last saw him in a series!
Veronika | TV Series | 20th August | Viaplay USA
Combining spectral elements with your typical Scandi police procedural, Veronika gives us an unreliable protagonist and a small town burdened by secrets of the past.
Alexandra Rapaport excels as the titular detective in this eight part series, truly looking like a woman on the brink. We piece together three murders alongside her, questioning everything we see and hear. It seems like her career, her marriage and home life and the peace of this small forest town are all reliant on her ability to solve these crimes. Tobias Santelmann, Karin Bertling and Arvin Kananian make up an impressive cast.
Offering up commentary on mental health, grooming, social class and “the hysterical woman” trope, Veronika is an unusual, engaging series that will leave you gripped right up until the very last seconds.
Threesome (season 2) | TV Series | 20th August | Viaplay USA (Available on Viaplay UK
The hit Swedish series returns with the second season released in the USA on Viaplay, and the series is already available here in the UK.
The series picks up exactly where we left off (which we won’t spoil here) with our two characters, Siri (Matilda Källström) and David (Simon Lööf), entering into a challenging moment in their relationship – will they be able to overcome it?
Both stars put in a phenomenal performance – well worth a watch (and easy to get through with the episodes on 20 or minutes long).
You can read our interview with Matilda Källström when we spoke to her about the first season and look out for a future interview with Simon Lööf.
Baby Fever (Season 2) | TV Series | 22nd August | Netflix (Worldwide)
For those that haven’t seen the first season then skip past this as we reveal the synopsis of the second season which gives you a slight hint as to what might have happened in the first season (mind you so does the name of the series).
Nana (the ever brilliant Josephine Park), now a new mother, is struggling with maternity leave and decides to beg her old boss, Helle, for her job back. Helle agrees, but only if Nana can start immediately. Desperate for childcare, Nana reluctantly turns to her eccentric mother, Lisa LaCour, who moves in to help. Back at the clinic, Nana faces competition from a new star doctor, the flawless Hampus. To complicate things further, Nana’s old flame, Mathias, reappears, still unaware he’s the father of her child. Nana is torn between keeping her secret and coming clean.
Everything You Love | TV Series | 25th August | Walter Presents/Channel 4
Everything You Love is a poignant exploration of today’s youth’s hopes, fears, and struggles. Sara, new to Oslo, reconnects with Jonas, a boy from her past, and they quickly fall deeply in love. However, as their relationship blossoms, Sara starts noticing unsettling changes in Jonas, who is being drawn into a dangerous right-wing extremist ideology.
Jonas finds solace in Sara, but his growing radical beliefs strain his friendships and his connection with her. When Sara discovers his involvement in extremist forums, she’s forced to confront the dark side of the man she loves. As she grapples with the reality of who Jonas is becoming, the series questions whether love can overcome the pull of a destructive ideology, or if it will be shattered by it.
Something entirely new and once that has not been on our radar – we are intrigued by this one!
Borje: Journey of a Legend | TV Series | 26th August | Viaplay UK (available now on Viaplay USA)
This series was recently released in the USA and it has now made its way to the UK on Viaplay. While there might not be as many ice hockey fans here, it is still a fascinating story with a brilliant performance from Valter Skarsgård, who truly got stuck into the role of Borje – one of the most famous Swedish Ice Hockey exports in the world.
Read Alex’s interview with the series director Amir Chamdin
Paradise is Burning | Film | 30th August | UK Selected Cinemas
One of our favourite discoveries at the London International Film Festival Paradise is Burning is finally getting a UK release almost a year later! On a second watch the film still holds up as compelling viewing. For those that enjoy coming-of-age films with a nice blend of ‘hang out’ vibes (such as Richard Linklater’s early work) mixed in with three of the best debut performances you might ever see, this will definitely hit the mark.
Sisters Laura, Mira and Steffi find themselves facing down the barrel of a visit from social services, just as their mother has gone missing … again. With the prospect of a long, adult-free school summer holiday in front of them, will they be able to hold everything together in order to remain in the family home?
Read our interview with the films’ creators Mika Gustaffson and Alex Öhrstrand then look out for Alex’s interview with one of the film’s lead stars Bianca Delbravo later this month.
BOOKS
Death At The Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson | 22nd August
A secluded Sanatorium, a former tuberculosis hospital, holds a dark secret. Long closed, one wing of the hospital remains open with just six employees. When one is murdered the other five all become suspects.
Two years later the case remains open and the ghosts of the hospital’s past still haunt the dark, empty corridors.
Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson is the country’s leading Agatha Christie expert, having translated the Queen of Crime into Icelandic and Death At The Sanatorium is a cryptic whodunit worthy of Christie herself.
Death At The Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson is published by Penguin.
Pursued by Death, by Gunnar Staalesen | 29th August
Gunnar Staalesen’s Varg Veum series has become a firm favourite with readers and so Pursued By Death, released in paperback on 29 August, will be eagerly anticipated.
Set in a tiny village north of Bergen, PI Varg Veum realises he’s seen a young man reported missing in the newspapers. The man was on his way to protest against a fish farming facility in the village.
The fish farm seems mired in controversy, a journalist investigating the farm found dead two years previous, an intense rivalry between industry figures and this missing protester.
Staalesen always weaves the most unsurprising plot twists into his works and so Pursued by Death is a tantalising prospect.
Pursued by Death, by Gunnar Staalesen, translated by Don Bartlett, is published by Orenda Books
EVENTS
Nordic Film Club | 14th August
We are back with our Nordic Virtual Film Club – this month we are tackling Christian Tafdrup’s Speak No Evil. A horror that rocked us all last year and which now sees a US remake being released next month.
We will be joined by director/producer/all round horror fan Jed Shepherd to discuss the film and we are hoping to be also joined by the film’s director Christian Tafdrup.
We keep the groups small so spaces can be limited so if you are interested then please send us an email to info@nordicwatchlist.com and we look forward to chatting to you later in the month.
Note: The film can be found on Shudder
