There’s an effortless romance often associated with biker gangs on screen. The open road, the faded denim, the sense of community. But that’s not the approach that director and series co-creator Milad Alami has taken to Bullshit, Viaplay’s new six-part series. Based on Camilla Stockmann and Janus Køster-Rasmussen’s book, Bullshit: The Story of a Family, the series charts dramatic real-life events that took place between 1977 and 1984 in Denmark.
Set around Christiania and Amager, Henning (Vikings star Marco Ilsø) and his friend Johnny (Magnus Juhl Andersen) are desperate to join the Filthy Few, a biker gang operating in the area. Henning – nicknamed Mackerel – dreams of a life beyond his cramped flat and traumatised mother. He wants to belong somewhere. He soon finds himself introduced to Pia (Becoming Astrid’s Alba August), who has returned from living in Spain. The pair fall in love, with their romance set against the backdrop of Henning’s rise to power within the gang, which he renames as the titular Bullshit. But, like most biker stories, violent and bloody turf wars are constantly simmering towards boiling point. What begins as a youthful lust for folly and freedom soon becomes something much darker.
Marco Ilsø gives a tremendous performance as Henning. Very quickly, he establishes the type of life he has and the one he dreams of. We see his mother filling the flat with smoke because of her forgetfulness or sitting on the doorstep, sobbing and freezing. His job makes him feel small and stupid.
His desperation to impress gang president Frejlif (Peter Christoffersen) is palpable. Ilsø gives us a real rollercoaster of a character to get behind. At times, he is devastatingly reckless and frustratingly stubborn. But you can also see the grief and loss that penetrates almost every aspect of his being. He is not reliable, but he is loyal, making him a fickle character to root for but a fascinating one to watch. It’s also easy to forget how young Henning is – only 23 by the last episode – and yet, he has experienced so much trauma in his life.
Equally traumatised, Alba August is outstanding as Pia, a nervous mouse of a girl who still wets the bed at sixteen. Her parents seem abusive and cold, sneering at their daughter with tangible disgust. The way August holds herself – literally wrapping her arms around her body – underlines the timidness of her character. She is constantly chewing her lips or twirling her hair in anxiety.
Her love for Henning feels genuine and relatively innocent – with him, at least, she seems at ease. As the series progresses, we get to see Pia evolve. August doesn’t exactly turn her into a robust fighter, but she is clearly a capable pair of hands and a clear head in a desperate situation. She is a mesmeric presence on screen and it will be interesting to see where her career goes next.
The violence and tension that ripples through the series is, at times, unbearable. We witness thefts that go wrong; drive-by shootings; bar brawls; senseless deaths; sexual assault. All of which is fuelled by booze and drugs. Alami cuts to a sloppy, ketchup laden burger as we watch Henning brutalise a Hells Angel member.
The enormous fight that erupts between Bullshit and the aforementioned Angels in episode five is a truly heart-stopping piece of television. The camera spirals chaotically through the bar as you hear the sound of boots meeting nose cartilage, glass smashing, knuckles crashing through kidneys and knives being flicked open.
The camera, too, becomes smeared with vermillion blood as tumble our way through a mass of brawling leather. There is something incredibly visceral and animalistic about the violence that Alami chooses to show. It doesn’t feel particularly sophisticated or choreographed – a neat reminder that this is based on a true story.
And, if you have seen Alami’s Opponent, you’ll know that fluid camerawork is something of a staple for the director. Here, it is put to good use once again. There’s a fantastic tracking shot of a young woman, screaming, shoeless and covered in blood, as she struggles to leave the violence of the bar behind her. This is contrasted beautifully with a striking close-up of her as she shudders and sobs. It’s a level of intimacy that feels uncomfortable but necessary. There’s also a lovely grainy feel to some of the episodes, as if you are watching actual archival footage which is a really neat touch.
The costuming and styling throughout the series are fantastic. Pia really finds her sense of self through her clothing as she morphs from a frizzy fringe and psychedelic prints to boots and leathers. Henning’s mullet becomes longer as the years roll by and all of the bikers look credible in their homemade vests and faded denim. You can practically smell the petrol streaked jeans and t-shirts that have survived a lock in at the bar.
Shocking, emotional and captivating to watch, Bullshit is one of those series that is going to linger with you long after the credits have rolled on the last episode. With fantastic lead performances and thrilling camerawork, this is a must-see.
Bullshit arrives on Viaplay UK on the 2nd December