The Nordic Watchlist team are delighted to share that Thomas Vinterberg’s TV series Families Like Ours is coming to the BBC here in the UK this May. This new Nordic drama features a hugely talented cast joining the director and will unfold over the course of 7 episodes, all of which will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer.

Families Like Ours – Official Trailer

Families Like Ours – The Director

Thomas Vinterberg is the award-winning Danish director behind Families Likes Ours; he is most famous for his work on the Oscar-winning Another Round (a favourite at Nordic Watchlist HQ), The Hunt, The Commune, and his earlier work with the Festen.

This is the director’s first time working on a TV series and also the first time, in a while, not working alongside Tobias Lindholm who he has worked on the screenplay for Another Round, The Commune, The Hunt, and Submarino.

Upon hearing about the prospect of Thomas Vinterberg making a TV series, we were incredibly excited to see what the director could bring to the table. His partner in crime on his previous work, Tobias Lindholm, had great success with The Investigation, and although the pair were not working together on this series, we would expect to see some similar DNA in Families Like Ours.

Families Like Ours – The Cast

The cast in Families Like Ours is absolutely stacked with a number of Danish stars, most of whom have worked with the director on his previous work, but there are also some new faces and collaborations.

Here are some of the key cast members and where you might recognise them from:

• Jacob – Nikolaj Lie Kaas (Riders of Justsice)
• Laura – Amaryllis April August (The Count of Monte Cristo)
• Fanny – Paprika Steen (Modus)
• Elias – Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt (Another Round)
• Amalie – Helene Reingaard Neumann (Another Round)
• Henrik – Magnus Millang (Another Round)
• Nikolaj – Esben Smed (Follow The Money)

Notable others: David Dencik, who seems to get to play some really awful people in his career (most recently was Prisoners, also on the BBC), is Peter, brother to Magnus Millang’s Henrik and once again a horrendous human being.

There is even young Max Kaysen Høyrup who plays Lucas, son to Asta August’s (Blackwater and The Hypnosis) Christel – for those eagle-eyed viewers, you might spot that Max played Brille (or Specs) in Another Round. The brilliant Thomas Bo Larsen (Another Round, pictured below) also makes an appearance.

Families Like Ours – The Plot

Set in Denmark in a not-too-distant future, the difficult decision is being made to close down and evacuate the country due to rising water levels that can’t be controlled any longer. Suddenly, everyone’s lives are turned upside down and they need to make a plan for their futures outside of Denmark.

As the news breaks, we follow the interconnected lives of a number of characters and families dealing with the tragic decision. Amaryllis April August plays Laura, a talented student who has fallen in love with a fellow student, Elias (Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt). Her father, Jacob (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is divorced from her single mother, Fanny (Paprika Steen) and has a young family.

Jacob learns about the government’s decision to close the country before the news officially breaks, through his brother-in-law Nikolaj (Esben Smed), who has insider knowledge and points out that it would be smart to sell up as quickly as possible, as soon Danish property will be worthless.

Meanwhile, Nikolaj’s partner, Henrik (Magnus Millang) is having to deal with his brother, Peter (David Dencik in pure menacing mood). They have a troubled relationship that only escalates with the added pressure of the what the country is facing, and everyone scrambling to sort out their finances.

Other plot threads weave around the characters, knitting their lives together as the reality of what is happening breaks, and then begins to settle in. Everything unfolds slowly, with then sudden bursts of violence and drama — Vinterberg allowing the viewer to accept the situation as much as his characters must. This allows for the emotional connection to start.

Poor decisions are made, even some radical ones, and these will irrevocably frustrate and anger some viewers, but shows the incredible emotional turmoil and desperation that the situation is causing the characters. This is all part of the drama, making you have to put yourself in the place of these characters to try and comprehend the madness that is happening.

As their lives disperse, we see characters and scenes spread across multiple other countries in Europe, including the UK.

Families Like Ours – Our Review

This was a thought-provoking and emotional rollercoaster, with a story that feels very realistic and unnerving. It’s interesting to watch how various characters deal with this inconceivable upheaval to their peaceful lives, and the difficult choices they have to make.

The performances, as expected, are astounding – most notably Amaryllis April August‘s Laura, who is a new face amongst an experienced cast.

For fans of Nordic dramas, Thomas Vinterberg’s work, and — in particular — the cast assembled here, Families Like Ours is one not to miss and should be firmly on your Nordic Watchlist this month.

Will there be a Season 2 of Families Like Ours?

We are pretty certain this is a one-off series, given how it all ties up. Still, there would certainly be some potential to explore more of the characters’ stories, maybe an opportunity to skip back in time to understand some of their history, particular one character (who we won’t mention to avoid spoilers) whom there are certainly a lot of questions left to ask.

Families Like Ours will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer from 3rd May — head to their website or click the link HERE to watch.

Have you had a chance to watch Families Like Ours yet? Let us know your thoughts and stay tuned for more Nordic Watchlist recommendations coming soon.

Written by: Alex Minnis, Founder of Nordic Watchlist