Finn Nielsen Movies
- 2008
Trine Dyrholm stars in this gentle and earnest Danish-language drama as Lotte, a female soldier who returns home to Denmark exhausted and fully disillusioned following a lengthy period of military service. Wanting to help, Lotte's undependable father offers her a job chauffering his Nigerian girlfriend around; with no other options in sight, she agrees. Both women have put up barriers given their emotional scars from the past, but then something most unexpected happens: a touching and meaningful friendship blossoms between them. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Trine Dyrholm, Finn Nielsen, (more)
- 2000
In this period drama set in Denmark at the dawn of the 20th century, Bente (Bodil Jorgensen) is a middle-aged woman who is single and in no hurry to change. However, her family is deep in debt, and on his death bed, Bente's father makes a final request of her -- that she marry Gorm (Bjarne Henriksen), who is willing to write off the family's balance owed in exchange for her hand. While Bente wants to help her family, Gorm is well-known as a hard drinker with a surly and abusive temperament, and she's not sure if she should have to sacrifice her happiness over a financial matter. Fruen per Hamre was based on a novel by Morten Korchs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rikke Louise Andersson, Bjarne Henriksen, (more)
- 1997
Set on the day that Denmark voted to join the European Union (May 18, 1993), this episodic Danish narrative is comprised of three intertwined and parallel tales. Ulla is a career oriented singer who feels guilty when her ex-husband accuses her of neglecting her daughter Sarah. To make amends, she desperately tries to cram a radio interview, an important television interview and the celebration of Sarah's birthday into the same day. Meanwhile, violent and mentally ill Jens escapes from a high-security psychiatric ward with an apparently mute patient in tow and salesman Michael is trying to simultaneously seal a crucial deal and protect himself from the machinations of a ruthless rival. The stories merge in interesting ways. The fleeing Jens turns on a car radio and hears Ulla singing while Ulla picks up the phone and accidentally dials Michael who is quite rude. Both Ulla and Michael end up at the same poll station, collide and accidentally exchange ballots. Later, Jens accidentally runs over Sarah and both end up taken to the hospital by Ulla. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Kirsten (Anne Louise Hassing) is naturally shocked to discover the body her friend's father, the result of a suicide. When she discusses this with her mother, she matter-of-factly says that her grandfather had done the same when she (the mother) was quite young. She has a breezy, open and supportive relationship with her mother, and her entry into the larger sexual universe is greatly eased by this. Except for the body of the suicide she stumbled upon as a youngster, her life goes swimmingly until, while in college, she fails an important exam. Even this is not serious, she is able to pass her course with a little coaching from a favorite teacher. While celebrating her success, she gets involved with a TV performer and becomes pregnant. Her mental health deteriorates as she becomes deeply depressed about minor setbacks in her life. Even renewing an old love relationship doesn't lift her spirits, and she eventually commits suicide heself. This is a lovingly told downbeat story in the classic Scandanavian mode. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
The Danish/French Babette's Feast is based on a story by Isak Dinesen, also the source of the very different Out of Africa (1985). Stephane Audran plays Babette, a 19th century Parisian political refugee who seeks shelter in a rough Danish coastal town. Philippa (Bodil Kjer) and Martina (Birgitte Federspiel), the elderly daughters of the town's long-dead minister, take Babette in. As revealed in flashback, Philippa and Martina were once beautiful young women (played by Hanne Stensgaard and Vibeke Hastrup), who'd forsaken their chances at romance and fame, taking hollow refuge in religion. Babette holds a secret that may very well allow the older ladies to have a second chance at life. This is one of the great movies about food, but there are way too many surprises in Babette's Feast to allow us to reveal anything else at this point (except that Ingmar Bergman "regulars" Bibi Andersson and Jarl Kulle have significant cameo roles).. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stéphane Audran, Jean-Philippe Lafont, (more)
- 1981
Jesper (Stig Ramsing) is apparently a calm, quiet, and reserved worker inside a post office in Copenhagen, though two things mar that picture: he sometimes steals what he suspects is a love letter to read to himself later, imagining that the contents were directed to him, and he has dreams of his mother stabbing his father -- his childhood was obviously a wreck. When he meets Lillian (Helle Ryslinge) a student who works at night in a bar, he finds the beginning of a romance at last. But after he is dismissed by Lillian so she can study for her exams, he gets suspicious, and finds out she is seeing someone else. Upset by this betrayal, he comes across a little girl named Lillian outside, and offers to help her find the hiding place she is looking for. The next scene shows a blood-stained Jesper staggering away from the "hiding place," his dark side visible for the first time. Arrest seems inevitable, and his relationship with his former girlfriend is a question yet to be decided. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helle Ryslinge
