Bjarne Henriksen Movies
- 2008
Director Kristian Levring examines middle-class disenfranchisement in contemporary Copenhagen with this chilling psychological drama about a family man who just can't help but suspect that he's not as happy as he should be. Mikael (Ulrich Thomsen) is a workaholic husband and father who's recently taken some time off work to move his family into his wife's childhood home in the suburbs. He wants to learn how to relax, and it seems like this latest move is a step in the right direction. His wife, Sigrid (Paprika Steen), is a successful executive, their teenage daughter, Selma, seems content with their decision to relocate, and the family is surround by a great support system that includes kindly Frederik (Lars Brygmann) and his girlfriend, Ellen (Stine Stengade) -- so why is it that Mikael is still feeling so strained all of the time? Unable to sleep and constantly wound up, Mikael seizes the opportunity to take part in a drug test for a new antidepressant that Frederik is helping to market. At first the drug seems to have a considerably positive effect on Mikael's outlook, though before long he's isolating himself from family and friends while growing more detached than ever before. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ulrich Thomsen, Paprika Steen, (more)
- 2006
An 11-year-old boy who is desperate to maintain peace in his explosive homestead and prevent the family business from being stolen out from under his father's nose blithely commits a series of atrocious acts in director Peter Schønau Fog's dark family drama. Allan's father is a psychotic milkman. When the intrusion of a rival family threatens to deepen Allan's already fathomless woes by plunging his family into financial destitution, the disturbed youngster resorts to morally reprehensible revenge tactics as he begins showing signs of inheriting his father's madness. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jannik Lorenzen, Jesper Asholt, (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)
This Danish comedy drama won the Jury Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. It opens in rural Denmark as family members assemble for the 60th birthday celebration of patriarch Helge (Henning Moritzen). At the family estate are Helge's children: France-based restaurateur Christian (Ulrich Thomsen), whose twin sister killed herself; surviving sister Helene (Paprika Steen); and younger brother Michael (Thomas Bo Larsen), married with three children. At the birthday dinner, the bitter Christian stands to deliver a toast -- but instead makes a startling speech accusing Helge of sexual abuse involving both twins. Following principles outlined in 1995 by Danish fimmakers in their Dogme 95 proclamation, this film adheres to their manifesto guidelines of handheld cameras, direct sound, location filming, and the elimination of technical tricks. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ulrich Thomsen, Henning Moritzen, (more)
- 1998
In this Danish comedy, motel-owner Ford Fordson (Bent Warburg) gets iced in the motel's freezer. Cops Rosenkrantz (Steen Rasmussen) and Gyldenstjerne (Michael Wikke) investigate, interviewing an assortment of relatives, eccentric employees, and other oddballs. As they attempt to solve the mystery, connections and clues echo Othello, Hamlet, and other Shakespearean plays. Shown at the 1998 Gothenburg Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Allan Olsen, Sidse Babett Knudsen, (more)
- 1998
Jonas Elmer made this black-and-white Danish movie by taking the funds provided for a short film and escalating the project economically into a full feature, commercially successful in Denmark. Julie (Sidse Babett Knudsen) taught her boyfriend Rene (Martin Kongstad) all about sex, but now she suspects him of seeing another woman. Unemployed Mogens (Bjarne Henriksen), who's occupied Julie's sofa for the past three years, watches soccer on Julie's TV-set with his buddies, including novelist wannabe Thomas and soccer fan Steffan (Nicolaj Kopernikus Christiansen). All have different agendas: Julie gets Steffan to help her break into Rene's place; Thomas uses binoculars to check out the babe across from Julie's apartment; and Mogens, who needs cash for soccer tickets, runs a scam on a recent widow to his later regret and shame. Shown at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidse Babett Knudsen, Bjarne Henriksen, (more)
