Henrik Prip Movies
- 2009
As helmed by Scandinavian director Kathrine Windfeld, this intense Danish and English-language political thriller concerns Rikke Lynvig, a Danish journalist whose life is turned upside down and pushed to the brink of destruction when she's seized by the members of a violent terrorist cell and taken hostage in Afghanistan. Rikke's fate turn a corner when one of her captors, Nazir, suddenly unveils a theretofore unseen level of sympathy and aids her escape; after the young woman returns home safely and discovers that she has become an unlikely celebrity, Nazir pays her a visit and reveals that he has attained political asylum in Denmark. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Iben Hjelje, Lars Mikkelsen, (more)
- 2009
Two adolescent boys put their heads together and devise inventive methods to achieve their goals in this fanciful comedy from Denmark. Alexander (Sophus Emil Lokkegaard) and Tim (Frederik Ludvig Mansa) feel dissatisfied for different reasons; Tim longs for a girlfriend, while Alexander merely wants to achieve better grades. They then hatch a wild plan to make both of these dreams a reality - a plan that involves a blueprint of the school, a network of 100 spy cameras, a robot and a kettle. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frederik Ludvig Mansa, Sophus Emil Lokkegaard, (more)
- 2009
With this tense, visceral thriller, Danish director Ole Bornedal meditates on the fury and violence that can so easily manifest themselves as the product of extreme small town xenophobia. Lasse Rimmer stars as Johannes, a husband and father who leaves the familiar city with his wife Pernille and their two children in tow, and relocates to the country town where he grew up years prior. Shortly after the family arrives, Johannes's alcoholic brother Lars accidentally runs over Anna (Lone Lindorff), a local girl - then evilly plants false evidence indicating that a local immigrant, Alain (Bojan Navojec) is guilty. Johannes recognizes his brother's guilt and thus opts to defend Alain - but little can he foresee the vile disapproval, intransigent judgment and revenge-fueled mentalities that surface in the townspeople and will soon thrust his family members into their own personal hell. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lasse Rimmer, Lene Nystrom, (more)
- 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)
When a sixth grade class gets a malevolent new substitute who aims to train her students for an upcoming international competition in Paris, the suspicious students attempt to uncover the truth about their strange new substitute. The parents all seem to love the newly arrived educator, but the students know better. No only does this strange new arrival have a sadistic streak a mile wide, but she also seems to possess telekinetic powers in addition to having the ability to read minds. Paprika Steen stars in a sci-fi flavored thriller directed by Ole Bornedal (Nightwatch). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paprika Steen, Ulrich Thomsen, (more)
Lars von Trier's black comedy The Boss of It All (Direktøren for Det Hele) concerns an IT company owner who -- in need of a figurehead to "hide behind" when confronted with employee problems -- invented the personage of a CEO during the startup period for his corporation. The scheme worked for a surprisingly long period, but when the time arrives to sell the business, massive problems arise -- for the prospective buyers insist on only negotiating with the CEO, in person. Thus, the owner further extends the ruse, by hiring a down-and-out actor to impersonate the chief officer. With Direktøren for Det Hele, von Trier uses a new means of filmmaking for this film: Automavision, whereby filming is done with an "automatic randomized camera" that selects the shots. It became a means for Von Trier to "clean up" his approach to directorial work and reconnect with his own love of filmmaking. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jens Albinus, Peter Gantzler, (more)
- 2004
Anna (Ann Eleonora Jørgensen of Italian for Beginners) has just been hired as the chaplain at a women's prison. Inexperienced, but compassionate and energetic, she begins to feel her way amongst the prisoners. Soon, a new prisoner, Kate (Trine Dyrholm of The Celebration), is transferred to the prison and causes a stir. Marion (Sonja Richter of Open Hearts), a junkie, has heard that Kate helped another prisoner get clean and goes to her when her fellow prisoner and dealer, Jossi (Sarah Boberg), cuts her off. Marion kicks heroin, and believes that the introspective Kate has healed her. When Anna gets wind of this, she goes to see Kate, but Kate doesn't want to talk to her. She's even a bit hostile, telling Anna to look after herself and the baby in her belly. Anna believes herself infertile after fruitlessly trying to have a child with her loving husband, Frank (Lars Ranthe). She's shocked to discover that she is actually pregnant, but her joy turns to dismay when she learns that the fetus may have a serious birth defect. Meanwhile, Henrik (Nicolaj Kopernikus), a mild-mannered guard, finds himself increasingly drawn to Kate, to the point of putting his job in jeopardy, while the ruthless Jossi, losing business, feels threatened by the strange new inmate. Writer/director Annette K. Olesen and co-writer Kim Fupz Aakeson made In Your Hands in the Dogme style, shooting on video at Nyborg State Prison. The film was shown at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival and selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in New Directors/New Films. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Eleonora Jørgensen, Trine Dyrholm, (more)
- 2002
A Danish family attempts to cope with the death of their mother in director Annette K. Olesen's bittersweet family drama Sma Ulykker (Minor Mishaps). When Ulla (Vigga Bro) dies in a sudden, tragic mishap, husband John (Jorgen Kill) attempt to balance his loss by forming a closer relationship with daughter Marianne (Maria Wurgler Rich. Suspecting that the realtionship may be taking on unhealthy undertones, Marianne's sister Eva (Jannie Faurschou) voices her concern to self-absorbed businessman brother Tom (Henrik Pip), who eschews concerns for his family in favor of more pressing personal issues. As the immidiate family continues to deal with the loss and the resulting effects it has on thie interaction, uncle Soren (Jesper Christensen)'s marriage seems to be falling apart at the seams as the result of his wife Marianne's (Karne-Lise Mynster) attraction to co-worker Martin (Oliver Appelt Nielson). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jorgen Kill, Maria Wurgler Rich, (more)
- 1998
- R
Lars von Trier wrote (in four days) and directed this Danish comedy-drama about a group of Copenhagen eccentrics who find a therapeutic release and confront apathy via unacceptable, idiotic behavior which they call "spazzing." Stoffer (Jens Albinus) is supposed to be selling his uncle's house but instead it becomes the focal point for geeky group activities. Restaurant patrons are disturbed by the group's mischief, but single diner Karen (Bodil Jorgensen) develops an appreciation of their antics. Stoffer, at his birthday party, wishes for a "gangbang," and both clothes and inhibitions are soon discarded. But when Stoffer calls for the group members to let idiocy invade their personal daily lives, only Karen takes up the challenge. Shown in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bodil Jorgensen, Jens Albinus, (more)
