Sisse Graum Jorgensen Movies

Two brothers unwittingly exchange roles under the fog of war in this powerful drama. Michael (Ulrich Thomsen) and Jannick (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) are two brothers who have always meshed as well as oil and water. Michael is a caring husband and father who risen to the rank of major in the Danish Army, while Jannick is an alcoholic with a violent streak who has been in and out of prison much of his life. Jannick has just been released after serving time for armed robbery when Michael learns he's being sent to Afghanistan; Jannick quarrels with both Michael and his parents at a going-away dinner, which does nothing to endear him to Michael's wife, Sarah (Connie Nielsen). However, when Sarah receives word that Michael's helicopter has been shot down and the crew has gone missing, Jannick tries to assume some degree of familial responsibility, helping Sarah with the children and helping to keep the house in repair. As the months roll on, Jannick finds that family life agrees with him; he cuts back on his drinking, gets a job, and grows increasingly fond of Sarah, who also takes a liking to her brother-in-law's new style. However, as Jannick finally grows into a responsible adult, he and Sarah learn that Michael has been released from an Afghan military prison and is being sent home. As Sarah and Jannick come to terms with their feelings for one another, they are disturbed by Michael's new presence; after several hellish months in captivity, he's become an angry and emotionally broken man, who is haunted by ugly memories and suspects his wife and brother of betrayal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Danish director Niels Arden Oplev helmed and co-scripted (with Steen Bille) the gritty, revisionist coming-of-age tale We Shall Overcome - the story of a young boy's crusade against tyrannical oppression, and the thematic and temporal intersection of his experiences with the American Civil Rights movement. The story opens in the Danish countryside of 1969, when Peder Johansen (Jens Jorn Spottag), the father of 13-year-old Frits (Janus Dissing Rathke) experiences a psychotic breakdown and is promptly dragged off to a mental hospital. Frits spends the following summer watching the international news reports of the U.S. Civil Rights crusades. Those impressions stay in Frits's memory and inspire him that next fall, when he enrolls as a student at a boarding school ruled with an iron fist by the sadistic, oppressive headmaster Lindum-Svendsen (Bent Mejding). When the latter catches Frits spying on a pretty female classmate in the girls' locker room, and punishes him by ripping off half of one ear, it not only infuriates and humiliates Frits, but ignites the fire of indignation in his parents. The Johansens hire an attorney and take legal proceedings against Lindum-Svendsen. During the following weeks, they realize that nothing is beneath the sociopathic headmaster; his activities include withdrawing Frits from classes and manipulating the court trial by having Peder proven mentally incompetent. But nothing can stop The Johansens' fight for justice. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

A multi-millionaire wants to know how much his money can really buy in this drama from Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier. Though born and raised in Denmark, Jacob Peterson (Mads Mikkelsen) has made a life for himself in India, where he runs an orphanage for homeless children. While Jacob cares little for money, raising funds is part of the responsibilities of his position, and when he learns that Jørgan (Rolf Lassgård), a wealthy Danish businessman, is willing to donate four million dollars under the condition that he meet with him in person, Jacob grudgingly hops a flight back home. Once in Denmark, Jørgan insists that Jacob attend the wedding of his daughter the next day; at the celebration he meets Jørgan's wife, Helene (Sidse Babett Knudsen), whom he recognizes as someone he knew many years ago. As Jacob finds himself revisiting a past he would prefer to forget, he discovers that Jørgan has an ulterior motive for bringing him to Denmark -- the wealthy man is in poor health, and while the donation will help ease some of his guilt over a life of avarice, he's also looking for someone to take over as Helene's husband after he dies. Efter Brylluppet (aka After the Wedding) received its North American premiere at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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