Terribly Happy
Terribly Happy | |
---|---|
U.S. theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Henrik Ruben Genz |
Produced by |
Tina Dalhoff Thomas Gammeltoft |
Written by |
Henrik Ruben Genz (screenplay) Dunja Gry Jensen (screenplay) Erling Jepsen (novel) |
Starring |
Jakob Cedergren Lene Maria Christensen |
Music by | Kaare Bjerkø |
Cinematography | Jørgen Johansson |
Edited by | Kasper Leick |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | Denmark |
Language | Danish |
Box office | $165,000 |
Terribly Happy (Danish: Frygtelig lykkelig) is a 2008 Danish film directed by Henrik Ruben Genz, based on Erling Jepsen's novel of the same name from 2004.
Plot summary
Robert (Jakob Cedergren) -- a Copenhagen city policeman -- is sent for therapy, and then is assigned to a small town in South Jutland.[1] Robert is reassigned to a sleepy town in rural Denmark, and struggles to maintain order in his new jurisdiction, a lawless place where the only rules are those dictated -- and enforced -- by local thug and serial wife-beater Jorgen (Kim Bodnia). As the indifferent townspeople dismiss Robert's attempts at police work, he nurses a fixation with Jorgen's spouse, Ingerlise (Lene Maria Christensen).[2][3]
Cast
- Jakob Cedergren as Robert Hansen
- Lene Maria Christensen as Ingerlise Buhl
- Kim Bodnia as Jørgen Buhl
- Lars Brygmann as Dr. Zerleng
- Anders Hove as Købmand Moos
- Jens Jørn Spottag as Politimester
- Henrik Lykkegaard as Præst
- Bodil Jørgensen as Bartender
- Peter Hesse Overgaard as Helmuth
- Niels Skousen as Hansi
- Lars Lunøe as Nissum
- Sune Q. Geertsen as 'Øko' Tage (credited as Sune Geertsen)
- Mathilde Maack as Dorthe
- An Le as Fru Købmand Moos
- Taina Anneli R. Berg as Lone 'TP' (credited as Taina Anneli Berg)
- Puk Scharbau as Hannes Stemme (voice)
- Kenn Bruun as Svend 'Mangler Penge'
- Mads Ole Langelund Larsen as Knud 'Langfinger'
- Joakim Schierning as Jannik
- Bent Larsen as Betjent
- Thorkild Demuth as Naboen
Reception
This film has been compared, in concept, to two films by the Coen brothers: Blood Simple (1985) and No Country for Old Men (2007).[4]
Critical reception
The film received strong reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes shows that 89% of 46 critics (all but one of the top 16 critics) gave the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.3 out of 10, concluding that "this knotty Danish noir thriller steers audiences into some nicely unexpected territory."[5] Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 1–100 reviews from film critics, gives a rating score of 74 based on 18 reviews.[6]
Release
The film was first shown at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July 2008, in the Czech Republic, where it won the Crystal Globe (Grand Prize).[7]
Awards
Terribly Happy won several Robert Awards in 2009, including Best Danish Film, Best Director, Best Female Lead, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematographer.[8]
It was the official submission of Denmark for the category of Best Foreign Language Film for the 82nd Academy Awards in March 2010.[9]
References
- ↑ Holden, Stephen (5 February 2010). "Not Exactly a Danish Grover's Corners". New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ Olsen, Mark (7 February 2010). "Danish 'Terribly Happy' full of odd happenings". LA Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ↑ Murray, Noel (4 February 2010). "Terribly Happy". The A.V. Club. The Onion, Inc. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ↑ "IFFBoston Screening Series: Terribly Happy", Independent Film Festival of Boston, March 4, 2010. "Quickly spiraling into an intense fable reminiscent of the Coen Brothers’ BLOOD SIMPLE and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, director Henrik Ruben Genz displays a unique and sometimes macabre vision of the darkest depths to which people will go to achieve a sense of security and belonging."
- ↑ "Terribly Happy (Frygtelig lykkelig)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ "Terribly Happy". Metacritic. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ "Terribly Happy wins Karlovy Vary Crystal Globe". Screen International. July 13, 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ "Frygtelig lykkelig". Danish Film Institute. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ "65 films contend for foreign-language Oscar". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. October 15, 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
Further reading
- Simon, Alissa, "Review: Terribly Happy - Frygtelig lykkelig (Denmark)", Variety, Tuesday, July 8, 2008
- Symkus, Ed, "Movie review: 'Terribly Happy' a mysterious Western set in Denmark", Holland Sentinel, Holland, Michigan, GateHouse News Service, March 5, 2010