"At least we can be old together." Samuel Goldwyn Films has released an amusing official US trailer for the upcoming US released of a charming Danish comedy titled Food Club, originally Madklubben in Danish. This originally opened in Denmark last fall, and arrives on VOD in the US this March. The film follows three longtime girlfriends from elementary school who are coming into their prime and finding a new lease on life after participating in a cooking course in Italy. Marie, Berling, and Vanja travel to Italy together to attend a cooking course in Puglia, where they each find the opportunity to redefine themselves and acknowledge that the most important thing in life is their friendship and that it’s never too late to live a more fulfilling life. Awwww. The film stars Kirsten Olesen, Stina Ekblad, Kirsten Lehfeldt, Michele Venitucci, Troels Lyby, Rasmus Botoft, and Mia Lyhne. This looks...
- 2/5/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to the uplifting Danish drama “The Food Club” from Scandinavian sales and aggregation banner LevelK.
Although it has yet to have an international premiere, “The Food Club” has been acquired for more than 30 territories. Besides selling to Samuel Goldwyn Films for North America, the movie was picked up by SquareOne for all rights in Germany, as well as German-language remake rights; The Reset Collective for Australia and New Zealand; Ads Service for Hungary; Big Tree Entertainment for India; Yes Dbs for Israel; T&l for South Korea; and Mirror Audiovisual for Spain.
“We loved this best-ager gem from the very first moment. You just cannot go wrong with great food, great friends, red wine and big laughs in Puglia,” said Al Munteanu at SquareOne.
Set in the lush countryside, “The Food Club” is headlined by three well-known Scandinavian actresses: Kirsten Olesen (“The Bridge...
Although it has yet to have an international premiere, “The Food Club” has been acquired for more than 30 territories. Besides selling to Samuel Goldwyn Films for North America, the movie was picked up by SquareOne for all rights in Germany, as well as German-language remake rights; The Reset Collective for Australia and New Zealand; Ads Service for Hungary; Big Tree Entertainment for India; Yes Dbs for Israel; T&l for South Korea; and Mirror Audiovisual for Spain.
“We loved this best-ager gem from the very first moment. You just cannot go wrong with great food, great friends, red wine and big laughs in Puglia,” said Al Munteanu at SquareOne.
Set in the lush countryside, “The Food Club” is headlined by three well-known Scandinavian actresses: Kirsten Olesen (“The Bridge...
- 10/21/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
International sales outfit LevelK has acquired the uplifting female-led Danish drama “The Food Club,” directed by Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg (“One-Two-Three Now!”).
LevelK will be handling world sales rights to “The Food Club” outside of the Nordics. Set in the lush countryside, “The Food Club” is headlined by three well-known Scandinavian actresses, Kirsten Olesen (“The Bridge”), Stina Ekblad (“Wallander”) and Kirsten Lehfeldt (“Men & Chicken”).
The film revolves around three longtime girlfriends from elementary school who are coming into their prime and are finding a new lease on life after participating in a cooking course in Italy.
Marie (Olesen) is abandoned by her husband on Christmas Eve, leading her identity as part of a happy family to crumble; while Berling (Ekblad) is the eternal bachelor who lives the sweet life but has a complicated relationship with her daughter; and Vanja (Lehfeldt) lives with the memories of her late husband and has difficulty moving on.
LevelK will be handling world sales rights to “The Food Club” outside of the Nordics. Set in the lush countryside, “The Food Club” is headlined by three well-known Scandinavian actresses, Kirsten Olesen (“The Bridge”), Stina Ekblad (“Wallander”) and Kirsten Lehfeldt (“Men & Chicken”).
The film revolves around three longtime girlfriends from elementary school who are coming into their prime and are finding a new lease on life after participating in a cooking course in Italy.
Marie (Olesen) is abandoned by her husband on Christmas Eve, leading her identity as part of a happy family to crumble; while Berling (Ekblad) is the eternal bachelor who lives the sweet life but has a complicated relationship with her daughter; and Vanja (Lehfeldt) lives with the memories of her late husband and has difficulty moving on.
- 8/17/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Shooting will begin on the Ulrich Thomsen-starring film next week in Denmark.
Scandinavian outfit TrustNordisk will handle international sales on The Possession director Ole Bornedal’s as-of-yet untitled next feature, which will commence shooting on location in Copenhagen and Aalborg next week.
Starring Ulrich Thomsen (The Celebration), Nicolas Bro (War Horse), Lene Maria Christensen (A Family) and Mia Lyhne (Borgen), the film will tell the story of two tradesmen who, following an argument, drunkenly hire two hitmen to take out their wives.
The film is produced by Jonas Allen and Peter Bose for Miso Film in co-production with 4Fiction and Nordisk Film with support from the Danish Film Institute, Dr and West Danish Film Fund.
Nordisk Film will be handling domestic distribution, which is pencilled in for December 25 2016.
Scandinavian outfit TrustNordisk will handle international sales on The Possession director Ole Bornedal’s as-of-yet untitled next feature, which will commence shooting on location in Copenhagen and Aalborg next week.
Starring Ulrich Thomsen (The Celebration), Nicolas Bro (War Horse), Lene Maria Christensen (A Family) and Mia Lyhne (Borgen), the film will tell the story of two tradesmen who, following an argument, drunkenly hire two hitmen to take out their wives.
The film is produced by Jonas Allen and Peter Bose for Miso Film in co-production with 4Fiction and Nordisk Film with support from the Danish Film Institute, Dr and West Danish Film Fund.
Nordisk Film will be handling domestic distribution, which is pencilled in for December 25 2016.
- 2/12/2016
- ScreenDaily
Those familiar with the off-kilter comedic duo behind the Danish TV series Klown (or Klovn as it is known in Denmark) — which spurned one of the most hilarious and inappropriate feature films of recent years — will know exactly what type of humor to expect from their sequel Klovn Forever. Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen star essentially as parodies of themselves in this Curb Your Enthusiasm-style comedy, combining mundane issues from their personal lives with some extremely outlandish situations. They push the boundaries of what is considered appropriate with their off kilter brand of humor, falling into categories that are intentionally offensive — such as misogyny and even racism. But therein lies the appeal: in these playful antics, here considered nonchalant, do we as an audience find humor in how outrageous and disrespectful they can be.
Five years since their original escapade — when Frank kidnapped a young boy during a planned...
Five years since their original escapade — when Frank kidnapped a young boy during a planned...
- 10/6/2015
- by Raffi Asdourian
- The Film Stage
Casper Christensen and Frank Hvam [pictured] have scripted and will star in the comedy, which is shooting in the Us.
Danish stand-up-comedians Casper Christensen and Frank Hvam’s Klown Forever, the sequel of Danish hit Klown, is shooting in the Us.
Christensen and Hvam, who wrote and starred in Klown (Klovn – The Movie) which reached 855,174 domestic admissions to become the most successful Danish film in the 2000s, have also scripted and star in the new comedy, which is currently shooting on locations in the Us.
“The reason why it took so long was that we needed an idea so strong that the film would outshine the original – and we think this will,” said the comedy duo, who have reunited with most of the team from the first film and added some new names to the cast.
Nørgaard, who has just directed the two best-grossing films in Denmark 2013-2014 - The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One (Fasandræberne...
Danish stand-up-comedians Casper Christensen and Frank Hvam’s Klown Forever, the sequel of Danish hit Klown, is shooting in the Us.
Christensen and Hvam, who wrote and starred in Klown (Klovn – The Movie) which reached 855,174 domestic admissions to become the most successful Danish film in the 2000s, have also scripted and star in the new comedy, which is currently shooting on locations in the Us.
“The reason why it took so long was that we needed an idea so strong that the film would outshine the original – and we think this will,” said the comedy duo, who have reunited with most of the team from the first film and added some new names to the cast.
Nørgaard, who has just directed the two best-grossing films in Denmark 2013-2014 - The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One (Fasandræberne...
- 11/4/2014
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Frank Hvam, Casper Christensen, Marcuz Jess Petersen, Mia Lyhne, Iben Hjejle | Written by Casper Christensen, Frank Hvam | Directed by Mikkel Nørgaard
Imagine taking Curb Your Enthusiasm and mixing it with the gross out comedy of a movie like The Hangover. To some people this may sound like the worst thing ever, especially the thought of taking Larry David’s work and mixing it with a movie like that, how could they? The answer to this question is a movie called Klown, which in turn is based on a television show from Denmark. While not many people in the UK will have seen the television show, the film is an eye opener to something they just might like.
When Frank (Frank Hvam) finds out his girlfriend is pregnant she lets him know she is not sure that he can actually be a good father. To prove to her that he can,...
Imagine taking Curb Your Enthusiasm and mixing it with the gross out comedy of a movie like The Hangover. To some people this may sound like the worst thing ever, especially the thought of taking Larry David’s work and mixing it with a movie like that, how could they? The answer to this question is a movie called Klown, which in turn is based on a television show from Denmark. While not many people in the UK will have seen the television show, the film is an eye opener to something they just might like.
When Frank (Frank Hvam) finds out his girlfriend is pregnant she lets him know she is not sure that he can actually be a good father. To prove to her that he can,...
- 4/1/2014
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Following on from six triumphant television series, it seemed that the natural progression for Mikkel Nørgaard’s popular Danish comedy show Klown, was to become a hit of the big screen – and expand beyond Scandinavia and reach out to audiences across the world. Now, with a theatrical release in the UK impending, we finally have the opportunity to experience the wonders of this brilliantly outlandish and charmingly offensive creation.
When liability Frank (Frank Hvam) discovers his girlfriend Mia (Mia Lyhne) is carrying his child, he knows that he has one hell of a task on his hands to convince her that he is fit for parenthood. However when their house is broken into, and he offers little protection for her 12-year-old nephew Bo (Marcuz Jess Petersen), who they’re looking after, Frank needs to do something really special to prove his worth as a father. So he makes a rash...
When liability Frank (Frank Hvam) discovers his girlfriend Mia (Mia Lyhne) is carrying his child, he knows that he has one hell of a task on his hands to convince her that he is fit for parenthood. However when their house is broken into, and he offers little protection for her 12-year-old nephew Bo (Marcuz Jess Petersen), who they’re looking after, Frank needs to do something really special to prove his worth as a father. So he makes a rash...
- 12/3/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
I normally do not subscribe to the hipness of using “Omg” but found the obnoxious acronym making numerous appearances in my mind while watching Klown. Based on the popular Danish television series by the same creative force, the film fine tunes its awkwardly direct and unbelievable content to fit perfectly within a feature film.
Klown follows the antics of Frank (Frank Hvam) and Casper (Casper Christensen) as they embark on the “Tour de Pussy,” an annual pilgrimage to the estate of a wealthy man who hosts the best prostitutes from around the world for just on day of unforgettable debauchery. But, this is the story of their journey, not of the event itself. After Frank makes an utter mess of his relationship with Mia (Mia Lyhne) following some major, unexpected news. He joins Casper for a canoe trip down the river to the big event, but not without making a...
Klown follows the antics of Frank (Frank Hvam) and Casper (Casper Christensen) as they embark on the “Tour de Pussy,” an annual pilgrimage to the estate of a wealthy man who hosts the best prostitutes from around the world for just on day of unforgettable debauchery. But, this is the story of their journey, not of the event itself. After Frank makes an utter mess of his relationship with Mia (Mia Lyhne) following some major, unexpected news. He joins Casper for a canoe trip down the river to the big event, but not without making a...
- 11/11/2012
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Title: Klown Director: Mikkel Norgaard Starring: Frank Hvam, Casper Christensen, Marcuz Jess Petersen, Mia Lyhne, Iben Hjejle Kind of loosely of a piece with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s “The Trip,” by way of ”The Hangover” or “Bad Santa,” Scandanavian import ”Klown” is another comedy that wrings most of its laughs from the premise that in the absence of a civilizing female presence males are apt to revert to despicable and idiotic behavior. A raunchy road movie and winner of the Best Comedy Film prize at last year’s Fantastic Fest, director Mikkel Norgaard’s is crisply acted and peppered with enough legitimately funny set-ups to win over the subtitle-averse, even if toward the end it [ Read More ]...
- 7/28/2012
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Klown has been called one of the funniest and raunchiest films of the year. GeekTyrant is giving you a chance to watch the movie in its entirety. Directed by Mikkel Nergaard, Klown stars Frank Hvam, Casper Christensen, Marcuz Jess Petersen, Mia Lyhne, and Iben Hjejle.
Synopsis:
In what critics are hailing as “the funniest movie of the year!” (IFC), Klown follows two wildly inappropriate friends — played by celebrated international comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen — as they run amok through the Danish countryside, plowing through endless awkward confrontations and unspeakable debaucheries. Hopelessly wrongheaded Frank “kidnaps” the 12-year-old nephew of his pregnant girlfriend in an eager attempt to prove his fatherhood potential, and they join sex-crazed Casper on his secret adulterous weekend canoe trip. Rampaging through exclusive brothels, hospitalizations, armed robberies and even prison, the three paddle downstream from one chaotic misadventure to the next, all culminating in a surprisingly sentimental...
Synopsis:
In what critics are hailing as “the funniest movie of the year!” (IFC), Klown follows two wildly inappropriate friends — played by celebrated international comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen — as they run amok through the Danish countryside, plowing through endless awkward confrontations and unspeakable debaucheries. Hopelessly wrongheaded Frank “kidnaps” the 12-year-old nephew of his pregnant girlfriend in an eager attempt to prove his fatherhood potential, and they join sex-crazed Casper on his secret adulterous weekend canoe trip. Rampaging through exclusive brothels, hospitalizations, armed robberies and even prison, the three paddle downstream from one chaotic misadventure to the next, all culminating in a surprisingly sentimental...
- 7/27/2012
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
With “Klovn’s” television run finishing in 2009 after six seasons, celebrated Danish comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen decided on a big screen transition to continue their socially awkward antics. Taking a page—whether coincidentally or not seems up for debate to some—from Larry David‘s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, their characters exist in a heightened state of normalcy. Uncomfortably dealing with life lessons alongside family and friends, these two buffoons obviously have a few screws loose when it comes to thinking before they act. Selfish, utterly aloof, and prone to ruining their lives with relative ease, the men of Klovn: The Movie [Klown] should appeal to many HBO subscribers as a result. Therefore, the fact this proud “Curb” hater found it off-putting, boring for stretches, and oftentimes misguided shouldn’t detract viewers from watching. Conversely, the surprising fact I started enjoying myself about halfway through might actually be a recommendation.
- 7/25/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Considering that humor is the most universal language in film, it’s a shame we don’t get exposed to more movies like Klown. This Danish comedy offers some of the best laughs of the last couple years, balancing both the deadpan style of today’s indie comedies with enough mainstream antics that a Hollywood remake seems a foregone conclusion.
Based on the popular Danish television series of the same name that ran for six seasons starting in 2005, it seems strange that an audience (though I should first speak for myself) with absolutely no familiarity with the show — let alone a show in another language — could fully enjoy the proceedings.
The truth is that the best premises tend to deliver the best comedies, and the fact that this movie centers on two adult men in committed relationships set to embark on a canoe trip they have deemed the “Tour de Pussy” says it all.
Based on the popular Danish television series of the same name that ran for six seasons starting in 2005, it seems strange that an audience (though I should first speak for myself) with absolutely no familiarity with the show — let alone a show in another language — could fully enjoy the proceedings.
The truth is that the best premises tend to deliver the best comedies, and the fact that this movie centers on two adult men in committed relationships set to embark on a canoe trip they have deemed the “Tour de Pussy” says it all.
- 7/24/2012
- by Steven Chaitman
- We Got This Covered
A Buffoon Buffet: Danish Comedy Brazen, Ballsy, Adult Fun
Witness the most surprising, and hands down, funniest film to be released in American theaters this year with Klown, the feature debut of Mikkel Nørgaard, based on his 2005-2009 Danish television series of the same name. Released in his native country in 2010, the film has managed to gain some notoriety playing at a small number of festivals stateside, the content so brazen, so daring, so adult (not pornographic, per se, but in its ability to be realistic in its comedic scenarios and not cop out to please the fantasies of the moral majority), that it reveals its closest American counterpoint, The Hangover to be the bullshitty scam it really is. And surprisingly, it’s got a crack at being dumped into American cinemas, though it may already be destined for cult superstardom since it is utterly offensive to mainstream sensibilities. Oh,...
Witness the most surprising, and hands down, funniest film to be released in American theaters this year with Klown, the feature debut of Mikkel Nørgaard, based on his 2005-2009 Danish television series of the same name. Released in his native country in 2010, the film has managed to gain some notoriety playing at a small number of festivals stateside, the content so brazen, so daring, so adult (not pornographic, per se, but in its ability to be realistic in its comedic scenarios and not cop out to please the fantasies of the moral majority), that it reveals its closest American counterpoint, The Hangover to be the bullshitty scam it really is. And surprisingly, it’s got a crack at being dumped into American cinemas, though it may already be destined for cult superstardom since it is utterly offensive to mainstream sensibilities. Oh,...
- 7/23/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
I normally do not subscribe to the hipness of using “Omg” but found the obnoxious acronym making numerous appearances in my mind while watching Klovn, or Clown: The Movie in English. Based on a popular Danish television series by the same creative force, the film fine tunes its awkwardly direct and unbelievable content to fit perfectly within a feature film.
Clown follows the antics of Frank (Frank Hvam) and Casper (Casper Christensen) as they embark on the “Tour de Pussy,” an annual pilgrimage to the estate of a wealthy man who hosts the best prostitutes from around the world for just on day of unforgettable debauchery. But, this is the story of their journey, not of the event itself. After Frank makes an utter mess of his relationship with Mia (Mia Lyhne) following some major, unexpected news. He joins Casper for a canoe trip down the river to the big event,...
Clown follows the antics of Frank (Frank Hvam) and Casper (Casper Christensen) as they embark on the “Tour de Pussy,” an annual pilgrimage to the estate of a wealthy man who hosts the best prostitutes from around the world for just on day of unforgettable debauchery. But, this is the story of their journey, not of the event itself. After Frank makes an utter mess of his relationship with Mia (Mia Lyhne) following some major, unexpected news. He joins Casper for a canoe trip down the river to the big event,...
- 9/28/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 12th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival by Mami (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image) is scheduled to take place from Oct 21 to Oct 28 in Mumbai. Following is the complete list of all the films that are going to be premiered for the first time ever at the festival: 1. The Way Home - Biju Kumar World Premiere Synopsis - The plot revolves around a doctor with a haunting past. Now working at a Prison Hospital, the Doctor is assigned the case of a woman a surviving member from a notorious terrorist group. .Before dying she entrusts him to find her five-year-old son and unite him with his father who is the head of terrorist group. Finding the boy from a village the Doctor and child set out on a journey to find his father. The journey is happening through the contemporary and mysterious path of the terrorist network in the vast country with many incidents.
- 10/15/2010
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
The 12th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival by Mami (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image) is scheduled to take place from Oct 21 to Oct 28 in Mumbai. Following is the complete list of all the films that are going to be premiered for the first time ever at the festival: 1. The Way Home - Biju Kumar World Premiere Synopsis - The plot revolves around a doctor with a haunting past. Now working at a Prison Hospital, the Doctor is assigned the case of a woman a surviving member from a notorious terrorist group. .Before dying she entrusts him to find her five-year-old son and unite him with his father who is the head of terrorist group. Finding the boy from a village the Doctor and child set out on a journey to find his father. The journey is happening through the contemporary and mysterious path of the terrorist network in the vast country with many incidents.
- 10/15/2010
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Palm Springs International Film Festival
PALM SPRINGS -- Taking a break between the second and third installments of his "USA: Land of Opportunities" trilogy, Lars von Trier goes for the jocular in "The Boss of It All", a slight and sprightly bit of fun that's not, however, without teeth. The Danish writer-director concocts a sort of Scandi "Office", gathering an able and willing ensemble for what he drolly describes in introductory voice-over as "a comedy, and harmless as such." It's also a delight. The film screened recently at the Palm Springs festival and is scheduled for limited stateside release in May, when it's sure to attract the von Trier faithful.
Avoiding the overt social commentary of the director's most recent work, "Boss" is perhaps closest in focus to "The Five Obstructions", his 2003 docu on the filmmaking process, in which von Trier played a devilishly entertaining game of one-upmanship with director Jorgen Leth. Here he casts a prankster's eye on actorly affectations, the director-actor relationship and the conventions of throwaway entertainment, all while lampooning the collective delusions of corporate culture.
The wonderful Jens Albinu (who starred in von Trier's 1998 comic drama "The Idiots") plays Kristoffer, an actor hired by businessman Ravn (Peter Gantzler) to play the owner of an IT company -- not onstage, but in the boardroom. During negotiations with Icelandic entrepreneur Finnur (Fridrik Thor Fridriksson), who wants to buy the firm, Kristoffer injects meaningful pauses into his "line readings" that all but stop the dealmaking cold. The perpetually unamused Finnur is convinced that all Danes are wacko. He doesn't know the half of it.
Wanting only to be loved, Ravn, a handsome and affable bear of a man, has for 10 years hidden his true status as the company's owner, pretending to be just another manager and inventing via e-mail a distant uberboss named Svend. Earnest thespian Kristoffer steps into the role with almost no "direction" from Ravn, variously dodging and playing along with the projected dreams and hostilities of the staff. Gorm (Casper Christensen) is given to violent outbursts, Mette (Louise Mieritz) is terrified whenever the copier whirs into action, assistant Heidi (Mia Lyhne) harbors deep feelings for Svend, while HR rep Lise (Iben Hjejle) not only encourages office sex but insists on it. Actor and Dogme filmmaking disciple Jean-Marc Barr plays a foreign employee who insists on speaking bungled and indecipherable Danish.
Determined to stay true to his "character," Kristoffer continually invokes one Antonio Stavro Gambini, the playwright he reveres above all others. Ravn, for reasons that become increasingly clear, prefers to keep things on the buzzword level, as vague as possible. Kristoffer hits his stride with some table-turning improv involving contracts.
The understated comic performances serve the material well, while Automavision, the credited cinematographer, keeps things aptly off-center with random computer-automated camera angles -- one of which von Trier calls to our attention as a "pointless zoom."
THE BOSS OF IT ALL
IFC Films/IFC First Take
A Zentropa Entertainments 21/Memfis Film Intl./Slot Machine/Lucky Red production
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Lars von Trier
Producers: Meta Louise Foldager, Vibeke Windelov, Signe Jensen
Executive producers: Lene Borglum, Peter Albaek Jensen
Director of photography: Automavision
Costume designer: Manon Rasmussen
Editor: Molly Malene Stensgaard
Cast:
Kristoffer: Jens Albinus
Ravn: Peter Gantzler
Finnur: Fridrik Thor Fridriksson
Lise: Iben Hjejle
Mette: Louise Mieritz
Heidi A.: Mia Lyhne
Gorm: Casper Christensen
Spencer: Jean-Marc Barr
Interpreter: Benedikt Erlingsson.
Running time -- 100 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PALM SPRINGS -- Taking a break between the second and third installments of his "USA: Land of Opportunities" trilogy, Lars von Trier goes for the jocular in "The Boss of It All", a slight and sprightly bit of fun that's not, however, without teeth. The Danish writer-director concocts a sort of Scandi "Office", gathering an able and willing ensemble for what he drolly describes in introductory voice-over as "a comedy, and harmless as such." It's also a delight. The film screened recently at the Palm Springs festival and is scheduled for limited stateside release in May, when it's sure to attract the von Trier faithful.
Avoiding the overt social commentary of the director's most recent work, "Boss" is perhaps closest in focus to "The Five Obstructions", his 2003 docu on the filmmaking process, in which von Trier played a devilishly entertaining game of one-upmanship with director Jorgen Leth. Here he casts a prankster's eye on actorly affectations, the director-actor relationship and the conventions of throwaway entertainment, all while lampooning the collective delusions of corporate culture.
The wonderful Jens Albinu (who starred in von Trier's 1998 comic drama "The Idiots") plays Kristoffer, an actor hired by businessman Ravn (Peter Gantzler) to play the owner of an IT company -- not onstage, but in the boardroom. During negotiations with Icelandic entrepreneur Finnur (Fridrik Thor Fridriksson), who wants to buy the firm, Kristoffer injects meaningful pauses into his "line readings" that all but stop the dealmaking cold. The perpetually unamused Finnur is convinced that all Danes are wacko. He doesn't know the half of it.
Wanting only to be loved, Ravn, a handsome and affable bear of a man, has for 10 years hidden his true status as the company's owner, pretending to be just another manager and inventing via e-mail a distant uberboss named Svend. Earnest thespian Kristoffer steps into the role with almost no "direction" from Ravn, variously dodging and playing along with the projected dreams and hostilities of the staff. Gorm (Casper Christensen) is given to violent outbursts, Mette (Louise Mieritz) is terrified whenever the copier whirs into action, assistant Heidi (Mia Lyhne) harbors deep feelings for Svend, while HR rep Lise (Iben Hjejle) not only encourages office sex but insists on it. Actor and Dogme filmmaking disciple Jean-Marc Barr plays a foreign employee who insists on speaking bungled and indecipherable Danish.
Determined to stay true to his "character," Kristoffer continually invokes one Antonio Stavro Gambini, the playwright he reveres above all others. Ravn, for reasons that become increasingly clear, prefers to keep things on the buzzword level, as vague as possible. Kristoffer hits his stride with some table-turning improv involving contracts.
The understated comic performances serve the material well, while Automavision, the credited cinematographer, keeps things aptly off-center with random computer-automated camera angles -- one of which von Trier calls to our attention as a "pointless zoom."
THE BOSS OF IT ALL
IFC Films/IFC First Take
A Zentropa Entertainments 21/Memfis Film Intl./Slot Machine/Lucky Red production
Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Lars von Trier
Producers: Meta Louise Foldager, Vibeke Windelov, Signe Jensen
Executive producers: Lene Borglum, Peter Albaek Jensen
Director of photography: Automavision
Costume designer: Manon Rasmussen
Editor: Molly Malene Stensgaard
Cast:
Kristoffer: Jens Albinus
Ravn: Peter Gantzler
Finnur: Fridrik Thor Fridriksson
Lise: Iben Hjejle
Mette: Louise Mieritz
Heidi A.: Mia Lyhne
Gorm: Casper Christensen
Spencer: Jean-Marc Barr
Interpreter: Benedikt Erlingsson.
Running time -- 100 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.