Each year, CPH:PIX gives you a reason to step out of your film rut and explore some of the best films that Scandinavia has to offer. This 8th year of the festival sticks to its long-held spirit of unadulterated discovery. Come prepared to be provoked, entertained, while discovering both odd-balls of mainstream cinema and genre-bending niche films.
To help you avoid that most-chronic modern day affliction of too much choice, we’ve made this list to help you step into the world of Scandi cinema with confidence:
In Embryo (DK)
Actor Ulrich Thomsen makes his directorial debut with ‘In Embryo’ – an art house take on the film noir genre. The film dives into the seedy underbelly of L.A., portraying the infectious love between drug dealer Sean and addict Lily. Thomsen’s uncompromising vision breathes new life into a tried and true genre with stunning imagery and captivating performances by Ross McCall, Kristen Hager and of course Thomsen himself.
The Yard (SE)
In this coming-of-middleage comedy, we follow a Swedish writer in a downward spiral, ending at a miserable job on the docks of Malmö. Here he must rid himself of any sense of justice and morality to make sense of his new and rather pointless existence. The Yard is as immensely funny as it is cinematically striking in its portrayal of modern Swedish life.
See the trailer here.
White People (SE)
Director Lisa Aschans latest film is a provocative piece of about those, who have the power over others – and to which ends they use their power. Alex is picked up by the authorities on her way to the supermarket and jailed in an underground deportation facility. Here she must await her faith dispensed at the hands of steely warden Viktoria. The film questions not as much immigration policy as it does the cold ways in which we attribute worth or lack thereof to people.
See the trailer here.
Welcome to Norway (NO)
In this hilarious comedy about refugees and racism, Norwegian loser Primus sets out to convert his failed hotel business into a government subsidized home for refugees. Soon, 50 asylum seekers arrive at the far but finished hotel, forcing the slightly racist Primus to enlist African Abedi to help get everything sorted. It slowly dawns on Primus, that he may have started something way beyond his control.
The Girl, the Mother and the Demons (SE)
In Swedish film ‘The Girl, the Mother and the Demons’, 8-year old girl Ti lives with her schizophrenic mom, who sees demons everywhere. While her mother is busy fighting fictional monsters, Ti is more or less left to her own devices, having to take care of grocery shopping and general homemaking in her mother’s mental absence. The film is a touching drama about having a parent with poor mental health and is screened as part of CPH PIX’s family programme. Recommended from 11 years and up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdfO94RYWvQ
A Serious Game (SE)
In the year 1901 love strikes between journalist Arvid and the young Lydia at first sight. What follows are years of passion, testing of their faith and suffering for the couple, as their relationship is constantly put to the test. The question remains, whether love really does conquer all, in this film directed by Pernilla August and written by Lone Scherfig.
Recommendations provided with the help of Mads Schmidt at CPH:PIX
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