Audiences were blown away when The Worst Person in the World opened at Cannes this past year. It follows Julie, a Norwegian woman who battles with her identity, profession, and love life over the course of four years. The film is not only hilarious, heartbreaking, and beautiful, but it is also revolutionary. The Worst Person in the World does for the modern rom-com what Annie Hall accomplished for the romantic comedy in the 1970s. It demonstrates how the genre can defy expectations and find humour in even the most dire situations. It symbolises the pinnacle of contemporary Scandinavian cinema, therefore for those who enjoyed this two-hour masterpiece, here are ten more Scandinavian movies to savour.
1. Insomnia (2002)
Director- Christopher Nolan
Kay Connell, a seventeen-year-old inhabitant of Nightmute, Alaska, is found dead. Two Los Angeles Robbery Homicide police detectives, Will Dormer and Hap Eckhart, are sent in to aid with the inquiry as a favour to the local Nightmute police chief. Despite their celebrity in the police world, Dormer and Eckhart are both dealing with career challenges in Los Angeles. Dormer suffers from sleeplessness in Nightmute, owing to a mix of the never-ending midnight sun and a hidden secret. He’s deluded as a result of his insomnia. Something he isn’t dreaming about is the fact that the murderer has contacted him, notifying him of the murder and the fact that he is well aware of Dormer’s situation. They form a symbiotic connection in which they both maintain secrets for the advantage of each other. Ellie Burr, a determined young local detective, may be able to solve the case on her own.
2. My Life As A Dog (1985)
Director- Lasse Hallstrom
Ingemar is a young boy who lives with his older brother and his mother, who is ill. He adores dogs and is particularly concerned about Laika, a female Russian dog transported to space who dies as the food supply runs out several days later. The child has a regular existence with his sole friend and his beloved female dog, but he doesn’t get along with his brother, who enjoys pulling practical jokes on him and making fun of him. Their mother is fed up with the children’s antics, which include fighting all day and causing her to lose her temper.
For the sake of their sick mother, Ingemar and his brother are separated one day. Ingemar is accompanied by his uncle, who lives with his wife in a tiny town. Ingemar will meet interesting characters there, such as an elderly man who has a fetish for lingerie commercials, glass workers in a workshop, and a lovely girl who, in order to play in a soccer team, disguises herself as a boy.
3. Persona (1966)
Director- Igmar Bergman
During a performance of Elektra, Swedish actress Elisabet Vogler gets deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafening She is in a near-catatonic state the next day. The doctors in charge of her care have determined that there is no medical reason for her difficulties. Elisabet’s caretaker is a nurse named Alma, who believes Elisabet possesses some sort of inner strength that allows her to choose not to speak. Because Elisabet’s husband and kid are not permitted to visit her, the doctor offers Elisabet and Alma a reprieve in her own quiet beachside summer cottage. To break the stillness during the break, Alma chats to Elisabet frequently, eventually revealing sensitive information about her life.
Alma uses these events as her own therapy sessions since Elisabet responds to her talks. Elisabet is someone Alma admires and aspires to be like. Alma learns more about her patient as the two ladies spend more time alone together. Alma, on the other hand, begins a transition that she now consciously seeks to stop as a result of what she has learnt about Elisabet.
4. Show Me Love (1998)
Director- Lucas Moodyson
Amal is a small, unimportant town where nothing ever happens and where the latest fashion trends are out of date by the time they arrive. Elin has a horrible image when it comes to guys, but the truth is that she lacks experience in this area. Agnes, another student at her school, is smitten with her but is too hesitant to express her feelings. Elin finds herself as the solitary visitor at Agnes’ birthday party for a variety of reasons. They share a girl’s night out together, but Elin thereafter avoids Agnes like the plague, refusing to examine her own feelings for her.
5. In A Better World (2010)
Director- Susanne Bier
Anton works as a doctor in a war-torn African country, helping victims of a ruthless militia. He has two sons and a broken marriage waiting for him at home in Denmark. At school, his son Elias is bullied, but the new boy Christian scares the bullies away. Christian blames his father for his mother’s death. When Anton has a run-in with a stranger in town, he instructs the boys to turn the other cheek, but Christian is impatient to respond and enlists the help of Elias. Back in Africa, Anton’s ideals are put to the test by an unexpected case.
6. The Square (2017)
Director- Ruben Ostlund
Christian, the reputable chief curator for Stockholm’s modern art X-Royal Museum, is successful, self-assured, and charming in his impeccable suits. However, after falling victim to a complex pick-pocketing scheme, Christian’s entire existence will come crashing down as he seeks to regain his stolen stuff in an unconventional manner. And, following a series of errors, the desperate art collector is forced to do the polar opposite of what The Square represents—his latest cutting-edge project—in order to rectify the situation; but, at what cost?
7. Oslo, August 31st (2011)
Director- Joachim Tier
Anders is a drug addict in a rehabilitation centre in Oslo. He gets offered a day off on August 30th to go to a job interview in the city centre. Anders goes to his appointment after visiting with his friend Thomas. He admits to being a drug addict throughout the interview and walks out. He then spends the remainder of the day and night wandering the streets of Oslo, running into and confronting people from his past. The film will be completed the following day, August 31st. Concentrating on Anders’ choices on his vacation time.
8. Another Round (2020)
Director- Thomas Vinterberg
Martin, Tommy, Nikolaj, and Peter—a close-knit group of friends, coworkers, and high school teachers—find themselves facing dull professions, failing marriages, and the painful certainty of wasted youth amid a recurring midlife crisis. Then, after a long, booze-fueled night in town, the friends came up with the brilliant idea of staying semi-intoxicated at all times, based on an unproven scientific theory that claims that people who maintain a constant 0.05 percent Blood Alcohol Concentration are more relaxed, poised, and self-assured. So, without further ado, the grizzled pals establish guidelines and begin testing the effects of maintaining that perfect, low-level buzz, one glass at a time.
9. Fanny And Alexander (1982)
Director- Ingmar Bergman
Fanny Ekdahl, Alexander’s younger sister, has a good existence. Their parents own a local theatre, and the full Ekdahl family gets together for Christmas. However, their loving father passes away just a few weeks after the Christmas celebrations. The children and their mother are devastated by the death, and Alexander claims to see his father’s spirit around the house on occasion. After some time has passed, their mother informs them that she is to marry Bishop Edvard Vergerus, whom Alexander had previously met due to a falsehood he told at school. The Bishop’s residence is a gloomy environment, and the Bishop shows to be a harsh disciplinarian who demands on strict adherence to all house regulations. Alexander is badly beaten after being discovered in another lie, and his mother knows she needs to find a method to get the kids out of the house.
10. Turn Me On, Dammit! (2011)
Alma is a young, sex-obsessed girl who finds herself in a pickle when she discovers that the most popular male at school has been hitting on her. She becomes a social outcast when he instantly rejects it. It is surprisingly wholesome for a film that involves continuous depictions of masturbation, drug use, and foul humour. When Alma’s frequent phone sex operator offers meaningful advise or her friends craft a comical song out of her nasty nickname, you can find humanity even in the strangest of places. Alma and Julie are of different ages, yet they share a determined, intellectual, witty, and sex-positive demeanour that is contagious and inspiring.
Ever seen a Scandinavian movie? Didn’t think so. Here’s the cleanest-cut roundup of your marathon-watching needs. Hope you guys watch and enjoy this movie list.
