Godland: a snapshot of Denmark’s treatment of Iceland as a colony in the 19th century
Hlynur Palmason, “Volaða land / Vanskabte Land / Godland” (2022) Its plot looks simple enough,
Tag: Danish Films
French and French-language Films | Northern European Films
The Passion of Joan of Arc: an experimental film let down by its narrow focus, story-line and characterisation
Carl Theodor Dreyer, “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) In itself, this silent film
Festen: a rich film skewering Danish society and social hypocrisy, and delivering redemption
Thomas Vinterberg, “Festen” (1998) “Festen” remains the best-known and most mainstream of the various films
Breaking the Waves: a study of religious hypocrisy and oppression, and its effects on a naive woman, with a hollow heart
Lars von Trier, “Breaking the Waves” (1996) For the most part this often nihilistic film
Northern European Films | Southeast Asian Films
The Look of Silence: a grim and monotonous film about a personal quest but no context to make sense of it
Joshua Oppenheimer, “The Look of Silence” (2014) A companion piece to Oppenheimer’s earlier documentary “The
North American Films | Northern European Films
Manderlay: a not entirely satisfactory study of slavery in American society
Lars von Trier, “Manderlay” (2005) The sequel to “Dogville” is an interesting philosophical if rather
The Backwater Gospel: a darkly grim Gothic satire on religious fanaticism, mob rule and the fear of death
Bo Mathorne, “The Backwater Gospel” (2011) In a total running time of just over nine
Northern European Films | Southeast Asian Films
The Act of Killing: chilling documentary on mass murderers and the society that supports and celebrates their deeds
Joshua Oppenheimer, “The Act of Killing” (2012) A chilling film, made all the more so
Medea (dir. Lars von Trier): human struggle against forces of Nature and God in a beautiful and emotional film
Lars von Trier, “Medea” (1988) Originally made for TV and with a script based on that other
Corruption, authoritarianism, oppression of women and intolerance are a hidden presence in “Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages”
Benjamin Christensen, “Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages” (1922) Intended as a study on how superstition