Added by countzer0 on 9 Jun 2012 04:20

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Recent Scandinavian gems

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Decade: Rating: List Type:

191

7.9

Steam of Life (2010)

Finnish men are famously taciturn, but they open up in the sauna in this superb heartwarming doc.

countzer0's rating:

236

7.6

Oslo, August 31st

This film asks a very challenging question: is life after rehab worth living? And the answers are decidedly ambiguous.

countzer0's rating:

198

7.3

The Bothersome Man (2006)

A blackly comic vision of a nordic purgatory where no-one really feels love, and hot chocolate has no taste, but all claim to be happy.

countzer0's rating:

332

7.7

7.8

Adam's Apples (2005)

Shockingly dark comedy that is ultimately quite moving, handling its simple but powerful theme with a light touch. It is also laugh out loud funny.

countzer0's rating:

7.3

7.2

Four Shades of Brown (2004)

A bit like Todd Solondz' Happiness, only more ambitious. Jet black comedy that goes into some very dark places but is still surreally funny.

countzer0's rating:

7.3

Kitchen Stories (2003)

A really sweet story of the slowly thawing relationship between a Swedish scientific observer, and his cranky old Norwegian subject.

countzer0's rating:

105

6.9

A Somewhat Gentle Man

Skarsgard underplays for once in this very dry comedy with real sympathy for its almost grotesque characters. Very enjoyable.

countzer0's rating:

444

7.9

7.6

The Man Without a Past (2002)

A lovely film about human kindness and the inhumanity of institutions, completely unsentimental and laced with bone-dry Finnish humour. A treat.

countzer0's rating:

5.2

5.8

Dragonflies (2001)

An excellently tense thriller, full of ambiguity and with top-notch acting, especially from Bodnia.

countzer0's rating:

142

7.8

7.3

Nói Albínói (2003)

Bleak tale of teenage alienation in remote town in Iceland, well acted with touches of dark humour. Also a fascinating view of a world I know nothing about. The ending is sort of like the negative of the end of 'Three Colours Red'.

countzer0's rating:

7.5

7.6

Troubled Water (2008)

Harrowing and very moving story of forgiveness and redemption. Excellent photography and unusual direction and editing make this all the more powerful, even if events are a little too neat.

countzer0's rating:

6.4

6.8

Junk Mail (1997)

A blackly comic love story between 2 outsiders in a grimy, beautifully shot Oslo.

countzer0's rating:

7.5

7.2

Aberdeen (2000)

Lena Headey goes on a road trip to Norway to find her estranged, alcoholic father. Treads a fine line between pitch-black comedy and tragedy.

countzer0's rating:

317

7.5

7.7

After the Wedding

Bier is great at capturing emotions with her swirling, intimate camerawork, although she crossed the line into overwrought slightly towards the end.

countzer0's rating:

123

7.7

7.5

Open Hearts (2002)

Somehow the honesty of the characters navigates us through this minefield of a scenario. Great cast, although I found the Dogme style distracting, even though it probably created the conditions for such intimate and honest performances.

countzer0's rating:

7.5

Flickering Lights (2000)

Enjoyable redemption tale with black humour and a sweet heart.

countzer0's rating:

117

7.5

King of Devil's Island

Strong drama with excellent performances from the young cast and stunning cinematography. It's a tale we've heard before, but here it is told very well, even poetically at times.

countzer0's rating:

155

6.8

7.4

Frozen Land

An interconnected tale of snowballing consequences, well-made but unrelentingly bleak.

countzer0's rating:

5.9

6.4

Fear Me Not (2008)

Nicely shot and well-acted psycho-drama with a slow-burning tension.

countzer0's rating:

189

6.4

Next Door

Pretty brutal and ugly psychosexual thriller, lifted by a compelling performance by Joner.

countzer0's rating:

6.6

6.8

Terribly Happy (2008)

Kind of a noir League of Gentleman in the Danish bog.

countzer0's rating:

135

7.1

7.4

In China They Eat Dogs (1999)

A strange, sometimes uneasy mix of violent crime action, dark comedy and slapstick. It's very un-PC, but I guess most gangsters are. Entertaining.

countzer0's rating:

113

7.2

The Green Butchers

Slightly uneasy mix of the blackest comedy with drama. The script is really funny at times, but it's played so straight it ends up being a bit disturbing. Odd.

countzer0's rating:

Old Men in New Cars: In China They Eat Dogs II

6.8

Old Men in New Cars: In China They Eat Dogs II...

The pacing in this prequel to In China They Kill Dogs is not as tight, but this is still a lot of fun.

countzer0's rating:

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Northern Europe has been making some brilliant films in the last 10 years. Often featuring black, deadpan humour, and the quality of the light up north makes them all very cinematic.

This list of some of the lesser-known Scandie films I've enjoyed, top-rated first.