Henrik Ruben Genz's new drama, "Gud taler ud," (translates as "God Speaks Out") starts shooting next week in Risskov, a suburb of Denmark's second largest town, Aarhus. The film is based on a 2004 autobiographical novel by Jens Blendstrup.
In a house in a subdivision in Risskov, Uffe reigns. Father, psychologist and self-appointed almighty God, he rules his world with an iron – yet loving, even quirky – hand. Uffe’s patients of many years have gradually become his disciples. His little congregation meet in these yellow-brown surroundings, where the discussion is lively and the drinking heavy.
Uffe has three sons. The oldest son, Mikkel, has left home. The middle son, Thomas, is trying to get his high-school equivalency degree, even while he’s afraid to leave the house, which he doesn’t dare tell God either. Thomas is protected by Gerd Lillian, the long-suffering good mother and wife and the family’s rock. Amidst all this stands the youngest son, Jens, on the cusp of adolescence and blessed with a "God-given" talent – he can write. A rebellion against God is quietly brewing among the three sons and Gerd Lillian.
Featuring in the all-dominant role as God/Uffe is Søren Malling, who became a household name with the television series "The Killing" and "Borgen." He has also made his mark in feature films such as Tobias Lindholm's 2016 Oscar-nominated "A War."
God/Uffe's wife, Gerd Lillian, is played by the Swedish singer Lisa Nilsson. Marcus Gert makes his big-screen debut as Jens. The cast also features Jesper Asholt, Jacob Kvols and Maria Erwolter.
Henrik Ruben Genz has directed for a number of popular television series including "Better Times" (2004-2007), "The Killing" (2007) and "Lulu & Leon" (2009), and he was awarded the Grand Prix Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary for his drama "Terribly Happy" (2008). Genz' latest, the historical drama "Satisfaction 1720" (2016), opened at Göteborg Film Festival.
Bo hr. Hansen wrote the screenplay for "Gud taler ud," Jørgen Johansson is the DP and Kasper Leick the editor. Signe Leick Jensen and Morten Kaufmann are producing for Toolbox Film, in co-production with Deluca Film and with production funding from the Danish Film Institute. The film is produced in partnership with TV 2 and the West Danish Film Fund. Domestic theatrical release is scheduled for September 2017.
Word of God
A film about an eccentric man of the world called God who lives in an ordinary detached house with his family: his Swedish wife Gerd Lillian and his two youngest sons, Thomas and Jens. The oldest son, Mikkel, wants nothing to do with God, so called because he treats the world as his own creation. In reality, God is a man with a mild dependency on alcohol.