Nominations for the Danish Critics' Bodil Awards 2021 announced

Another Round

Thomas Vinterberg, 2020

There’s a theory that we should be born with a small amount of alcohol in our blood, and that modest inebriation opens our minds to the world around us, diminishing our problems and increasing our creativity. Heartened by that theory, Martin and three of his friends, all weary high school teachers, embark on an experiment to maintain a constant level of intoxication throughout the workday. If Churchill won WW2 in a heavy daze of alcohol, who knows what a few drops might do for them and their students?

A Perfectly Normal Family

Malou Reymann, 2020

Emma has a perfectly normal family until one day it turns out her dad, Thomas, is transgender. As Thomas becomes Agnete, both father and daughter struggle to hold on to what they had while accepting that everything has changed.

Riders of Justice

Anders Thomas Jensen, 2020

The deployed military man Markus has to go home to his teenage daughter, Mathilde, when his wife dies in a tragic train accident. It seems to be plain bad luck – until the mathematics geek Otto shows up with his two eccentric colleagues, Lennart and Emmenthaler. Otto was also a passenger on the wrecked train.

Shorta

Anders Ølholm, Frederik Louis Hviid, 2020

The exact details of what took place while Talib Ben Hassi (19) was in police custody remain unclear. Police officers, Jens and Mike, are on routine patrol in Svalegården’s ghetto when news of Talib’s death comes in over the radio, igniting uncontrollable, pent-up rage in the ghetto’s youth, who lust for revenge. Suddenly, the two officers find themselves fair game and must fight tooth and claw to find a way out.

The Good Traitor

Christina Rosendahl, 2020

9th of April 1940 Denmark is attacked by Nazi Germany with the demand of an immediate and unconditional capitulation. After a few hours, the Danish Government surrenders and begins a cooperation with the Nazis. But on the other side of the Atlantic is the Danish ambassador in America, the daredevil and man of the world, Henrik Kauffmann who is willing to stake everything in one throw.

The Exception

Jesper W. Nielsen, 2020

Iben, Malene, Anne-Lise and Camilla are four women working together, in a daily routine marked by power struggles, whispers and alliances. When Iben and Malene each receive death threats, they start to suspect a Serbian war criminal, whom they have been writing articles about. However, when a case of bullying in the office escalates, they slowly begin to wonder if the evil comes from themselves.

Wildland

Jeanette Nordahl, 2020

Following the tragic death of her mother, Ida falls into the care of her estranged aunt Bodil and Bodil’s three grown sons. Ida initially finds comfort in their home, which is filled with physical tenderness and a strong sense of unity. But the darker reality of her family's criminal way of life and toxic dynamics slowly pushes her to accept violence, addiction and intimidation as normal.

Erna at War

Henrik Ruben Genz, 2020

Denmark, summer of 1918. WW1 rages through Europe. Germany is running so low on recruits that young men on the Danish side of the border are now being conscripted.

The Butterfly Swing

Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, 2020

The stubborn pig farmer Ernst and his wife Louise host a party on their farm to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. However, the family is keeping a host of secrets, and Ernst is soon treading deep water. During the lively, colourful, intoxicating, and sorrowful evening, the truth slowly begins to emerge, putting the family to the ultimate test.

Reunited

Mira Jargil, 2019

Fleeing Syria, two doctors and their children are separated from each other. The kids bravely live on their own in Turkey, while their parents make it to Canada and Denmark. Now they're stuck in a Kafkaesque system that reduces their family life to Skype calls.

I Love You I Miss You I Hope I See You Before I Die

Eva Marie Rødbro, 2019

A harsh and dreamy story of a young girl and her longing heart. Through Betty, living below the poverty line in suburban Colorado Springs, we experience a tight family clan of children born by children born by children where love and dependency go hand in hand.

Journey to Utopia

Erlend E. Mo, 2020

The enlightened, forward-thinking Mo family lead a picture-perfect life on their farm in Norway. But recently, climate anxiety and a fear for what kind of planet will be left to their three children is keeping them up at night. Taking a giant leap of faith, the family decides to take action and move to 'Permatopia’: a brand new self-sufficient, organic farming cooperative in Denmark.

Songs of Repression

Estephan Wagner, Marianne Hougen-Moraga, 2020

In 1961, the German preacher Paul Schäfer and his congregation moved to Chile with the stated aim of helping the poor. They established Colonia Dignidad which transformed into a closed sect. This film explores how the remaining residents of the colony deal with 45 years of child abuse, collective beatings and slave-like living conditions.

Blockhagen – Season 1 (overview)

Troels Unneland, Sorena Sanjari, Malthe Emil Kibsgaard, 2020

Ali lives in the Ghetto Blockhagen and attends the worst school in the country. He hates everything about his school except for three things: his five best friends, his dream girl Yasmina and the teacher Gertrud. When it is officially announced that the school will close, Ali finds out that he will be separated from his friends and Yasmina.