Queen of Hearts named best film at Bodil Awards 2020

The Sundance winning drama 'Queen of Hearts' by May el-Toukhy won big at the Bodil Awards, the Danish Film Critics' annual award show, held Saturday 1 March in Copenhagen. The film took home four awards including Best Film, Best Leading Actress (Trine Dyrholm), Best Supporting Actor (Gustav Lindh) and Best Cinematographer (Jasper Spanning). 

Queen of Hearts

Anne, a brilliant and dedicated advocacy lawyer specialising in society’s most vulnerable, children and young adults, lives what appears to be the picture-perfect life with her doctor-husband, Peter, and their twin daughters. When her estranged teenage stepson, Gustav, moves in with them, Anne’s escalating desire leads her down a dangerous rabbit hole which, once exposed, unleashes a sequence of events destined to destroy her world.

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The film tells the story of Anne, a dedicated lawyer who lives what appears to be the picture-perfect life with her husband, Peter, and their twin daughters. When her estranged teenage stepson, Gustav, moves in with them, Anne's escalating desire leads her down a dangerous rabbit hole, jeopardizing both her career and family.

Emil Langballe won the prize for Best Documentary for 'Q's Barbershop' about a barbershop in Vollsmose, the largest social housing project in Denmark. Also among the winners were Frelle Petersen for his screenplay for 'Uncle', the acclaimed winner of the Grand Prize at Tokyo Film Festival last year. Ulaa Salim won this year's talent prize for his debut feature 'Sons of Denmark'. 

Veteran actor Jesper Christensen won the Bodil Award for Best Leading Actor for his turn in Michael Noer's period drama 'Before the Frost'. Sofie Torp won the Bodil Award for Best Supporting Actress for her part in the hostage drama 'Daniel'. Production designer Josephine Farsø won a prize for her work on Toronto-selected 'Resin'. 

See all the winners below.

May el-Toukhy

Director. Born 17/8 1977. Graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in 2002.

Q's Barbershop

Emil Langballe, 2019

Q’s Barbershop is located in the heart of Vollsmose, the largest social housing project in Denmark, and is a popular hangout spot for the young Somalis of the area. The owner, Qasim, is from Somalia himself, and he makes sure that young people in Vollsmose have got style. At Q’s Barbershop, you can get an Usher, a Flat Top, a House Party or a Will Smith with low fade.

Trine Dyrholm

Actor. Born 15/4 1972. Graduated from the National School of Performing Arts in 1995.

Jesper Christensen

Sons of Denmark

Ulaa Salim, 2019

Denmark 2025. One year after a major bomb attack in Copenhagen, radicalisation around the country has intensified and ethnic tensions are running high. The next parliamentary election is near, and the extremely nationalist political leader Martin Nordahl is set for a landslide victory.

Ulaa Salim

Director and screenwriter. Born 1984 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Graduated as director from The National Film School of Denmark in 2017 with the short 'Fædreland'.

Uncle

Frelle Petersen, 2019

Kris lives with her partly disabled uncle in rural Denmark and together they run a small farm. In their quirky yet loving relationship, built upon daily routines, words aren’t necessary. Kris is the dominant workhorse and she has taken on a motherly and overprotecting role towards her uncle.

Frelle Petersen

Director, screenwriter. Born 1980 (René Frelle Petersen).

Frelle Petersen started out in the film industry as assistant director in 2003.