Danish television drama
Encyclopedia
Danish television dramas have represented an important and popular aspect of Danish television
, especially since the 1970s. There is little doubt that the most successful drama series was Matador
(1978) which has been frequently rebroadcast and released on DVD.
For many years Danish television drama had a 'Matador complex'. Every new drama series would be marketed as "the new Matador" – only to be found not to measure up afterwards by critics as well as the general public.
Since the late 1990s, Danish television has once again enjoyed increasing success with a large number of drama series. Often aired in primetime on Sunday evenings, they have generally drawn large audiences, received very good reviews and several have earned international awards. DR has won four Emmy Award
s for Best international drama series netween 2002 and 2009, breaking a former UK monopoly in that category, and a fifth Emmy in the Best international TV Movie/Mini Series category.
Danish film directors as well the Danish Film Institute
have warned that the growth in television drama drains the Danish film industry
of talent, particularly scriptwriters. They maintain that film producers operate on market conditions while particularly DR, funded by a broadcast receiving licence fee
, is able to pay better salaries. The television stations are also able to offer longer contracts and more responsibility.
Television in Denmark
Television in Denmark was established in the 1950s and was run by a monopoly with only one channel available until the 1980s.-History:The first television broadcasts in Denmark started on 2 October 1951. These were carried out by the national radio broadcaster Statsradiofonien and consisted of a...
, especially since the 1970s. There is little doubt that the most successful drama series was Matador
Matador (TV series)
Matador is a Danish TV series produced between 1978 and 1981. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: The...
(1978) which has been frequently rebroadcast and released on DVD.
For many years Danish television drama had a 'Matador complex'. Every new drama series would be marketed as "the new Matador" – only to be found not to measure up afterwards by critics as well as the general public.
Since the late 1990s, Danish television has once again enjoyed increasing success with a large number of drama series. Often aired in primetime on Sunday evenings, they have generally drawn large audiences, received very good reviews and several have earned international awards. DR has won four Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s for Best international drama series netween 2002 and 2009, breaking a former UK monopoly in that category, and a fifth Emmy in the Best international TV Movie/Mini Series category.
Danish film directors as well the Danish Film Institute
Danish Film Institute
The Danish Film Institute is the national Danish agency responsible for supporting and encouraging film and cinema culture, and for conserving these in the national interest....
have warned that the growth in television drama drains the Danish film industry
Cinema of Denmark
Denmark has been producing films since 1897 and since the 1980s has maintained a steady stream of product due largely to funding by the state-supported Danish Film Institute. Historically, Danish films have been noted for their realism, religious and moral themes, sexual frankness and technical...
of talent, particularly scriptwriters. They maintain that film producers operate on market conditions while particularly DR, funded by a broadcast receiving licence fee
Television licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
, is able to pay better salaries. The television stations are also able to offer longer contracts and more responsibility.
Selected series
- Huset på ChristianshavnHuset på ChristianshavnHuset på Christianshavn was an 84-part television drama series broadcast in Denmark between 1970 and 1977. It was produced by the Nordisk Film company for the national broadcasting corporation, DR...
(literally: The House in ChristianshavnChristianshavnChristianshavn is an artificial island neighbourhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in the early 17th century by Christian IV as part of his extension of the fortifications of Copenhagen. Originally it was laid out as an independent privileged merchant's town with inspiration from...
) is a DanishDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
TV series with 84 episodes originally broadcast between 1970 and 1977. Produced by the Nordisk FilmNordisk FilmNordisk Film , established in Denmark in 1906 by Danish filmmaker Ole Olsen, is the oldest continuously operating film studio in the world. Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name "Ole Olsen's Film Factory" but soon changed it to the Nordisk Film Kompagni...
company for the TV station DRDanmarks RadioDR – officially rendered into English as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation – is Denmark's national broadcasting corporation. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is today Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterprise...
, it tells the story of interactions between a number of families living in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of central CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. It was directed by Ebbe LangbergEbbe LangbergEbbe Langberg was a Danish actor and film director. He appeared in 45 films between 1946 and 1988.He was born and died in Copenhagen, Denmark...
and Tom Hedegaard.
- MatadorMatador (TV series)Matador is a Danish TV series produced between 1978 and 1981. It is set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947. It follows the lives of a range of characters from across the social spectrum, focusing specifically on the rivalry between the families of two businessmen: The...
is a TV series produced by DRDanmarks RadioDR – officially rendered into English as the Danish Broadcasting Corporation – is Denmark's national broadcasting corporation. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is today Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterprise...
between 1978 and 1981. Directed by Erik Balling, it was the idea of author Lise NørgaardLise NørgaardLise Nørgaard née Jensen is a Danish journalist and writer known for her precise and often humorous portrayals of Danish cultural life. Nørgaard has written novels, compilations of essays and short stories. The memoirs of her childhood, Kun en pige , became a bestseller in 1992 and is considered...
who wrote the bulk of the episodes alongside Karen Smith, Jens Louis Petersen and Paul HammerichPaul HammerichPaul Hammerich was a Danish journalist and writer.Known as one of the writers behind the successful Danish TV-series Matador, constantly considered one of the greatest Danish TV productions of all-time....
. Set in the fictional Danish town of Korsbæk between 1929 and 1947, the series follows the lives of various characters in the town before and after the German occupation, especially the rivalry between banker Hans Christian Varnæs and upcoming businessman Mads (Andersen-)Skjern. The distinctive theme tune of the series was composed by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre. Matador originally aired on DR between November 1978 and January 1982, but has enjoyed repeated successful reruns in 1984-85, 1989-90, 1997-98 and 2006-07.
- TAXA is a series in 56 episodes produced by DR and written by Stig Thorsboe. First broadcasted on 14 September 1997, the action revolves around a taxi central in CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. The series was a huge success from the first episode.
- Strisser på SamsøStrisser på SamsøStrisser på Samsø is a Danish television series in 12 episodes, written and directed by Eddie Thomas Petersen. Produced by Per Holst Filmproduktion, it was first broadcast on TV2 in 1997-1998...
(The Cops of Samsø) is a series in 12 episodes written and directed by Eddie Thomas Petersen. Produced by Nordisk FilmNordisk FilmNordisk Film , established in Denmark in 1906 by Danish filmmaker Ole Olsen, is the oldest continuously operating film studio in the world. Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name "Ole Olsen's Film Factory" but soon changed it to the Nordisk Film Kompagni...
, it was first broadcast on TV2 in 1997-1998. The story tells how Christian Top who has lost his wife in an unsuccessful robbery brings his daughter Sille to the island of Samsø. They have difficulty in integrating into a society where everyone knows everything about everybody but they find a friend in Ulla, a secretary.
- The Eagle: A Crime OdysseyThe Eagle (TV series)The Eagle: A Crime Odyssey is a Danish police procedural television series produced by Danmarks Radio, created and written by Peter Thorsboe and Mai Brostrøm. The series debuted on 10 October 2004 in Denmark...
(In Danish: Ørnen: En krimi-odyssé) (2004) is a series in 24 episodes produced by DR, written by Peter Thorsboe and Mai Brostrøm and directed by Jannik JohansenJannik JohansenJannik Johansen is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He began film-making at Per Holst Film in the late 1980s, thereafter directed and edited television productions and short fiction. He wrote and directed a number of short fiction films, including fiction A Quiet Death, awarded by the...
and Søren Kragh-JacobsenSøren Kragh-JacobsenSøren Kragh-Jacobsen is a Danish film director, musician, and song writer. He was one of the founders and practitioners of the Dogme95 project, for creating films without artificial technology or techniques.-Early career:...
, in which The Eagle (Ørnen), an Icelandic inspector in the Danish police force, heads a new task force to help solve international crime. The series won an International Emmy Award from The International Academy of Television, Arts and Science for best non-American television drama series in 2005.
- KrønikenKrønikenKrøniken is a Danish television drama which aired on Sunday evenings between January 2004 and January 2007...
is a Danmarks Radio drama series in 22 episodes written by Stig Thorsboe og Hanna Lundblad. It was broadcast in four stages between 2004 and 2007. The principal producers were Charlotte Sieling and Henrik Ruben GenzHenrik Ruben GenzHenrik Ruben Genz is a Danish film director.Before becoming involved with film, Genz attended Designskolen Kolding, where he studied graphic design, after giving up on an earlier dream of being a painter. While there, he did some work with video, and a chance meeting with director Arne Bro...
. Starting in 1949, the series follows four young Danes through 25 years of history and personal development in a story about finding yourself in a world of changes.
- Anna PihlAnna PihlAnna Pihl is a Danish police drama produced by TV2. The series stars Charlotte Munck as the title character Anna Pihl, Peter Mygind, and Iben Hjejle as Mikala...
(2006-2008) is a Danish police drama produced by TV2 starring Charlotte MunckCharlotte MunckCharlotte Munck is a Danish actress, notable for starring in the Danish police television drama Anna Pihl as the title character, which was aired on TV2....
and Iben HjejleIben HjejleIben Hjejle is a Danish actress, notable for starring in the John Cusack film High Fidelity . In Denmark, she is perhaps best known for appearing in the Danish television sitcom Langt fra Las Vegas and playing the girlfriend of Danish comedian Casper Christensen, her real life boyfriend...
. It consists of three sets of 10 episodes. Anna Pihl, a policewoman at the Bellahøj police station in Denmark's capital, CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, is divorced, and lives with her son, Mikkel, in a flat shared with Jan, her gay male friend. The series focuses on personal stories and realism combined with action and suspense.
- SommerSommer (TV series)Sommer is a Danish TV-drama aired on DR1 in 2008. The series are created by Jesper W. Nielsen and Karina Dam-Cast:-External links:* * på Settet.dk...
(2008) is a Danmarks Radio drama series in 22 episodes written by Jesper W. Nielsen and Karina Dam. The actors include Jesper LangbergJesper LangbergJesper Langberg is a Danish film actor. He has appeared in over 50 films since 1965. He was born in Frederiksberg, Denmark.Jesper Langberg is the son of actor Sigurd Langberg and younger brother of actor Ebbe Langberg....
, Lisbet Dahl, Michael Birkkjær and Lars RantheLars RantheLars Ranthe is a Danish film and television actor.-Selected filmography :-Selected television work:- External links :...
. It traces the story of a doctor who falls ill and has to give up his practice. His wife and two sons have to cope with the difficulties which ensue.
Mini series
- Young Andersen (In Danish: Unge Andersen) (2005) is a mini series in two episodes written by Rumle HammerichRumle HammerichJens Peter Hammerich , better known as Rumle Hammerich , is a Danish film director, screenwriter and film company director. He is currently creative director at Nordisk Film....
og Ulf Stark and directed by Hammerich. It describes the formative boarding schoolBoarding schoolA boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
years of Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...