The Kingdom (1994– )
"Riget" (original title)

The Kingdom is the most technologically advanced hospital in Denmark, a gleaming bastion of medical science. A rash of uncanny occurrences, however, begins to weaken the staff's faith in ... See full summary »

Stars:

Ernst-Hugo Järegård, Kirsten Rolffes, Holger Juul Hansen

16 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Stig Helmer (4 episodes, 1994)
Kirsten Rolffes	...	Sigrid Drusse (4 episodes, 1994)
Holger Juul Hansen	...	Einar Moesgaard (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Pilmark	...	Jørgen Krogshøj (4 episodes, 1994)
Ghita Nørby	...	Rigmor Mortensen (4 episodes, 1994)
Jens Okking	...	Bulder Harly Drusse (4 episodes, 1994)
Annevig Schelde Ebbe	...	Mary Krüger (4 episodes, 1994)
Baard Owe	...	Palle Bondo (4 episodes, 1994)
Birgitte Raaberg	...	Judith Petersen (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Mygind	...	Morten 'Mogge' Moesgaard (4 episodes, 1994)
Vita Jensen	...	Opvasker #1 (4 episodes, 1994)
Morten Rotne Leffers	...	Opvasker #2 (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Elung Jensen	...	Læge (4 episodes, 1994)
Holger Perfort	...	Professor Ulrich (4 episodes, 1994)
Louise Fribo	...	Sanne (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Lenander	...	Vagt (4 episodes, 1994)
Laura Christensen	...	Mona Jensen (4 episodes, 1994)
Udo Kier	...	Age Krüger (4 episodes, 1994)
Ruth Junker	...	Opvasker #1 (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Gilsfort	...	Opvasker #2 (4 episodes, 1994)
Ulrik Cold	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 1994)
Henrik Koefoed	...	Læge ved CTR-skanner (4 episodes, 1994)
Klaus Wegener	...	Skadestuelæge (4 episodes, 1994)
Annette Ketscher	...	Sygeplejeske (4 episodes, 1994)
Mette Marckmann	...	Ung sygeplejerske (4 episodes, 1994)
Mette Munk Plum	...	Monas mor (4 episodes, 1994)
Otto Brandenburg	...	Hansen (3 episodes, 1994)
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Camilla (3 episodes, 1994)
Paul Hüttel	...	Steenbæk (3 episodes, 1994)
Bente Eskesen	...	Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk (3 episodes, 1994)
Michael Simpson	...	Dyrepasser i dyrelaboratoriet (3 episodes, 1994)
Ole Boisen	...	Christian (3 episodes, 1994)
Benny Hansen	...	Chauffør i radioen (3 episodes, 1994)
Müslie	...	Bongo (3 episodes, 1994)
Julie Wieth	...	Sygeplejerske ved Mona (2 episodes, 1994)
Birte Tove	...	Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk (2 episodes, 1994)
Dick Kaysø	...	Vagtmester (2 episodes, 1994)
Finn Nielsen	...	Madsen (2 episodes, 1994)
Tomas Stender	...	Medicinstuderende (2 episodes, 1994)
Helle Virkner	...	Emma Mogensen (2 episodes, 1994)
Else Petersen	...	Patient på Ellens stue (2 episodes, 1994)

Storyline

The Kingdom is the most technologically advanced hospital in Denmark, a gleaming bastion of medical science. A rash of uncanny occurrences, however, begins to weaken the staff's faith in science--a phantom ambulance pulls in every night, but disappears; voices echo in the elevator shaft; and a pregnant doctor's fetus seems to be developing much faster than is natural. At the goading of a spiritualist patient, some employees work to let supernatural forces rest.

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Plot Keywords:

hospital | elevator | ambulance | science | doctor | 

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Taglines:

A baptism of fear awaits you at... THE KINGDOM

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

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Details

Country:

Denmark France Germany Sweden

Language:

Danish Swedish

Release Date:

24 November 1994 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

The Kingdom

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Box Office

Gross:

$86,133 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte, Coproduction Office, Danmarks Radio (DR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

280 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lars Von Trier says on the DVD that this is an up-to-date Matador, a Danish TV series that ran from 1978-82, depicting life in a small provincial town from the 1920's through to just after the second world war. The series was a huge success, and has become somewhat of an icon.

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Goofs

The level of coffee in Helmer's cup switches back and forth by inches between shots.

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Quotes

Helmer: Here is Denmark, excreted from limestone. There is Sweden, chiselled from granite. Danish scum!

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Connections

Featured in I Lars von Triers rige - en mand og hans tv-serie (1994)

User Reviews

One of my favorites...

The Kingdom (Riget I) is quite simply a classic work of modern cinema. It's creepy, it's funny, it's emotional...and so much more. It grabs the viewer and does not let go until the end of each episode. Then, you want to view the next episode right away! It is like a great book which keeps you turning the pages one after another, after another...

I first saw The Kingdom on video and was blown away by the odd characters and the peculiar script of ideas. The story gets even more bizarre and twisted in Riget II, which has never been officially released in North America...but is available as an import for those interested. The full series is something I feel the urge to view again on a regular basis. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I've owned four subsequent editions on VHS and DVD. The official released 4-DVD import set from Denmark is the best, containing the full uncut versions of Riget 1 & 2.

The choice of the actors and actresses turned out perfect for the series, it is these performances that make The Kingdom work so flawlessly well. Ernst-Hugo Järegård & Kirsten Rolffes are the two most memorable roles in the series, and it is sad that they've both passed away. This is unfortunate as there would have been a Riget III to finish off the complete tales of The Kingdom, according to the words of Von Trier at least. It looks like that a Part 3 will never happen though, since two of the best leads of the project are gone forever.

The way The Kingdom was filmed has a stylish look that is very organic, believable, and creepy when it needs to be. They tried many things to get a deliberate "dirty look" for the series, and I think they hit the mark dead on.

Stephen King also happens to be a fan of The Kingdom, and is currently working on a longer North American version of the series. I've heard it will be fully over 20 hours, but that could be just a wild rumor. I am skeptical that this will work, but we'll just have to wait and see what it's like. Perhaps Part 3 of the story will finally get completed in this version. I'm sure I will always enjoy Von Trier's original the most, but it would be nice simply to know how the unfinished story of Part 3 evolves and is concluded...