"Riget II" (1997) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Directors:

Morten Arnfred
Lars von Trier

Writers:

Niels Vørsel (writer)
Lars von Trier (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 November 1997 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

Plot:

It starts with the birth of "Little Brother", the son of diabolical murderer Aage Kroeger and the nurse Judith...

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Dishwasher | Poison | Doctor | Evil

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Stig Helmer (4 episodes, 1997)
Peter Mygind	...	Mogge (4 episodes, 1997)
Kirsten Rolffes	...	Sigrid Drusse (4 episodes, 1997)
Holger Juul Hansen	...	Dr. Moesgaard (4 episodes, 1997)
Søren Pilmark	...	Krogshøj (4 episodes, 1997)
Ghita Nørby	...	Rigmor Mortensen (4 episodes, 1997)
Jens Okking	...	Bulder (4 episodes, 1997)
Ole Boisen	...	Christian (4 episodes, 1997)
Erik Wedersøe	...	Ole (4 episodes, 1997)
Baard Owe	...	Prof. Palle Bondo (4 episodes, 1997)
Birgitte Raaberg	...	Judith Bang Petersen (4 episodes, 1997)
Henning Jensen	...	Bob (4 episodes, 1997)
Laura Christensen	...	Mona (4 episodes, 1997)
Ulrik Cold	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 1997)
Peter Gilsfort	...	Dishwasher 2 (4 episodes, 1997)
John Hahn-Petersen	...	Nivesen (4 episodes, 1997)
Paul Hüttel	...	Dr. Steenbaek (4 episodes, 1997)
Vita Jensen	...	Dish washer 1 (4 episodes, 1997)
Ruth Junker	...	Dishwasher 1 (4 episodes, 1997)
Udo Kier	...	Aage Krüger / ... (4 episodes, 1997)
Morten Rotne Leffers	...	Dish Washer 2 (4 episodes, 1997)
Birthe Neumann	...	Mrs. Svendsen (3 episodes, 1997)
Otto Brandenburg	...	Hansen (3 episodes, 1997)
Louise Fribo	...	Susanne Jeppesen -- Sanne (3 episodes, 1997)
Claus Nissen	...	Madsen (3 episodes, 1997)
Holger Perfort	...	Professor Ulrich (3 episodes, 1997)
Lise Schrøder	...	Nurse 2 (3 episodes, 1997)
Tomas Stender	...	Student (3 episodes, 1997)
Lars von Trier	...	Himself (3 episodes, 1997)
Julie Wieth	...	Pediatric Nurse (3 episodes, 1997)
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Falken (2 episodes, 1997)
Michelle Bjørn-Andersen	...	Pediatrician (2 episodes, 1997)
Claus Flygare	...	Detective Nielsen (2 episodes, 1997)
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Camilla (2 episodes, 1997)
Kim Jansson	...	Detective Jensen (2 episodes, 1997)
Søren Elung Jensen	...	Man in Top Hat (2 episodes, 1997)
Annette Ketscher	...	Nurse -- Casualty (2 episodes, 1997)
Tine Miehe-Renard	...	Night Nurse (2 episodes, 1997)
Dorit Stender Petersen	...	Assisting nurse (2 episodes, 1997)
Mette Munk Plum	...	Mona's Mother (2 episodes, 1997)
Steen Svare	...	Man in Overalls (2 episodes, 1997)
Klaus Wegener	...	Doctor -- Casualty (2 episodes, 1997)

Also Known As:

The Kingdom II (France) (theatrical title) (USA)
Geister II (Germany)
Hospital der Geister - Teil 2 (Germany) (video title)
L'hôpital et ses fantômes (France)
Lars von Triers Riget II (Denmark) (DVD box title)
Riket 2 (Norway)

Runtime:

286 min

Country:

Sweden | Italy | France | Norway | Germany | Denmark

Language:

Danish | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:16 | Iceland:14 | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Danmarks Radio (DR)

Trivia:

Reportedly, a third installment of the series was prepared but scrapped as several of the leading actors either passed away or retired within a relatively short period of time.

Quotes:

Stig Helmer: No more Mr. Nice Guy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Anecdotes from 'Epidemic' (2005) (V)

Death, demons and Danes

I had seen Riket, part one, some years ago and wasn't disappointed by the sequel, even though it was, if possible, even more twisted and gory. The hospital setting is familiar to all of us. We've seen General Hospital or E.R. There is something about hospitals that appeal to us: life and death, everyday drama and doctors with fate in their hands. And we all love a good ghost story. And together the two, hospitals and ghosts, become a terrific combination. It scares the hell out the viewer -but in the nice kind of way. Because deep down we know that it's all make believe. Von Trier has made a full blown "Dogma-95" (no special effects, no lights, everything is tinted yellow and the handy cam seems to be managed by someone having an epileptic fit) and that way it all becomes even more scary. There is also the conflict between the Swedish doctor who's (wants to be) efficient and rational and the lazy, beer guzzling Danish orderlies and confused doctors. They are caricatures that we love to see, at least us Swedes and Danish. So if you can, rent the video and turn out the lights, arm yourself with a pillow to hide behind when it gets too scary and enjoy!