Bænken (2000)

Director:

Per Fly

Writers:

Kim Leona (screenplay) &
Per Fly (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 October 2000 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Thrown Off Balcony | Balcony | Roof | Toilet | Alcoholism

Awards:

11 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Jesper Christensen	...	Kaj
Marius Sonne Janischefska	...	Jonas
Stine Holm Joensen	...	Liv
Nicolaj Kopernikus	...	Stig
Jens Albinus	...	Kim
Sarah Boberg	...	Connie (as Sarah Kjærgaard Boberg)
Benjamin Boe Rasmussen	...	Bo
Lars Brygmann	...	Lars
Lars Ranthe	...	Kaptajnen
Holger Perfort	...	Hr. Nandrup
Britta Lillesøe	...	Lis
John Martinus	...	Toiletpasser
Petrine Agger	...	Sygeplejerske
Ann Kristine Schmidt	...	Receptionist
Anette Støvelbæk	...	Kims Nabo

Also Known As:

Bänken (Sweden)
The Bench (International: English title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Denmark:15 | Norway:15 | Sweden:11 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Avedøre Stationsby, Avedøre, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

Director Per Fly originally came up with the idea of making the film after reading an article by the leader of charity organization Kirkens Korshær about poverty and social problems in Denmark. As part of his later research he intensely followed the work of a social counselor for some time. He based the film's characters on the people he saw and met during that period.

Goofs:

Continuity: Kaj's name on the letterbox reappears after he has destroyed it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bænken - med virkeligheden som udgangspunkt (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Requiem (sanctus)

A socio-realistic drama of a drunk guy with no future, suddenly finding a path...

The most stunishing thing about this movie is the acting of the drunk guy. Several times during the movie I pondered whether they had brought in a real drunk, or if it really was an actor? All his moves, the way i talked etc. were so real.

The story as far as I recall it, is about a drunk guy on dole, with no future. Suddenly he meets a person which makes his internal flame of live rise and burst.

We as spectators get a view of how it is having no future, no family and nothing to do. Its a story without any special effects or explosions (not even a telly which is thrown out of the window from the second floor explode upon impact with the sidewalk!) But still, the story is so much better than of most multi-billion dollar movies from Hollywood.