Shake It (2001) En kort en lang (original title)

Director:

Hella Joof

Writers:

Hella Joof (screenplay) &
Klaus Bondam (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 November 2001 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Plot:

Jacob is a young man used to getting everything he wants. For several years, he has been living in a happy homosexual partnership with Jørgen...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Marriage | Falling In Love | Homosexual | Marriage Proposal

Awards:

6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Mads Mikkelsen	...	Jacob
Troels Lyby	...	Jørgen
Charlotte Munck	...	Caroline
Jesper Lohmann	...	Tom
Oskar Walsøe	...	Oskar
Peter Frödin	...	Frederik
Nikolaj Steen	...	Mads
Ditte Gråbøl	...	Inge
Morten Kirkskov	...	Adrian
Henning Jensen	...	Palle
Pernille Højmark	...	Ellen
Ellen Hillingsø	...	Anne
Ghita Nørby	...	Bine
Thomas Winding	...	Hans Henrik
Klaus Bondam	...	Præsten
Tammi Øst	...	Anja
Lars Knutzon	...	Finn
Thomas Bendixen	...	Simon
Preben Harris	...	Jørgen og Toms Far, Poul
Karen Lis Ahrenkiel	...	Jørgen og Toms Mor, Else (as Karen-Lis Ahrenkiel)
Hannah Bjarnhof	...	Tante Paula
Lars Hjortshøj	...	Alkoholiker
Andras Banfi	...	Ibrahim Modi, Moskéens Bygherre
Joy-Maria Frederiksen	...	Carolines Veninde (as Joy Maria Frederiksen)
Martin Brygmann	...	Parterapeut
Benedikte Hansen	...	Kvindelig Betjent (as Benedickte Hansen)
Malkith Singh	...	Per (as Malkit Singh)
Anne Sofie Espersen	...	Lærke
Lærke Winther Andersen	...	Synne (as Lærke Winter Andersen)
Lotte Andersen	...	Læge
Ellen Nyman	...	Stewardess
Zlatko Buric	...	Taxachauffør
Mattias Straub	...	Falckmand
Morten Hilbert	...	Rocker 1
John Kalmar	...	Rocker 2
Peter Lambert	...	Rocker 3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Larsen	...	Restaurantgæst
Anders Thomas Jensen	...	Drunk customer at Frederik's bar (uncredited)
Søren Kaster	...	Søren (uncredited)
Jim Lyngvild	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ali Rezvani	...	Passenger in plain (uncredited)

Directed by
Hella Joof

Writing credits
Hella Joof		(screenplay) &
Klaus Bondam		(screenplay)
Thomas Gammeltoft		(idea) &
Michael Christoffersen		(idea)

Produced by
Thomas Gammeltoft	....	producer
Mogens Glad	....	executive producer
Frank Hübner	....	producer
Poul Erik Lindeborg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Povl Kristian

Cinematography by
Eric Kress

Film Editing by
Anders Villadsen

Production Design by
Peter Grant

Costume Design by
Manon Rasmussen

Makeup Department
Eva Flamholc	....	makeup artist (as Eva Flamholc Andersen)
Charlotte Laustsen	....	makeup artist
Anne Cathrine Sauerberg	....	makeup artist (as Anne Catrine Sauerberg)
Susanne Søbye	....	makeup artist
Agneta von Gegerfelt	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Casper Holm	....	unit production manager
Sanne Arnt Torp	....	production manager
Nanna van Elk	....	post-production supervisor
Reinhild Gräber	....	production supervisor: ApolloMedia (uncredited)
Rudolf Kurz	....	production supervisor: ApolloMedia (uncredited)

Art Department
Poul Dybendal Andersen	....	craftsman
Sebastian Bacquaert	....	assistant props
Ivar Baungaard	....	property master
Jean Roch Bechameil	....	stucco artist (as Jean Bechameil)
Mogens Craner	....	craftsman
Niels Valentin Dal	....	designer: back insignia (as Niels Valentin Dal Hansen)
Morten Droob	....	assistant props
Simone Grau	....	props
Leo Jørgart	....	construction supervisor
Jørgen Krogh	....	craftsman
Andrea Nemcova	....	assistant production designer
Tine Hieronymus Nielsen	....	set dresser (as Tine Hieronymus)
Tina Pedersen	....	assistant props (as Tina Helen Pedersen)
René Pejl	....	craftsman
Søren Simonsen	....	craftsman
Jac Villemann	....	craftsman (as Jac Villeman)
Paul Wilson	....	artistic director: Yellow1
Paul Wilson	....	graphical designer: Yellow1

Sound Department
Morten Degnbol	....	sound
Pétur Einarsson	....	assistant sound editor
Pétur Einarsson	....	boom operator
Henrik Garnov	....	sound editor
Nino Jacobsen	....	sound designer
Nino Jacobsen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nino Jacobsen	....	supervising sound editor
Lars Lund	....	boom operator
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Hans Peter Ludvigsen	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Mikael Balle	....	Inferno artist
Daniel Silwerfeldt	....	visual effects supervisor
Robin Skjoldborg	....	camera operator: special photographic effects
Lars H. Sørensen	....	Inferno artist
Tonni Zinck	....	3D artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Alsted	....	clapper loader
Rasmus Beckett	....	grip assistant
Søren Berthelin	....	first assistant camera (as Søren Thomas Berthelin)
Björn Blixt	....	camera operator: second unit
Dirk Brüel	....	camera operator: second unit
Jesper Find	....	first assistant camera
Kasper Gaardsøe	....	lighting technician
Viggo Grumme	....	lighting technician
Peter Harton	....	clapper loader
Jan Michael Jensen	....	lighting technician
Michael Wils Jensen	....	gaffer (as Michael Wils)
Ole Kragh-Jacobsen	....	still photographer (as Ole Kragh Jacobsen)
Mikael Kort Kristensen	....	grip (as Michael Kort)
Thomas Kristensen	....	grip
Ole Kristian Krogstad	....	grip
Knut K. Pedersen	....	Steadicam operator
Simon Plum	....	camera operator: teaser trailers
Claus Rosenløv Jensen	....	first assistant camera
Martin Top Jacobsen	....	lighting assistant
Peter Topsøe-Jensen	....	clapper loader (as Peter Topsøe)
Laust Trier-Mørk	....	lighting assistant (as Laust Trier Mørk)
Jesper Westh	....	lighting technician (as Jesper Westh Jacobsen)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stine Gudmundsen-Holmgreen	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Rasmus Beckett	....	teaser trailer editor (as Rasmus Beckett Nilsson)
Anders V. Christensen	....	assistant editor
Peter Diemar	....	color grader
Camilla Ebling	....	assistant editor
Henrik Fleischer	....	teaser trailer editor
Janni Helleskov	....	post-production coordinator
Michael Frank Nielsen	....	film color timer (as Michael Nielsen)

Music Department
Flemming Patrick Andersen	....	musician: second violin
Kaare Bjerkø	....	musician: harmonica (as Kåre Bjerkø)
Lars Bjørnkær	....	musician: first violin (as Lars Bjørnkjær)
Gbatokai Dakinah	....	musician: bass
Pelle Fridell	....	musician: flute, clarinet and saxophone
Demitri Golovanov	....	musician: viola
Peter Halaburt	....	musician: English horn
Flemming Hansson	....	music engineer
Flemming Hansson	....	music mixer
Michael Hendersson	....	music engineer
Eugine Hye-Knudsen	....	musician: cello (as Eugene Hye-Knudsen)
Keld Ipsen	....	musician: bassoon
Aske Jacoby	....	musician: guitar
Povl Kristian	....	music producer
Povl Kristian	....	musician: piano
Flemming Muus	....	musician: bass
Rune Harder Olesen	....	musician: percussion
Christian Overgaard	....	musician: guitar
Nikolai Pedersen	....	musician: trombone
Peter Peter	....	musician: guitar and mandolin
Morten Reumert	....	musician: hammond organ
Jesper Riis	....	musician: trumpet and horn
Flemming Rothaus	....	musician: drums
Joakim Thomsen	....	musician: oboe (as Joakim Dam Thomsen)
Kasper Tranberg	....	musician: cornet
Mika Vandborg	....	musician: guitar
Rune Vestberg	....	music engineer
Rasmus Winther	....	music engineer (as Rasmus Winther Jensen)
Rasmus Winther	....	score mixer

Other crew
Kim Fupz Aakeson	....	script consultant
Henrik Køier Andersen	....	horse trainer
Ariette Walsøe Busch	....	location assistant (as Arlette Walsøe)
Marianne Christensen	....	consultant: TV2
Nina Crone	....	financing
Kim Demacena	....	runner
Gert Duve Skovlund	....	film consultant: Det Danske Filminstitut
Mikkel Beha Erichsen	....	behind-the-scenes documentary
Lillian Rype Fokdal	....	script supervisor
Lene Gunnarson	....	bookkeeper
Jens Haubæk	....	behind-the-scenes documentary (as Jens Haubek)
Anne Heeno	....	extras coordinator
Janni Helleskov	....	production coordinator
Jørgen Hinsch	....	studio coordinator (as Jørgen Hinch)
Marie Hyllested	....	lawyer
Jannik Johansen	....	technical director
Matt Lawford	....	shortfall insurance
Jens Lundvang	....	runner
Samia Mainz	....	assistant: Frank Hübner
Rasmus Rise Michaelsen	....	runner (as Rasmus Rise)
Claus Nielsen	....	location manager
Katja Elisabeth Olsen	....	runner
Valeria Richter	....	public relations
Sara Stockmann	....	public relations
Paul Wilson	....	title designer: Yellow1
Søren Ølund	....	controller

Thanks
Sunny Asemota	....	special thanks
Christoffer Berdal	....	special thanks
Marianne Christensen	....	special thanks
Janni Helleskov	....	special thanks
Gaute Høgh	....	special thanks: Kunde & Co. (as Gaute Hoegh)
Anders Thomas Jensen	....	special thanks
Line Knutzon	....	special thanks
Thomas Kristensen	....	special thanks
Birthe Neumann	....	special thanks
Marianne Nilsson	....	special thanks
Hanne Palmquist	....	special thanks
Greg Rogers	....	thanks: Film Music Group
Troels Agueh Vestergaard	....	special thanks
Eigil Wahele	....	thanks: Arkitekterne WDW

Production Companies

• Angel Films (as Angel Production)
• ApolloMedia
• TV2 Danmark (in cooperation with)

Distributors

• Angel Films (2001-) (Denmark) (all media)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Keyfilms Roma (Italy)
• Mongrel Media (Canada)

Special Effects

• Radar Film (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Det Danske Filminstitut  supported by
• Angel Distribution  public relations
• Angel Facility  avid editing
• Art Management  additional publicity
• Cath's Catering  catering
• Craftsmen  bus
• Det Danske Filmstudie  catering (as Kantinen på Det Danske Filmstudie)
• Det Danske Filmstudie  sound and mix studio
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Kameraudlejningen  camera equipment
• Medley Studie  music studio
• Ministi  sound design: teaser trailer
• SUFI Studiet  music studio
• Sauna Studiet  music studio
• Shortcut Post Production  digital post-production

Also Known As:

"En kort en lang" - Denmark (original title)
"Shake It All About" - International (English title)

Runtime:

98 min | Japan:100 min

Country:

Denmark | Germany

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 | Norway:11

Filming Locations:

Birkerød Kirke, Birkerød, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Angel Films

Trivia:

The person Sørmand who Frederik talks about all the time is finally revealed in the photos during the end credits. It turns out to be the real-life TV host Søren Kaster who among other things was the first host of the Danish version of "Jeopardy!".

Movie Connections:

References The Celebration (1998)

Soundtrack:

Open Sky

Good, funny but inconsistent

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie, which in some ways probably helps. Going in with absolutely no expectations about any of the performers (or the director) may have helped make my experience more enjoyable.

The best thing about this film is Troels Lyby, who seems to have hot on just the right combination of humor, sadness, realism and indecision for "Jorgen." Particularly good is the scene where his friends try to cheer him up as his partner packs up to leave. His slow disintegration during lunch is an example of really good acting. He never lets his character get too maudlin or too "I'm putting on the cheery face for you" (as an American actor would have done).

Mads Mikkelson, however, is nowhere near as good. His "Jakob" seems mopey, bored, angry and closeted. Where is the thrill of finding a new sexual partner he's obsessed by? The script clearly calls for that, but Mikkelson never really gets the audience to believe that Jakob is truly fascinated by Caroline. Mikkelson seems to be just going through the motions in so much of the movie. One could say that Jakob is deeply conflicted by his sexual and emotional attraction to Caroline; hence, the sullen acting. But I just don't buy that. The script never calls for that explanation, and Mikkelson doesn't bring it off anyway.

Peter Frodin as the outlandish Frederik is your stereotypical hysterical queen. But he brings it off without offending us, becoming obnoxious, or turning Frederik into a cardboard cut-out. (His scene where he describes his angst over "Sailor's" refusal to come out of the closet and love him is really quite good.)

Less effective is Charlotte Munck as Caroline. In part, this is due to the material she has to work with. I never really felt that Caroline was suffering that much in her failing marriage to Tom (Jesper Lohmann). Sure, Tom is never home. But Caroline doesn't want another baby anyway, and Tom being home would increase the pressure on her. So why does she turn to Jakob? The whole movie hinges on us believing that Caroline and Jakob really share a deep, festering obsession with one another. But the film never goes there, and as a result half the movie (anything to do with Jakob and Caroline) just doesn't work that well. (Munck, however, is superb in the Swedish skating-rink scene. her physical acting and facial expressions really convinced me that she was finally, truly happy.)

Jesper Lohmann is given even less to work with, and as a result his Tom is just a caricature of the work-a-holic husband. (It makes absolutely no sense for him to be the salvation of Jakob and Jorgen's marriage. It's a cute ending, somewhat along the lines of "Flying Down to Rio." But it makes no sense.)

Watch for superb bit performances by Morten Kirkskov and Henning Jensen as the super-fag married couple (particularly their two scenes mid-movie, one where they are horrified that Jakob has turned straight and one where the "ugly secret" of their marriage comes out). Oskar Valsoe is really good as the lone straight (?) man in the bunch, without falling over into supercilious liberal guilt (as so many American films would push the character).

The editing is just superb, and the cinematography at times really reaches for your heart. The soundtrack is very good -- when it is there. It's too bad there wasn't more if it (a la "Muriel's Wedding" or "Boogie Nights").

And okay -- so the script at times falls into triteness. Jorgen loses an eye after driving drunkenly through the night after hearing Jakob's confession. Like we didn't see that one coming! (After "The World According to Garp," this is just too, too common a story-telling trick.) The ending, too, is just far too pat. The inclusion of the horse was just so bookend-ish, it really pushed the conclusion far beyond acceptable storytelling limits. But overall, this film is rather good. I had a very pleasant time watching it.