Mørke (2005)

Director:

Jannik Johansen

Writers:

Anders Thomas Jensen (writer)
Jannik Johansen (writer)

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The psychological thriller "Murk" tells the story of Jacob, who is investigating into the circumstances surrounding his sister's death on her wedding night.

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Jacob
Nicolas Bro	...	Anker
Lærke Winther Andersen	...	Hanne
Laura Drasbæk	...	Nina
Lotte Bergstrøm	...	Julie
Anne Sophie Byder	...	Sonja
Morten Lützhøft	...	Carl
Lisbet Lundquist	...	Caroline
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hother Bøndorff	...	Rikkes far (as Hother Bøndorf)
Katrine Hartmann Nielsen	...	Rikke Bjerre
Lars Lunøe	...	Ka Hjort
Søren Thomsen	...	Onkel Svend
Ane Vinther	...	Rikkes mor

Directed by
Jannik Johansen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Anders Thomas Jensen		writer
Jannik Johansen		writer

Produced by
Ole Bendixen	....	executive producer
Mike Downey	....	co-producer
Thomas Gammeltoft	....	producer
Hanne Palmquist	....	producer
Zorana Piggott	....	executive producer
Søren Poulsen	....	executive producer
Sam Taylor	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Antony Genn

Cinematography by
Rasmus Videbæk

Film Editing by
Per K. Kirkegaard

Casting by
Anja Philip

Production Design by
Peter De Neergaard

Set Decoration by
Sune Saabye

Costume Design by
Sussie Bjørnvad		(as Susie Bjørnvad)

Makeup Department
Morten Jacobsen	....	special makeup effects artist
Astrid Juul	....	assistant makeup artist
Helle Klysner	....	assistant makeup artist
Liz Louis-Jensen	....	key makeup artist (as Lis Louis-Jensen)
Soile Ludjoi	....	makeup artist
Carina Rehmeier	....	assistant makeup artist
Sigurbjörn Svansson	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Caroline Reichhardt	....	production manager
Jackie Vance	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nicolai Kornum	....	third assistant director
Emil Sparre-Ulrich	....	assistant director

Art Department
Sebastian Bacquaert	....	property assistant
Charlotte Bech	....	assistant art director
Thomas Bremer	....	props
Michael Dolin	....	carpenter
Anders Huulgaard	....	storyboard artist
Liselotte Møller	....	painter
Bent 'Niller' Nielsen	....	head carpenter (as Niller Nielsen)
Hans Erik Olsen	....	painter
Sune Saabye	....	property master
Mads Skytte	....	art department runner
Anja Wessel	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Tim Alban	....	foley artist
Richard Davey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Morten Degnbol	....	sound
Evelyn Ficarra	....	sound effects
Jenni Glasdam	....	boom operator
James Hamilton	....	foley editor
Nino Jacobsen	....	sound editor
Morten Jensen	....	boom operator
Jessie Taylor	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Alan Church	....	visual effects supervisor
Andrew Garnet-Lawson	....	matte artist
Simon Giles	....	visual effects supervisor
Steve Gray	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Dennis Albrechtsen	....	stunt double: Nicolas Bro (as Dennis Albretsen)
Stig Günther	....	stunt double: Lie Kass

Camera and Electrical Department
Anders Frithiof August	....	clapper loader
Lars Helsinghof Bæk	....	additional lighting technician (as Lars Bæk)
Niller Bjerregaard	....	lighting technician
Dirk Brüel	....	director of photography: second unit
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Finn Hagemand	....	additional lighting technician (as Finn Hagemann Pedersen)
Dai Hopkins	....	grip
Josef Lopez	....	lighting technician
Jens Lund-Larsen	....	lighting technician
Kim Mosfelt	....	additional lighting technician
Magnus Ohmsen	....	crane operator
Daniel Parmo	....	first assistant camera
Jens Bo Poulsen	....	gaffer
Rupert Power	....	Steadicam operator
Søren Sielemann	....	lighting technician
Dennis Tillström	....	clapper loader
Jesper With	....	additional lighting technician

Casting Department
Stina Bohn Ipsen	....	extras casting coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebekka Leve	....	costumer
Helle Nielsen	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Matt Adams	....	digital intermediate producer
Dorthe Brandt Bankwell	....	color timer
Peter Davidson	....	negative cutter
Mikael Ebbesen	....	assistant editor
Rob Gordon	....	on-line editor
Peter Harry	....	assistant editor
Janni Helleskov	....	post-production coordinator
John Hinchliffe	....	digital intermediate technician (as John Hinschliff)
Tove Jystrup	....	post-production coordinator
Rob Pizzey	....	colorist
Per Sidor	....	synchronization

Music Department
Cameron Craig	....	music mixer
Antony Genn	....	music producer
Jeppe Kaltoft	....	music supervisor
Philip Sheppard	....	conductor
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)

Other crew
Henrik Berthelsen	....	location manager
Susanne Bille	....	publicist
Line Daugbjerg Christensen	....	production assistant
Tine Engelbrecht	....	production coordinator: DK
Stine Monty Freddie	....	script supervisor (as Stine Monty)
Lene Gunnarson	....	bookkeeper
Louise Janniche	....	production coordinator
Jan Christian Jensen	....	body double
Jan Christian Jensen	....	stand-in
Michael Jørgensen	....	technical supervisor
Lars Krogsgaard	....	runner
Kelvin Mose Larsen	....	body double
Sam Lavender	....	development executive
Hannah Longbottom	....	production coordinator: UK
Anja Bay Pedersen	....	assistant: Jannik Johansen
Kim Søgaard	....	location manager
Lee Thomas	....	assistant to producers
Louise Valeur	....	production coordinator
William von Bülow	....	runner
Janus Weile	....	runner
Paul Wilson	....	title designer: Yellow1

Production Companies

• Film and Music Entertainment
• Fine & Mellow Productions

Distributors

• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Oy Nordisk Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Hypnosis VFX Ltd. (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Clarity Post Production Sound  sound post-production
• Filmgear  grip equipment
• Malde & Co.  production consultants
• One Post  digital intermediate
• Soho Images  film lab
• Tru-Cut  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Murk (International: English title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

Denmark | UK

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Germany:16

Company:

Film and Music Entertainment

Trivia:

While 'Mørke' is in fact a town in Jutland, Denmark, it is also the Danish word for 'Darkness'.

It's not just a city in Jutland

Mørke... Darkness... a movie consisting of, revolving around, set in and taking place in the cover of darkness. A movie about suicide close to you, made by probably the two most fitting people in Danish show business; Nikolaj Lie Kaas, whose mother committed suicide, and whose father drowned, in what may have been a suicide, and Jannik Johansen, whose sister committed suicide. This was a necessary film to make, for both of them. And us Danes need it too, because of the message it so beautifully communicates: we're not open enough about death. It's taboo. We don't talk about it... we just don't. And that's a mistake. As a character so perfectly says it in this film: "We don't talk about death. That's why it's so hard." The plot is brilliant. It makes sense and holds water(to some extent; it will be become clear to most viewers that Jannik Johansen chose dramatic effect over realism for some parts in the film). Also, it leaves room for Kaas' character to ponder, wonder and feel guilty. Without the internal conflict of Jakob, our main character, the film wouldn't be what it is. The pacing is absolutely perfect. I was never bored for a second. The acting is flawless. Nicolas Bro and Kaas are astounding. The characters are exceptionally well-written and credible. The dialog is great. Not one line seems contrived. It's put to great use, too; in one of the first scenes, Jakob's relationship with his sister and their mother, not to mention their(or is that... our?) relationship with death. Johansen also does a great job of underplaying cinematic effects... several scenes end with an unpleasant twist that adds something entirely new to the whole scene. The whole film through, we're delved into the mystery, not knowing who to trust, or what to think. We feel Jakob's powerlessness, his panic, and his guilt. We follow his travel into his own darkness as he unravels the truth. There are several scenes of high intensity, incredible tension and great suspense. Johansen has a tendency to draw out scenes that are in actuality quite short, and with great effect. This is, in my opinion, the greatest accomplishment in Danish cinema. I recommend this film to any fan of Danish films, thrillers and/or dramas. If you think you can take it(it's definitely not for the faint of heart), you should give it a chance. There's a big chance you'll find it every bit as deep, strong and emotionally involving as I did. 10/10