Riget 

Doctors at an ultramodern hospital in Denmark become convinced, by way of weird, inexplicable happenings, that the place is haunted.

Stars:

Ernst-Hugo Järegård, Kirsten Rolffes, Ghita Nørby

20 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Stig Helmer 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Kirsten Rolffes	...	Sigrid Drusse 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Holger Juul Hansen	...	Einar Moesgaard / ... 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Søren Pilmark	...	Jørgen Krogshøj 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Ghita Nørby	...	Rigmor Mortensen 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Jens Okking	...	Bulder Harly Drusse 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Otto Brandenburg	...	Hansen 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Baard Owe	...	Palle Bondo 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Birgitte Raaberg	...	Judith Petersen 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Peter Mygind	...	Morten 'Mogge' Moesgaard 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Vita Jensen	...	Opvasker #1 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Morten Rotne Leffers	...	Opvasker #2 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Udo Kier	...	Age Krüger / ... 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Holger Perfort	...	Professor Ulrich 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Laura Christensen	...	Mona Jensen / ... 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Ole Boisen	...	Christian 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Ruth Junker	...	Opvasker #1 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Peter Gilsfort	...	Opvasker #2 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Ulrik Cold	...	Narrator 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Søren Elung Jensen	...	Læge 8 episodes, 1994-1997
Louise Fribo	...	Sanne 7 episodes, 1994-1997
Paul Hüttel	...	Steenbæk 7 episodes, 1994-1997
Klaus Wegener	...	Skadestuelæge 7 episodes, 1994-1997
Annette Ketscher	...	Skadestuesygeplejerske / ... 7 episodes, 1994-1997
Mette Munk Plum	...	Monas mor 7 episodes, 1994-1997
Julie Wieth	...	Sygeplejerske ved Mona / ... 6 episodes, 1994-1997
Birte Tove	...	Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk 6 episodes, 1994-1997
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Camilla 6 episodes, 1994-1997
Erik Wedersøe	...	Ole / ... 5 episodes, 1994-1997
Henning Jensen	...	Bob 5 episodes, 1994-1997
Annevig Schelde Ebbe	...	Mary Krüger 5 episodes, 1994-1997
Tomas Stender	...	Medicinstuderende / ... 5 episodes, 1994-1997
Claus Nissen	...	Jensen 5 episodes, 1994-1997
Birthe Neumann	...	Fru Svendsen / ... 4 episodes, 1997
John Hahn-Petersen	...	Nivesen 4 episodes, 1997
Søren Lenander	...	Vagt 4 episodes, 1994
Michael Simpson	...	Dyrepasser i dyrelaboratoriet / ... 4 episodes, 1994-1997
Evald Krog	...	Lillebror 4 episodes, 1997
Lise Schrøder	...	Sygeplejerske / ... 4 episodes, 1994-1997
Henrik Koefoed	...	Læge ved CTR-skanner 4 episodes, 1994
Mette Marckmann	...	Ung sygeplejerske 4 episodes, 1994
Bente Eskesen	...	Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk 3 episodes, 1994
Dorit Stender Petersen	...	Sygeplejerske / ... 3 episodes, 1997
Cecilie Brask	...	Kvinde i terapi 3 episodes, 1997
Benny Hansen	...	Chauffør i radioen / ... 3 episodes, 1994
Nis Bank-Mikkelsen	...	Hospitalspræst / ... 3 episodes, 1994-1997
Müslie	...	Bongo 3 episodes, 1994
Helle Virkner	...	Emma Mogensen / ... 3 episodes, 1994-1997
Lars Lunøe	...	Sundhedsminister 3 episodes, 1994-1997
Peter Hartmann	...	Flyttemand 3 episodes, 1997
Tine Miehe-Renard	...	Natsygeplejerske 3 episodes, 1997
Dick Kaysø	...	Vagtmester 2 episodes, 1994
Michelle Bjørn-Andersen	...	Børnelæge 2 episodes, 1997
Finn Nielsen	...	Madsen 2 episodes, 1994
Else Petersen	...	Patient på Ellens stue 2 episodes, 1994
Henrik Fiig	...	Trafikoffer 2 episodes, 1997
Klaus Pagh	...	Stævningsmand 2 episodes, 1997
Kim Jansson	...	Betjent Jensen 2 episodes, 1997
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Falken 2 episodes, 1997
Claus Flygare	...	Betjent Nielsen 2 episodes, 1997
Steen Svare	...	Hospitalsansat 2 episodes, 1997
Ole Dupont	...	Læge / ... 2 episodes, 1994-1997

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:

doctor | hospital | denmark | dishwasher | poison | 

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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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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

Denmark Italy Germany France Norway Sweden Netherlands

Language:

Danish Swedish

Release Date:

24 November 1994 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

The Kingdom II

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Box Office

Gross USA:

$86,133

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte, Coproduction Office, Danmarks Radio (DR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

286 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stephen King developed a 13-episode mini-series based on Riget, under the title Kingdom Hospital (2004), which was broadcast in 2004. The plot retained many of the elements of Riget, transferring the location of the hospital to Lewiston, Maine and placing it on the site of a mill built before the Civil War. Many of the characters derived their names from the Danish original (e.g., Sigrid Drusse became Sally Druse and Stig Helmer became Dr. Stegman). A significant difference in the American series was the introduction of a talking giant anteater character in the role of spirit guide/death/Anubis/Antubis.

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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

Stig Helmer: No more Mr. Nice Guy!

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Connections

Referenced in Death Knows Your Name (2007)

User Reviews

Cannot give this any more praise

Acclaimed director Lars Von Trier came to Riget (The Kingdom) after the failure of his film Europa (1991) and some trouble with his personal life, weather these contrasting elements had anything to do with the set up of the story of the Kingdom is unknown, but it might explain the playfulness of the film. This was the first time that von Trier would use the documentary-style approach he continued in his Dogme film The Idiots (1998) and with this project it worked wonders at enriching the source material with a certain satire. We except straight away that these bizarre occurrences are actually happening in the largest hospital in Denmark (The Kingdom of the title) and we have no reason to doubt it. As well as visual style, the characterisation is also good, Von Trier and fellow writers Tomas Gíslason and Niels Vørsel understand that we need to be interested in the characters of a TV show if we are to follow them for the duration of the series, and the characters in The Kingdom are no exception. We have at the focus of the action Dr Helmer played by the late Ernst-Hugo Järegård, a Swede with a troubled past who despises the hospital and it's practices, his recurring catchphrase "Bloody Danes" is a memorable addition to the proceedings. But more importantly is the character of Mrs Drusse (Kirsten Rolffes), the Ms Marple type character who's strange visions of the ghostly young Mary set the ball rolling. All of the actors are perfectly cast and have a great time mixing the surreal horror with the more comedic moments. Having seen both series of the Kingdom, I would say that series two is much better, perhaps because by this time we have a better grasp on the characters, but that by no way means that series one isn't just as good, let's not forget just how important a stepping stone it is. With this one Von Trier and co-director Morten Arnfred created a modern TV masterpiece. 10/10