Gamle mænd i nye biler (2002)

The last wish of the dying "Monk" is for his foster child, Harald, to find his real son, Ludvig. But the latter is currently in a Swedish prison cell. Peter and Martin - the two chefs - ... See full summary »

Director:

Lasse Spang Olsen

Writer:

Anders Thomas Jensen

Stars:

Kim Bodnia, Torkel Petersson, Tomas Villum Jensen

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kim Bodnia	...	Harald
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Martin
Tomas Villum Jensen	...	Peter
Brian Patterson	...	Vuk
Torkel Petersson	...	Ludvig
Iben Hjejle	...	Mille
Jens Okking	...	Munken
Jacob Haugaard	...	Erling
Slavko Labovic	...	Ratko
Thomas Rode Andersen	...	Dan Hansen
Dorte Daugberg	...	Sygeplejerske (as Dorte Daugbjerg)
Anna-Britt Mathiasen	...	Bank assistenter (as Anna Britt Mathiasen)
Jacob Michelsen	...	Bank assistenter
Kristian Wasshede	...	Hotelportier (as Kistian Wasshede)
Josefine Bergsøe	...	Charterstewardesse (as Josephine Bergsøe)

Storyline

The last wish of the dying "Monk" is for his foster child, Harald, to find his real son, Ludvig. But the latter is currently in a Swedish prison cell. Peter and Martin - the two chefs - want to get him out and soon father and son meet for the first time in their lives. They get on from the word go, but now dad needs a liver transplant and Ludvig and Harald set about raising the wherewithal. Everything goes wrong when they try to rob a bank, though they meet Mille, who puts them onto a new trail, and Peter and Martin also make a contribution. However, soon they have the cops and the anti-terror corps on their tails.

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Plot Keywords:

escape from prison | serial killer | black comedy | thief | soccer | 

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Germany]

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish Swedish Serbian

Release Date:

12 July 2002 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Gamla män i nya bilar

Filming Locations:

Flyvestation Værløse, Værløse, Sjælland, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Obel Film, Thura Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In car chase after the bank robbery, the police cars chasing are Ford Mondeo, but the police cars smashed are older Ford Escorts and Opel Asconas (Vauxhall)

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Quotes

Ludvig: Well, I lived with my mother till I was twelve.
Mille: I thought you said she died when you were nine.
Ludvig: Yes, she did.
[pause]
Mille: Oh you're so sweet...

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Crazy Credits

Before the film begins, the following can be read in Danish: Dedicated to Henning Bahs 1928 - 2002

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Connections

Remade as Vet hard (2005)

User Reviews

Old Men in New Cars

The 1999 Danish black comedy In China They Eat Dogs brought an enjoyable gust of fresh air to the often overly serious Nordic cinema. The prequel Old Men in New Cars casts light on the characters' earlier life: Harald (Kim Bodnia) has just been released from prison and owes a large sum of money to a gangster named Ratko (Slavko Labovic) but doesn't let the debt bother him very much. After his dying father figure Munken (Jens Okking) asks Harald to locate his estranged son Ludvig (Torkel Petersson), Harald and his cook friends Martin and Peter (Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Tomas Villum Jensen) and their new inept assistant Vuk (Brian Patterson) come up with a plan to get Ludvig, a multiple murderer with a sensitive side, out of a Swedish prison. While robbing a bank, they also they also become attached to a suicidal woman Mille (Iben Hjejle) who tags along and evokes new kinds of feelings in Ludvig. Next it is time for an elaborate airplane hijacking...

The main difference to the first movie is the absence of the mild-mannered Arvid, arguably the protagonist of In China They Eat Dogs. Instead, the prequel focuses on Harald and his ever-calm attitude to whatever obstacles life drops in front of him. The semi-reluctant Martin and Peter are the same as before, providing a lot of comedy with their awkward insecurity when things get rough and bodies start piling up, not to mention the always hapless Vuk who keeps getting seriously injured as a running gag in both movies. The main charm of the humour still lies in the deadpan delivery of the gang's outrageously implausible schemes, be it a prison break by bungee cord or an airplane robbery with an ambulance.

The action scenes, while not as numerous as in Hollywood blockbusters, are well designed and both entertaining and exciting. Especially the car chase after the bank robbery deserves a special mention, rarely do we get to see such wreckage in any normal Nordic thriller. The actors also do a good job; especially Kaas and Jensen are great as the manipulatable henchmen of the menacing Kim Bodnia, but Iben Hjejle is a joy to watch as well. Even though the absence of Arvid seems disappointing at first, it soon becomes obvious that Torkel Petersson's Ludvig is more than enough to replace him – Ludvig's homicidal tendencies mix with his caring side rather hilariously.

The familiar absurd undercurrent is still strong and the humour and action are in good balance, so those who enjoyed In China They Eat Dogs have no reason to miss out Old Men in New Cars. In the first movie there was a serious theme under the surface, namely a mild-mannered man's desire to be true to himself, and while the prequel feels a bit more straightforward, it also presents a dramatic story about familial love. In any case, both films belong among the best Danish films I have seen in a good while.