The Green Butchers (2003)

2 Danish friends are tired of their employer and open their own butcher shop. An electrician accidentally dies in the freezer and he's sold as marinated chicken and business picks up. What happens when they run out of "chicken"?

Director:

Anders Thomas Jensen

Writer:

Anders Thomas Jensen

Stars:

Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Mads Mikkelsen, Line Kruse

7 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Bjarne / Eigil
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Svend
Line Kruse	...	Astrid
Ole Thestrup	...	Holger
Bodil Jørgensen	...	Tina
Aksel Erhardtsen	...	Pastor Villumsen (as Aksel Erhardsen)
Lily Weiding	...	Fru Juhl
Nicolas Bro	...	Hus Hans
Camilla Bendix	...	Beate
Elsebeth Steentoft	...	Ingrid Grith
Kjeld Nørgaard	...	Leif Larsen (as Keld Nørgaard)
Peter Reichhardt	...	Levnedsmiddelkontrollen
Kristian Halken	...	Levnedsmiddelkontrollen
Lars Ranthe	...	Levnedsmiddelkontrollen
Mikkel Vadsholt	...	Elektriker

Storyline

Svend and Bjarne work for a butcher in a small Danish town. Fed up with their boss' arrogance, they decide to start their own butcher shop. After dismal beginnings, an unfortunate accident happens which coincides with a large order of meat. One hasty decision leads to another and soon the business thrives. In the meantime, Bjarne has to deal with his twin brother who has been in coma for years following a gruesome car accident.

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Plot Keywords:

flesh | butcher | meat | cannibalism | cold storage room | 

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Taglines:

You never forget the taste of human flesh

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, disturbing images and drug use

Did You Know?

Quotes

Holger: [about sausages] I don't know if you can think of any greater humiliation than to be stuffed in your own arse.

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Connections

Referenced in De grønne slagtere - en virkelig god marinade (2003)

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Soundtracks

Alene med en yndig pige
Written by Kai Normann Andersen and Børge Müller
Performed by Poul Reichhardt

User Reviews

Excellent film that I can't write enough good stuff about it

Not entirely sure how I stumbled upon this movie, but I'm so glad I did. Initially, we were put off by the fact that it was subtitled, but even my dyslexic brother who hates to read (especially at the weekend) enjoyed this film. I found the script fantastic and the way it was delivered in such a dead-pan manner only added to the puddles of pee on my sofa. Not entirely sure whether it's quite so funny to the native Danish as the comedy seems to be enhanced by the tonelessness of the subtitles and the ambiguity of the translation. I haven't watched many Danish films (or any for that matter), but judging by this film I'm guessing they're not constrained by the same political correctness as elsewhere (gawd bless 'em) making the character of Eigel a breath of fresh air, because let's face it special needs are funny. There are so many great one-liners in this film it puts American sitcoms to shame.

Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

The Green Butchers

Filming Locations:

Det Danske Filmstudie, Lyngby, Sjælland, Denmark

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,483, 12 December 2004

Gross USA:

$3,783

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,783

Company Credits

Production Co:

M&M Productions, TV2 Danmark

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 95 min (Ontario)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1