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The Substitute

Original title: Vikaren
  • 2007
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
The Substitute (2007)
ComedyFantasyHorror

A group of sixth-graders is convinced their new substitute teacher is actually a menacing alien.A group of sixth-graders is convinced their new substitute teacher is actually a menacing alien.A group of sixth-graders is convinced their new substitute teacher is actually a menacing alien.

  • Director
    • Ole Bornedal
  • Writers
    • Ole Bornedal
    • Henrik Prip
  • Stars
    • Paprika Steen
    • Ulrich Thomsen
    • Jonas Wandschneider
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    3.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ole Bornedal
    • Writers
      • Ole Bornedal
      • Henrik Prip
    • Stars
      • Paprika Steen
      • Ulrich Thomsen
      • Jonas Wandschneider
    • 20User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 13 nominations

    Videos1

    The Substitute
    Trailer 1:20
    Watch The Substitute

    Photos

    Paprika Steen in The Substitute (2007)
    The Substitute (2007)
    The Substitute (2007)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Paprika Steen
    Paprika Steen
    • Ulla Harms
    Ulrich Thomsen
    Ulrich Thomsen
    • Jesper Osböll
    Jonas Wandschneider
    • Carl
    Nikolaj Falkenberg-Klok
    • Phillip
    Emma Juel Justesen
    • Rikke
    Mollie Maria Gilmartin
    • Lotte
    Josephine Gents
    • Camilla
    • (as Josephine Wormslew Gents)
    Emma Claudia Søndergaard
    • Laura
    Jakob Fals Nygaard
    • Albert
    Andreas Gram Nielsen
    • Tobias
    Mathias Peter Kjær
    • Malthe
    Sonja Richter
    Sonja Richter
    • Maria
    Peter Hesse Overgaard
    • Skoleinspektør Maele
    Henrik Prip
    • Psykolog Claus
    Olivia Stenderup Garre
    • Sofie
    Sofie Gråbøl
    Sofie Gråbøl
    • Carls Mor
    Cecilia Zwick-Nash
    • Phillip's Mor
    • (as Cecilia Zwick Nash)
    Niels Anders Thorn
    • Phillip's Far
    • Director
      • Ole Bornedal
    • Writers
      • Ole Bornedal
      • Henrik Prip
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      The earth globe seen from space in the beginning and the end of the film is falsely mirrored.
    • Connections
      Featured in Dansk films bedste: Krig, Klasselærere og Kammerater (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Sov Sødt Barn Lille
      Næsby Kirkekor

    User reviews20

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Paprika Goddess!
    A quite simple kids movie plot gets elevated to hilarious heights by the truly inspired casting of Paprika Steen as Ulla Harms, the substitute who dares to say and do all the things some of the more cynical teachers in this world only dream of. Steen's trademark Dogme-trained nuanced, natural acting this time only serves as a masquerade for a flat-out over-the-top monster, and you can see how much wicked fun she has switching between those two faces, proving her impressive emotional outbursts and character quirks to be nothing but a cold, calculated lie within the blink of an eye.

    The other actors do fine, too, as only Danish actors can. The kids are not annoying, even if they have to scream and be cute occasionally. Our hero Carl manages to be a sympathetic if troubled young man, my only nit-picking being that he might be a bit too self-consciously handsome to really convince as the class weirdo and outsider. Also, his love story with the new girl remains a bit under-developed. But hey, they're teenagers, love comes and goes quickly at that age, I guess.

    The film is a great fun romp from start to finish, never buried under the weight of its kid-friendly message, and comes highly recommended. As stated before, Paprika Steen deserves prizes and kudos for what she does. And Ole Bornedal keeps the promise he made with Nightwatch. Mainstream family cinema doesn't get much better than this.

    P.S.: The only real letdown: right at the beginning of the end credits there is a high school prom dance scene that is totally out of tune with the rest of the film. It's as if the filmmakers wanted to be 'cool' with the young audience in a way the film otherwise thankfully doesn't feel the need to be.
    helpful•22
    6
    • till-kleinert
    • Aug 21, 2008

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 15, 2007 (Denmark)
    • Country of origin
      • Denmark
    • Official site
      • Official site (Denmark)
    • Language
      • Danish
    • Also known as
      • Min fröken är en utomjording
    • Filming locations
      • Copenhagen, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Obel Film
      • Thura Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,276,515
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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