Terribly Happy (2008)

A thriller about a Copenhagen cop who moves to a small town after having a nervous breakdown.

Director:

Henrik Ruben Genz

Writers:

Henrik Ruben Genz (screenplay), Dunja Gry Jensen (screenplay)

Stars:

Jakob Cedergren, Lene Maria Christensen, Kim Bodnia

19 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jakob Cedergren	...	Robert Hansen
Lene Maria Christensen	...	Ingerlise Buhl
Kim Bodnia	...	Jørgen Buhl
Lars Brygmann	...	Dr. Zerleng
Anders Hove	...	Købmand Moos
Jens Jørn Spottag	...	Politimester
Henrik Lykkegaard	...	Præst
Bodil Jørgensen	...	Bartender
Peter Hesse Overgaard	...	Helmuth
Niels Skousen	...	Hansi
Lars Lunøe	...	Nissum
Sune Q. Geertsen	...	'Øko' Tage (as Sune Geertsen)
Mathilde Maack	...	Dorthe
Ahn Le	...	Fru Købmand Moos
Taina Anneli R. Berg	...	Lone 'TP' (as Taina Anneli Berg)

Storyline

Robert Hansen is a cop in Copenhagen who makes a mistake, is remanded for therapy, then assigned to a small town in South Jutland, where cows and problems disappear into the mud. He quickly learns that the town bully, Jørgen, beats his wife, an outsider like Robert. He tries to get her to swear out a complaint against Jørgen; she flirts with Robert. When someone dies and Robert knows the prime suspect is innocent, he halts vigilante justice and things get complicated. He wants to protect himself and the daughter of Jørgen, and he wants to reconnect with his own daughter back home. Is rural justice his ticket back to Copenhagen? Is there any chance at happiness?

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Plot Keywords:

estranged husband | hardware store | slapped in the face | clothesline | hits bottle with hand | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Terribly Happy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,650, 7 February 2010

Gross USA:

$170,943

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,828,984

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fine & Mellow Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Denmark's official submission to the 82nd Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film Award in 2010.

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Goofs

In the closing credits the song "You Always Hurt the One You Love" is listed as "You Always Hurt the One Your Love" instead.

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Connections

Referenced in Deadline: Episode dated 22 October 2008 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Der Puppenspieler von Mexico
Performed by Roberto Blanco
Written by Leon Carr/Earl Shuman

User Reviews

After Viewing I was not Terribly Impressed.

Terribly Happy (Frygtelig lykkelig) This Danish Noir Crime film was one of the nominees for best Oscar foreign film 2009 83rd Oscars. It did not win. It is based on the novel by Erling Jepsen. This dark & quirky crime story is set set in a small rural Danish village called Skarrild a town that hides as many secrets as the nearby bog. This Locale is in the only part of Denmark that actually has land adjoining Europe. (the rest are islands) Skarrild South Jutland area is a boggy low lying area north of Germany where the water level is very low. Robert (Jakob Cedergren) has a troubled past in Copenhagen & is re-assigned to a remote Danish town, where he is quickly embroiled in its odd business. Essentially the story of a policeman working punishment duty in the provinces. This dark comedy is reminiscence of Fargo & subject matter is racy with child abuse murder abuse of power wife beating drinking drugs etc. The film is effective, & has a unique feel, though at times it is hodgepodge of genres & stylistic borrowings. The plot (& characters) felt flat & lifeless. The film just did not have the artistic hook that really grabbed me. (Compared to films by fellow Finland director Aki Kaurismaki) The film dour & deadpan film noir but it just did not involve excite or intrigue me. All told heart the film plays like a classic Western: the frontier town, the local bad man, the new marshal, the townspeople, the cute & vulnerable heroine, Ingelise. I hate westerns. Or is this a horror movie?? No is not a horror movie but a comic, ironic witty, well constructed psychological thriller. It still did not make on impression on me. As the story narrows into an increasingly desperate cat-&-mouse game played by Robert & Jorgen following a lethal accident, "Terribly Happy" becomes an allegory of human frailty & corruption, of loneliness & the need to belong. If that makes the movie sound depressingly weighty IT IS. How far will you go to have a sense of belonging? 3 stars