If you're looking for the best Scandinavian series and movies, then don't miss our list, where we've selected great content that you can watch right away.
Scandinavian series and films have always been able to balance well the "mainstream" element and the European, sometimes almost cold aesthetic of complex and interesting characters. They will mostly be enjoyed by fans of quality crime stories, but there are also critically acclaimed dramas in between. The good news is that many Scandinavian series and movies are available on the services Netflix, Amazon, HBO and Pickbox. We have listed some very interesting titles that you can check out right away.
Evil: Those Who Kill (Den som dräber, 2019– )
On Pickbox, you can currently watch the Danish crime hit Zlo: Those Who Kill, or Den som dräber, which received American and Dutch remakes in the years after its premiere, but the original version remains the best.
Half a year after 17-year-old Julie was kidnapped from the streets of Copenhagen, detective Jan Michelsen is the only one who believes she might still be alive. In a desperate attempt to prevent the case from being closed, Jan investigates all the documents and comes across the case of a girl who disappeared under similar circumstances 10 years ago. He soon discovers new evidence that leads the police to a shocking discovery and many similar unsolved cases.
Quicksand (2019)
The Netflix series Quicksand is based on the novel of the same name.
The Swedish hit series is about the shooting at a school in Stockholm. Maja Norberg is suspected of murdering her boyfriend and best friend. The motives that are gradually revealed and everything that happens will constantly change your assumptions and conclusions.
Beartown (2020– )
Another great Swedish series based on a novel is available on HBO GO. The novel Beartown was written by Frederik Backman, one of the most famous Swedish authors, who recently took second place among the best books of 2020 with the book Anxious People.
The plot of the series takes place in the city of Beartown, which is slowly disappearing among the trees that surround it. Local hero and former hockey star Peter returns to Beartown to build a youth hockey team and give the town a new chance and a better future. All expectations and wishes to keep Beartown from disappearing fall on the shoulders of a young guy from the new team. When a young star is accused of a heinous act, chaos ensues in the town, affecting all its residents.
Face to Face (Forhøret, 2019– )
Award-winning director Christoffer Boe brings another excellent Danish series Face to Face or Forhøret.
At the center of the story is police detective Rasmussen, who tries to solve a suspicious case of a girl who committed suicide. From the very beginning, the series brings shocking discoveries, the first of which is the fact that the deceased girl is the daughter of a detective. Because of this, Rasmussen will embark on a bitter search for clues that could confirm that her death was not the result of suicide.
Reprise (2006)
There is another Norwegian film available on Netflix, Reprise from 2006. Directed by Joachim Trier, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and although it did not win the Golden Statue, it is supported by a hundred other international awards.
The plot follows Erik and Phillip, close friends who are simultaneously waiting for feedback on their book debuts. But when Phillip's book is published and Eric's is rejected, Phillip is overwhelmed with attention he doesn't know how to handle and people he never expected in his career.
A White, White Day (2019)
The Icelandic film A White, White Day earned praise from the audience for its touching and psychologically difficult plot and above all for its aesthetics.
Currently available to watch on HBO GO, the film is set in a small town where the local police chief (still grieving his tragically deceased wife) begins to suspect that his compatriot has been having an affair with his wife. He slowly becomes obsessed with their relationship and finding the truth, which will have consequences for everyone around him.
Beyond (Svinalängorna, 2010)
Beyond, or Svinalängorna in Swedish, is another award-winning drama that you can watch immediately on Netflix. Noomi Rapace (also known for her appearance in the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) stars as Leena.
Around Christmas, Leena receives a call from the hospital. On the phone is her mother, whose health is extremely poor and she wants to see her daughter. It will be the first time they see each other since Leena came of age and after a childhood that still haunts her to this day.
A Man Called Ove (2015)
Another film adaptation of Frederik Backman's novel, A Man Called Ove, is available on Amazon Prime Video. The book was a world bestseller, as was the Swedish film based on it. At the 2016 Oscars, it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Makeup and Hair.
The film revolves around Ove, an elderly and bitter man who spends his days grumbling or at his wife's grave. But when a young family moves into his neighborhood, Ove forms an unusual friendship that may change his outlook on life.
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