A History of Danish Cinema

The first English-language book to cover Danish cinema from the 1890s to the present day Contextualises the work of renowned filmmakers including Carl Th. Dreyer, Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Susanne Bier Discusses national genres and traditions, including popular comedies, heritage film, children's film, porn, documentary and immigrant filmmakers Examines a range of film institutions and policies, including production companies, state support, talent development, regional film funds and international collaborations This wide-ranging collection places well-known auteurs such as Carl Th. Dreyer, Lars von Trier and Susanne Bier in their cultural context, and introduces a number of genres and themes that are less familiar to international audiences, including film stars of the silent era, children's film, folk comedies, porn film, trends in documentary and Greenlandic cinema. With twenty-two chapters, all of them specially commissioned for this volume, A History of Danish Cinema explores the role of screen representations and film policy in shaping Denmark's cultural identity, but also emphasises just how internationally mobile Danish films and filmmakers have always been showcasing this small nation's extraordinary contribution to world cinema. Review: "Danish cinema has had a worldwide impact at least twice, through the Nordisk company's spectacular success before the First World War, then when Dogme 95 revitalised independent filmmaking on the threshold of the digital era. But of course there's much more to discover and assess. This shrewdly planned new history sheds fresh light on many aspects of Denmark's rich screen heritage, and also offers an exemplary model for 'small country' media history." -Ian Christie, Birkbeck College, University of London Dr C. Claire Thomson is Professor of Cinema History at University College London (UCL), where she is the Director of Film Studies and teaches Nordic cinema and cultural history, as well as translation from