Surround yourself in the spectacle of Scandi cinema
Beamafilm
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26/01/2023
Embrace the atmosphere of Nordic noir, Scandinavian thrillers, comedies and documentaries as Beamafilm casts a spotlight up to the far northern reaches of Europe and onto the screens of Scandinavia this week. It might not seem like an obvious place to search for cinematic splendour with its often understated films, but there's an elegance to the Scandinavian cinematic style that demands our recognition. Some of the most revered directors and films of all time, from Olsen to Bergman, hail from Scandinavia and the visual feast of Scandi cinema appeals to audiences far and wide.
The cinemas of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as a group are usually referred to as Nordic while Scandinavia is often more narrowly defined as Denmark, Sweden and Norway on a geographical or linguistic basis. We use the terms Scandinavian and Nordic interchangeably when discussing their cinema for a variety of reasons. All Nordic countries share some aspects of their film histories, and there are also some noteworthy differences. What the Nordic countries all share, especially since the late 1900s, is the strong role of their welfare societies in relation to cinema. While on the one hand, this has brought regulation, on the other, it has offered a generous flow of vital funding that has been cancelled towards cinema via state subsidy systems through national film institutes. Initially, these subsidies were primarily directed towards Scandi arthouse productions, but more recently there has been wider industry support that has taken a strong foothold.
This year, for instance, Denmark is planning to introduce a new piece of legislation that is poised to profoundly impact the future of localised streaming content. A tax of up to 5% of the local turnover of the international streaming services will be funnelled towards the funding of local film and television productions with the Danish Minister of Culture aiming to strengthen opportunities for media to play a vital role in the Danish democracy. “Denmark must take the lead in ensuring greater democratic control over the tech giants, who in a short time have gained enormous influence on our lives, our society and our community,” said Halsboe-Jørgensen. “I look forward to the forthcoming negotiations, where we must jointly secure the future of our democratic infrastructure”. The proposed new Danish legislation will also see streaming companies obliged to offer transparent insight into their algorithms so that content discovery can be improved within the video streaming ecosystem.Historically, Denmark was the first to make its mark on the international world of film production and distribution in the early 1910s, with Sweden following a few years later. Norway made its move towards regular film production in the 1920s while neither Finland nor Iceland was an independent country in the early era of silent cinema. Finland had a relatively modest film production industry prior to its independence from Russia in 1917 which expanded in the 1920s to produce some cinematic gems. Iceland became largely independent from Denmark in 1918 with the first feature-length thriller by Icelandic directors being released in 1923 and paving the way for more regularly produced Icelandic films by the 1970s.
While Scandi cinema may not yet demonstrate enormous commercial success on an international basis, there are certain periods and certain makers of Scandi film that have been widely recognized and distributed internationally. In the 20th century for instance, certain prestigious Scandi filmmakers such as Ingmar Bergman or Carl Theodor Dreyer achieved widespread recognition, whereas Beamafilm's broader Scandi film focus reflects a 21st-century paradigm shift that has been fuelled by Scandi legislation and welfare that seems likely to continue to propel the increasing influence of and interest in Scandi cinema internationally.
Beamafilm is proud to promote a carefully curated Scandi film collection and we welcome you to stream from our award-winning watchlist below with a resounding velkommen, välkommen, velkominn and tervetuloa! Welcome to our Scandi cinema collection which we're sure you'll enjoy!
Watch for FREE with a participating library card or on a 30-day trial. Also, you can rent a film for 48 hours.
Asgeir and Ragna get entangled in a web of radical right-wing groups and followers - sending them on a journey from the fjords of Norway to a Berlin preparing for Germany's election.
Stieg Larsson – The Man Who Played with Fire reveals a man who was determined to protect the endangered principles of democracy and freedom at any cost.
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Two spinsters have their world shaken when a Parisian cook enters their lives.
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A sudden change forces Karin to re-evaluate her life. With the help of friends, food and passion she refuses to accept that life has an expiration date and takes the second chance she is given.
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A captivating look behind the scenes of the remarkable life of a young Swedish girl who became one of the most beloved and celebrated actresses of American cinema.
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With five loyal friends in tow, legendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl sails a fragile balsa wood raft along an ancient path some 4,300 miles across the Pacific.
In 2004, when Magnus was 13 years old he made a decision: he would become the World Chess Champion.
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The Cliff is a dramatic mystery about a Crime Detective who is sent to a small community in Iceland to help a local policewoman investigate a suspicious accident.
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When a young mother is responsible for the accidental death of her husband, she persuades the dead husband's identical twin to take his identity.
Life in a mega city is both enchanting and problematic.
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When a cargo ship is hijacked by Somali pirates, a psychological drama unfolds.
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Werner Herzog and Errol Morris' chilling documentary about unrepentant former members of Indonesian death squads as they re-enact some of their many murders in the style of the American movies they love.
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Bjarke Ingels, architectural star, works on his biggest project yet.
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A nail-biting tail of heroism against a glacial backdrop. A stranded man must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his camp or to trek through unknown Arctic terrain for potential salvation.
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A fisherman survives an impossible accident. What now?
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When legendary tennis player Bjorn Borg realises a young and abrasive American player John McEnroe is his biggest competition, a rivalry develops between them.
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A young couple looking for the perfect home find themselves trapped in a mysterious labyrinth-like neighborhood of identical houses.
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Through Oppenheimer’s footage of perpetrators of the 1965 Indonesian genocide, a family of survivors discovers how their son was murdered, as well as the identities of the killers.
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Sepideh wants to become an astronaut. But the expectations for a young Iranian woman are very different from Sepideh's ambitions, and her plans to go to university are in danger.
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Jack, a psychopath and a serial killer, recounts a series of murders he committed over a period of 12 years, which he considers to be a work of art.
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A biography of Miriam Makeba, South African singer and anti-apartheid activist, the voice and the hope of Africa.
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A teenager's quest to launch Norwegian black metal in Oslo in the early 1990s results in a very violent outcome.
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In Afghanistan, a group of young soldiers is on their first tour of duty.
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In the magical world behind the never-ending forest, an evil lord, eager to rule the Valley of Knights, steals a magic suit of armor and is determined to hunt down the young queen for the missing part.
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Four high school teachers consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.
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