Terribly Happy – Frygtelig lykkelig (2008)

Directed by: Henrik Ruben Genz | 90 minutes | drama | Actors: Jakob Cedergren, Lene Maria Christensen, Kim Bodnia, Lars Brygmann, Anders Hove, Jens Jørn Spottag, Henrik Lykkegaard, Bodil Jørgensen, Peter Hesse Overgaard, Niels Skousen, Lars Lunøe, Sune Q. Geertsen, Mathilde Maack, Ahn Le, Taina Anneli R. Berg, Puk Scharbau, Kenn Bruun, Mads Ole Langelund Larsen, Joakim Schierning, Bent Larsen, Thorkild Demuth

The country of Denmark is fairly inconspicuous and meaningless. As the smallest Scandinavian country with just over 5.5 million inhabitants, it likes to keep quiet. Outside of well-known cities such as Copenhagen (capital), Odense (hometown of Hans Christian Andersen) and Roskilde (Northern Europe’s largest music festival each year), more than half live in rural areas. Because there is not really a cliché image of the country and its people, it lends itself perfectly to the more difficult to define films such as ‘Terribly Happy’ by Henrik Ruben Genz.

The beginning of the film provides associations with a Scandinavian police series such as “Wallander”. Just as protagonist Robert (Jakob Cedergren) and the regional police chief are in the car, the Dutch public may even briefly think of Thijs Römer and – again dark-haired – Huub Stapel. You soon notice that this film is different than usual. Small changes, sometimes so refined that you can’t put your finger on them, make you realize that this is not your average film. All the people Robert encounters in the remote village where he has been temporarily transferred are not open to dialogue. When asked if he is the new policeman, they only make strange statements. That some people simply disappear. That young shoplifters should not receive a warning, but a firm slap. And that the mysterious Ingelise (Lene Maria Christensen) beats herself up instead of being beaten by her husband.

This desperate woman immediately seeks contact with the new police officer, but in the meantime does not want to file a report. She cannot or will not give up her family. In turn, Robert is attracted to her because he had to leave his wife and daughter in Copenhagen after his nervous breakdown. She reminds him of his own situation and that is why he wants to help her.

But Ingelise is not as resolute as Robert, which leads to tensions every time they visit each other. They feel strengthened by each other and continue to attract each other. The rest of the village doesn’t miss this, of course, and neither does Ingelise’s husband Jørgen (Kim Bodnia). One evening Robert visits Ingelise at home because he knows that she is being mistreated at that moment. However, what starts with a lovemaking ends in a nightmare. A climax is inevitable and victims will fall. Robert seems to come out unscathed, but nothing is certain in the unusual village with its strange inhabitants.

It can be seen that Robert is supposed to take pills on a doctor’s prescription, but refuses this. This makes him extra sensitive to his environment and gradually he conforms to it more and more. He even seems to drown in it. The fact that he is not allowed to have contact with his daughter reinforces this. As a viewer, you are completely immersed in this oppressive and inescapable atmosphere.

‘Terribly Happy’ provides a pervasive picture of village life with its supermarket, pub and abandoned bicycle shop. However, its inhabitants mean that it is slightly different from the average sleepy rural life. The small community has its own rules and everyone has their own ulterior motives to keep the peace. You cannot survive without alcohol and boots. The gloomy village with the highly neglected houses and the swamp in which people disappear, emphasize the isolation and the bizarre self-reliance. The oppressive atmosphere blurs the hope of ever being able to escape. A kind of Hotel California: “You can never leave”.

At first sight, the story is reminiscent of a western: an outsider – in this case a ‘sheriff’ – comes to a town with her own rules and a confrontation is inevitable. Because it takes place in the here and now, it leans more towards a crime film. A woman is mistreated, people disappear and a murder is committed. However, ‘Terribly Happy’ is more than that. Director Genz adds very brief horror-like scenes here and there, giving the film a twist. The scenes in which Ingelise’s daughter in a red jacket and boots drives a squeaky pram from grandmother’s time through the deserted streets at night is almost classic.

The combination of genres works very well. Genz ‘pimps’ the fairly simple story with this. Not only does it surprise the viewer, it also keeps them alert. ‘Terribly Happy’ towers above all other films in which the crime is chewed up and thus makes the film predictable. In addition, the separate villagers are interesting characters that you can keep looking at. So do it, go see it.