Niels Arden Oplev

Born in 1961, he graduated in 1989 at Copenhagen University. His graduation film, WINTER’S END, starred Max von Sydow. In the following years Niels worked for television directing documentaries, short films, TV films and episodes of the series TAXI, UNIT ONE and THE EAGLE (the two last were awarded with a Emmy Award). In 1996 he directed his first feature film PORTLAND, selected in Berlin. His second film was the black comedy CHOP CHOP (2001).

Director’s statement

“This film is strongly influenced by my memory of that time. Much of the story and many of the characters are inspired by actual events and people from that time and from the place where I grew up. […] the film encompasses many emotions. Sometimes light and loving like heat vapours hovering above steaming asphalt on a summer’s day. Other times as cold as frightening as winter mist blanketing a frozen landscape”.