"Riget" (1994) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

24 November 1994 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

A baptism of fear awaits you at... THE KINGDOM

Plot:

The Kingdom is the most technologically advanced hospital in Denmark, a gleaming bastion of medical science...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Hospital | Science | Ambulance | Elevator

Awards:

16 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Udo Kier	...	Aage Krüger (4 episodes, 1994)
Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Helmer / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Kirsten Rolffes	...	Sigrid Drusse (4 episodes, 1994)
Holger Juul Hansen	...	Einar Moesgaard / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Pilmark	...	Jørgen Krogshøj / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Ghita Nørby	...	Rigmor / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Jens Okking	...	Bulder / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Annevig Schelde Ebbe	...	Mary / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Baard Owe	...	Bondo (4 episodes, 1994)
Birgitte Raaberg	...	Judith / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Mygind	...	Mogge (4 episodes, 1994)
Vita Jensen	...	Dishwasher 1 (4 episodes, 1994)
Morten Rotne Leffers	...	Dishwasher 2 (4 episodes, 1994)
Laura Christensen	...	Mona / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Ole Boisen	...	Christian (4 episodes, 1994)
Ulrik Cold	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 1994)
Louise Fribo	...	Sanne (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Gilsfort	...	Dishwasher 2 (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Elung Jensen	...	Man in Top Hat (4 episodes, 1994)
Ruth Junker	...	Dishwasher 1 (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Lenander	...	Young Man (4 episodes, 1994)
Troels Lyby	...	Hook (4 episodes, 1994)
Holger Perfort	...	Professor Ulrich (4 episodes, 1994)
Lars von Trier	...	Himself (4 episodes, 1994)
Otto Brandenburg	...	Hansen (3 episodes, 1994)
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Camilla (3 episodes, 1994)
Bente Eskesen	...	Night Nurse (3 episodes, 1994)
Paul Hüttel	...	Steenbæk / ... (3 episodes, 1994)
Michael Simpson	...	Man from Haiti (3 episodes, 1994)
Benny Hansen	...	Driver on the Radio (2 episodes, 1994)
Dick Kaysø	...	Security Manager (2 episodes, 1994)
Finn Nielsen	...	Madsen (2 episodes, 1994)
Else Petersen	...	Old Lady (2 episodes, 1994)
Birte Tove	...	Nurse 1 (2 episodes, 1994)
Helle Virkner	...	Mrs. Mogensen (2 episodes, 1994)

Also Known As:

"The Kingdom" (France) (theatrical title) (International: English title)
"Geister" (Germany)
"Hospital der Geister - The Kingdom" (Germany) (video title)
"L'hôpital et ses fantômes" (France)
"Lars von Trier præsenterer: Riget" (Denmark) (video box title)
"Lars von Triers Riget I" (Denmark) (DVD box title)
"Riket" (Sweden)

Runtime:

Canada:265 min | Denmark:280 min | USA:279 min

Country:

Denmark | France | Germany | Sweden

Language:

Danish | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M (theatrical rating) | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Singapore:M18 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

The character name Stig Helmer, is taken from the name of the character Stig-Helmer Olsson (portrayed by Lasse Åberg) which is the protagonist in the long running Swedish comedy movie series of "Sällskapsresan" during the 80's and 90's. The character Stig-Helmer Olsson is the epitome of Swedish dullness and strictness, which is somewhat parallel to the character of Stig Helmer as an unsympathetic Swede.

Goofs:

Continuity: The level of coffee in Helmer's cup switches back and forth by inches between shots.

Quotes:

Lars von Trier: Next time, prepare to take the good with the evil.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in TV Sluk i TV Byen (2006) (TV)

Extraordinary

Riget (The kingdom) is short for Rigshospitalet which means danish university hospital. The hospital is real, it is located in Copenhagen (the danish capital) and it is the lead university hospital in Denmark. The TV series is very real in the fact that it is filmed on location at the hospital itself

But then the reality get very bended ;-). Lars Von Trier has a superb twisted way of looking at reality that I can best compare to David Lynch.

A fun detail is that at the time Riget was on TV I was actually working at Rigshospitalet and the whole staff was watching every show laughing their guts out. Lars Von Triers humor is very much based on reality, he accurately has the capability to take the facts that are real life issues and bend them into humor and brilliant filming

The humor is very much based on Danish temporary issues and I would suspect that some of the points are lost if you are not from Denmark - but Riget can still provide an outstanding and different experience

As dane I rate this series 10/10 since it is yet the best on danish TV