The Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg has had his new TV series “Families Like Ours” selected for the official program at the Venice International Film Festival. The series, described as an epic drama, delves into themes of Danes’ perseverance and unity.
Six years ago, Vinterberg found himself in a hotel room in Paris missing his family. This led to a thought experiment about what would happen if all Danes were forced to leave Denmark and travel in different directions. This thought experiment has now become the TV series “Families Like Ours.”
“We have – modestly speaking – tried to create an epic drama, but it is also a kind of existential exploration and testing of the Danes’ perseverance, strength, and unity,” says Thomas Vinterberg after the announcement of the series’ selection for the film festival.
The series marks Vinterberg’s debut in TV series, and it is the first time one of his works has been selected for the Venice festival. It will have its world premiere there.
“It is so difficult to make films and series. It simply requires so much hard work to succeed. You shouldn’t make too many missteps because the house of cards will collapse, so success is not something you can get used to, rely on, or take for granted,” says Thomas Vinterberg, who is also known for the films “The Hunt” and “The Celebration.”
“Families Like Ours” portrays a large Danish family forced to flee through Europe after the Danish government decides to evacuate the entire country due to rising sea levels.
“It is fantastic to have the world premiere of this series in Venice of all places, a series that starts from a thought that Denmark is shutting down because of too much water. The series will be shown on TV 2 in the fall,” he says.
Thomas Vinterberg is looking forward to hearing the audience’s reactions to the series and hopes that Danes will embrace it.
“It’s starting to get exciting what people think of it, and whether Danes embrace it. I am really happy with it myself, and apparently they are in Venice too. But it is always exciting what the family at home thinks of it, and I really look forward to showing it to the Danish population,” he says.
He hopes that the TV series will get people to reflect on who the Danes are, what we should cherish, and what we can lose.