"Riget" (1994) TV mini-series

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)

Series Directed by
Morten Arnfred		(4 episodes, 1994)
Lars von Trier		(4 episodes, 1994)

Series Writing credits
Tómas Gislason		(4 episodes, 1994)
Lars von Trier		(4 episodes, 1994)
Niels Vørsel		(4 episodes, 1994)

Series Produced by
Sven Abrahamsen	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Philippe Bober	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Ole Reim	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Ib Tardini	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Joachim Holbek		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Eric Kress		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Molly Marlene Stensgaard		(unknown episodes)
Jacob Thuesen		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Jette Lehmann		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Bjarne Nilsson		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Birthe Lyngsøe	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Kim Olsson	....	special makeup effects (unknown episodes)
Lis Olsson	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Bo Ehrhardt	....	post-production manager (unknown episodes)
Tove Jystrup	....	post-production manager (unknown episodes)
Bo Lindkuist	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Katrine Bonfils	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Jan Iversen	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Per Kjær Jørgensen	....	set constructor (unknown episodes)
Jens Nissen	....	set constructor (unknown episodes)
Torben Bækmark Pedersen	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Søren Schwartzberg	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Peter Christian Hansen	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Benny Jensen	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Hans Møller	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Per Streit	....	sound designer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Niels Fly	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Lise Mierca	....	online editor (unknown episodes)
Niels Skovgaard	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Søren Buus	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Deni Jordan	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1994)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Leif Petersen	....	grip (unknown episodes, 1994)
Henrik Dithmer	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Henrik Harpelund	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)
Kaj Larsen	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Morten Nybø	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Ole Pedersen	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)
Erik Thal-Jantzen	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annelise Bailey	....	wardrobe supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Sophie Ljungblom	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Vibeke Aagaard	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Ingrid Høybye	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Charlotte Pedersen	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Anne-Marie Vidkjær	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Arte
• Coproduction Office
• Danmarks Radio (DR)
• Greco
• Nederlandse Omroepstichting (NOS)
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond
• Programme MEDIA de la Communauté Européenne
• Sveriges Television (SVT) (Malmö)
• TV Collaboration Fund
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
• Zentropa Entertainments

Distributors

• Danmarks Radio (DR) (1994) (Denmark) (TV)
• Camera Film (1994) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Haut et Court (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• October Films (1995) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Arte
• Arthaus Filmverleih
• Electric Parc (2004) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Forel (Taiwan) (DVD)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• ICA Projects (1997) (UK) (VHS)
• ICA Projects (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Koch Lorber Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Nachshon Films (1994) (Israel) (all media)
• Nederlands Omroepstichting
• PolyGram Video (1997) (Denmark) (VHS)
• SPO (2001) (Japan) (VHS)
• SPO (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Seville Pictures (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sveriges Television (SVT) (1995) (Sweden) (TV)
• Trust Film Sales (2003) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Versus Entertainment (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (Canada) (VHS)
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

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)
A birodalom (Hungary) [hu]
El reino (Spain) [es]
Il regno (Italy) [it]
Królestwo (Poland) [pl]
O Reino (Portugal) [pt]
The Kingdom (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
Valtakunta (Finland) [fi]

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 | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

For the German-speaking markets, 'Riget' was translated into 'Hospital der Geister - The Kingdom', as a direct translation, 'Das Reich', for obvious reasons was deemed inappropriate.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Helmer: Danish scum!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Death Knows Your Name (2007)

Visually impressive and very stylish

It would be an understatement to say that this film will not be for all tastes. The storyline has been delved into enough so I really can't add any more to it. I will say though that the woman who plays Mrs. Drusse does an excellent job, the actor who plays Stig the pompous Swede is a real horses ass, whom you hate, but laugh at at the same time, and the telepathic dishwashers (who apparently have downs syndrome or an other similar condition) are effectively chilling. I agree with the reviewer who asked why American television can't be like this. A well done work.