"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:

Hospital | Ambulance | Elevator | Doctor | Science

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:

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 Anecdotes from 'Epidemic' (2005) (V)

One of my favorites...

The Kingdom (Riget I) is quite simply a classic work of modern cinema. It's creepy, it's funny, it's emotional...and so much more. It grabs the viewer and does not let go until the end of each episode. Then, you want to view the next episode right away! It is like a great book which keeps you turning the pages one after another, after another...

I first saw The Kingdom on video and was blown away by the odd characters and the peculiar script of ideas. The story gets even more bizarre and twisted in Riget II, which has never been officially released in North America...but is available as an import for those interested. The full series is something I feel the urge to view again on a regular basis. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I've owned four subsequent editions on VHS and DVD. The official released 4-DVD import set from Denmark is the best, containing the full uncut versions of Riget 1 & 2.

The choice of the actors and actresses turned out perfect for the series, it is these performances that make The Kingdom work so flawlessly well. Ernst-Hugo Järegård & Kirsten Rolffes are the two most memorable roles in the series, and it is sad that they've both passed away. This is unfortunate as there would have been a Riget III to finish off the complete tales of The Kingdom, according to the words of Von Trier at least. It looks like that a Part 3 will never happen though, since two of the best leads of the project are gone forever.

The way The Kingdom was filmed has a stylish look that is very organic, believable, and creepy when it needs to be. They tried many things to get a deliberate "dirty look" for the series, and I think they hit the mark dead on.

Stephen King also happens to be a fan of The Kingdom, and is currently working on a longer North American version of the series. I've heard it will be fully over 20 hours, but that could be just a wild rumor. I am skeptical that this will work, but we'll just have to wait and see what it's like. Perhaps Part 3 of the story will finally get completed in this version. I'm sure I will always enjoy Von Trier's original the most, but it would be nice simply to know how the unfinished story of Part 3 evolves and is concluded...