"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

Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Stig 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 Mortensen (4 episodes, 1994)
Jens Okking	...	Bulder Harly Drusse (4 episodes, 1994)
Annevig Schelde Ebbe	...	Mary Krüger (4 episodes, 1994)
Baard Owe	...	Palle Bondo (4 episodes, 1994)
Birgitte Raaberg	...	Judith Petersen (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Mygind	...	Morten 'Mogge' Moesgaard (4 episodes, 1994)
Vita Jensen	...	Opvasker #1 (4 episodes, 1994)
Morten Rotne Leffers	...	Opvasker #2 (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Elung Jensen	...	Læge (4 episodes, 1994)
Holger Perfort	...	Professor Ulrich (4 episodes, 1994)
Louise Fribo	...	Sanne (4 episodes, 1994)
Søren Lenander	...	Vagt (4 episodes, 1994)
Laura Christensen	...	Mona Jensen / ... (4 episodes, 1994)
Ruth Junker	...	Opvasker #1 (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Gilsfort	...	Opvasker #2 (4 episodes, 1994)
Ulrik Cold	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 1994)
Ole Boisen	...	Christian (4 episodes, 1994)
Henrik Koefoed	...	Læge ved CTR-skanner (4 episodes, 1994)
Klaus Wegener	...	Skadestuelæge (4 episodes, 1994)
Annette Ketscher	...	Sygeplejeske (4 episodes, 1994)
Mette Marckmann	...	Ung sygeplejerske (4 episodes, 1994)
Mette Munk Plum	...	Monas mor (4 episodes, 1994)
Lars von Trier	...	Himself (4 episodes, 1994)
Otto Brandenburg	...	Hansen (3 episodes, 1994)
Solbjørg Højfeldt	...	Camilla (3 episodes, 1994)
Paul Hüttel	...	Steenbæk (3 episodes, 1994)
Bente Eskesen	...	Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk (3 episodes, 1994)
Michael Simpson	...	Dyrepasser i dyrelaboratoriet / ... (3 episodes, 1994)
Benny Hansen	...	Chauffør i radioen / ... (3 episodes, 1994)
Müslie	...	Bongo (3 episodes, 1994)
Birte Tove	...	Sygeplejerske på neurokirurgisk (3 episodes, 1994)
Udo Kier	...	Age Krüger / ... (3 episodes, 1994)
Julie Wieth	...	Sygeplejerske ved Mona / ... (2 episodes, 1994)
Dick Kaysø	...	Vagtmester (2 episodes, 1994)
Finn Nielsen	...	Madsen (2 episodes, 1994)
Tomas Stender	...	Medicinstuderende / ... (2 episodes, 1994)
Helle Virkner	...	Emma Mogensen (2 episodes, 1994)
Else Petersen	...	Patient på Ellens stue (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	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1994)
Philippe Bober	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1994)
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	executive producer / external producer (4 episodes, 1994)
Ole Reim	....	producer (4 episodes, 1994)
Ib Tardini	....	co-producer / external producer (4 episodes, 1994)

Series Original Music by
Joachim Holbek		(1 episode, 1994)

Series Cinematography by
Eric Kress		(1 episode, 1994)

Series Film Editing by
Molly Marlene Stensgaard		(1 episode, 1994)
Jacob Thuesen		(1 episode, 1994)

Series Production Design by
Jette Lehmann		(1 episode, 1994)

Series Costume Design by
Bjarne Nilsson		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Kim Olsson	....	special makeup effects (1 episode, 1994)
Lis Olsson	....	special makeup effects (1 episode, 1994)
Birthe Lyngsøe	....	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	....	props (1 episode, 1994)
Jan Iversen	....	property master (1 episode, 1994)
Jens Nissen	....	set constructor (1 episode, 1994)
Torben Bækmark Pedersen	....	property master (1 episode, 1994)
Søren Schwartzberg	....	props (1 episode, 1994)
Per Kjær Jørgensen	....	set constructor (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen	....	sound effects editor (1 episode, 1994)
Peter Christian Hansen	....	sound (1 episode, 1994)
Benny Jensen	....	boom operator (1 episode, 1994)
Hans Møller	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1994)
Per Streit	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1994)

Series Special Effects by
Niels Fly	....	special effects (1 episode, 1994)
Niels Skovgaard	....	special effects (1 episode, 1994)
Lise Mierca	....	online editor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Søren Buus	....	visual effects (1 episode, 1994)

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

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Henrik Dithmer	....	still photographer (1 episode, 1994)
Henrik Harpelund	....	steadicam operator (1 episode, 1994)
Kaj Larsen	....	gaffer (1 episode, 1994)
Morten Nybø	....	gaffer (1 episode, 1994)
Ole Pedersen	....	camera assistant (1 episode, 1994)
Leif Petersen	....	grip (1 episode, 1994)
Erik Thal-Jantzen	....	camera assistant (1 episode, 1994)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annelise Bailey	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1994)
Bjarne Nilsson	....	costumes (1 episode, 1994)

Series Editorial Department
Sophie Ljungblom	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1994)

Series Other crew
Vibeke Aagaard	....	production secretary (1 episode, 1994)
Janus Billeskov Jansen	....	creative consultant (1 episode, 1994)
Ingrid Høybye	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1994)
Steen Laugesen	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1994)
Hanne Matthiesen	....	prompter (1 episode, 1994)
Charlotte Pedersen	....	production secretary (1 episode, 1994)
Anne-Marie Vidkjær	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1994)

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)
• Malofilm Home Video (1996) (Canada) (VHS)
• 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
"El reino" - Spain
"Il regno" - Italy
"Królestwo" - Poland
"O Reino" - Portugal
"The Kingdom" - Greece (DVD title)
"Valtakunta" - Finland

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 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | 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 large factory-like building that Dr. Helmer surveys with his binoculars from the hospital roof is the Swedish Nuclear Power Plant at Barsebäck. Due to its proximity to Copenhagen it was a frequent source of friction between the two countries until it was shut down in 2005.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Dishwasher 2:The good will cry and the evil will laugh. That's what they say!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I Lars von Triers rige - en mand og hans tv-serie (1994) (TV)

genre crossing comedy

I first saw riget at a local theater. What was amazing was that after more than for hours every one in the audience wanted to see more (at least after a short cigarette break). However, this highly entertaining work which was, as far as I know, produced for TV is not a horror series. This is neither th X-files nor has it anything to do with friday the 13th. Sure, there are some gothic elements but it is rather a romantic ghost story. To me, it is more astonishing how easily von Trier and his great writers manage to combine several different genres. First of all this is a hospital series, different strands, none of which you would see in emergency room. The different stories meet perfectly at a hilarious finale. The main character is a swedish doctor whose scream of despair ("Dänischer Abschaum" in German, something like Danish scum) is a main event in every episode. The description of the freemason-like organization of the doctors is as brilliant as the parody of scientific ambition represented by a doctor who does some extraordinary things with his liver. Watch it, it`s great fun, but don`t expect a horror movie. In my opinion this is the best of von Triers works, because it`s the least ambitious.