It is not by chance that the premiere of the miniseries “Families Like Ours”, a disaster narrative set in a world grappling with climate change, where Denmark is effectively shut down due to flooding, takes place in Venice, a city famously dealing with the crisis of rising sea levels itself. Indeed, Thomas Vinterberg, the esteemed Danish director of the series chose Venice for a very pointed reason.
“The water presence here marked it as the perfect choice”, Vinterberg states. This marks his foray into television series and the first project since his Oscar-winning film “Another Round”. The series is globally available via StudioCanal, while TV 2 will broadcast the show locally in Denmark, beginning October 20. Notably, even from his initial communications with Venice Director, Alberto Barbera, Venice was the clear choice for the series’ debut.
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Typical of Vinterberg’s prestigious work, his miniseries “Families Like Ours” navigates the complexities of familial and societal dynamics and behaviors, set in a world where Danish citizens are suddenly faced with a global evacuation and resettlement to other countries based on their willingness to accept them.
This concept, however futuristic and extreme it may seem, had its origins several years ago and was even dismissed by several of his peers. Today it has become a startling reality – a development Vinterberg describes as a little frightening.
Yet in “Families Like Ours”, the actual disaster – the flood – isn’t shown on screen, remaining more of a looming, off-screen menace while the drama concentrates on how one family is divided by the difficult decisions forced upon them due to this disaster.
The director states that he purposely aimed to depict a believable scenario. He points out that Denmark, being a forward-thinking nation, would not wait for a flood to happen but would already have measures in place, and he is confident that the country would find a just way to salvage as many citizens as possible. “The real-life scenario would probably appear as a disaster movie playing out in slow motion”, he adds.
“Families Like Ours”, despite its roots in Danish society, feels global in its scope, dealing with a situation that many countries facing the harsh reality of climate change could easily relate to. Yet, in Vinterberg experience, “when I create content of a more general scope, it rarely generates any interest. However, when the content is uniquely and specifically Danish, it gains global recognition”.
Validation of this sentiment came in the form of his Danish-specific film “Another Round”, a comedy-drama that captured the journey of four friends as they aim to maintain a certain level of alcohol in their systems to enhance their quality of life. The film reached international popularity.
In 2021, Leonardo DiCaprio’s production of a U.S. based remake was announced, with comedian Chris Rock unveiled as writer and director of the project earlier this year. Given the starkly different ways the U.S. relates to alcohol compared to Europe, many questioned how the story could be authentically translated. Vinterberg himself admits he was curious about the translation process, but he believes the engine of the story is universal – “it is, after all, a story about an experience, which you could place anywhere.”
Vinterberg humorously joked that if Rock did a poor job with the remake, he might face “another round” of slapping. Upon realizing that his jest could have been potentially offensive, he made sure to extend an apology to Rock.
FAQs
Q: What makes “Families Like Ours” unique?
A: The show is set in a future where due to climate change and flooding, citizens of Denmark are being evacuated to countries willing to accept them, creating a unique setting for exploring familial and societal dynamics.
Q: What are some of the previous works of Thomas Vinterberg?
A: Thomas Vinterberg is widely recognized for his Oscar-winning feature, “Another Round”. The plot revolves around four friends experimenting with constant alcohol consumption to improve their lives.
Q: What’s the significance of setting the premise of the show in Denmark?
A: Vinterberg believes specificity breeds interest. By setting the series in Denmark, he keeps it rooted in his home country’s culture and context, but the themes the show explores are universal.
Q: Who is involved in the U.S. remake of “Another Round”?
A: Hollywood veteran Leonardo DiCaprio is producing the U.S. remake, with comedian Chris Rock serving as both the writer and director.
Q: What is Vinterberg’s belief on how Denmark would handle a national disaster?
A: Vinterberg believes Denmark is proactive and would have preparations in place for disasters. The intention is to rescue as many people as possible in a fair manner.
Credit: variety.com
