Krøniken

Krønikken starts were Matador, the immortal Danish TV classic, ended. While it does not reach Matador's level, it certainly is an important contribution that vividly describes the culture of the Danish society from the postwar period, to the beginning of the modem times.

Unlike Matador, Krønikken, (the Chronicle) takes place in Copenhagen, and not in a province town; therefore its focus is a little narrower, and it has more supporting characters that are only seen in a few episodes. Its primary focus is the capitalistic family, whose patriarch owns the radio, and later, TV factory Bella, but it also has a strong focus on the development of the Danish social democratic party. This is because, that the Social Democrat was the primary architect for the modem Danish welfare state, which was created in this period.

It is a story, but it describes the history of that period better, then mere facts ever could.

If you are interested in the Danish culture, then Krønikken, is a must see.

I've seen the whole of the first series and I think it is just superb. It had been billed as a successor to " Matador" which in my view is one of the best TV series ever made.

All expectations have been fully met. Although it is fiction it gives one an insight into life in post-war Denmark , the way people lived a the attitudes that prevailed.

The series is based around a company that produced radios and then very reluctantly , had to accept that television had become a fact and had to start making televisions in order not to lose ground to it's competitors. For those who enjoyed Matador and the British series Upstairs Downstairs , Kroniken is an absolute must.

Mom and I just finished all 22 episodes of this long story. Throughly enjoyed it. Nice story. Really good acting, super attention to detail sets, all the historical look and feel.,nice to watch the years roll by. I even liked the high in the corner camera shots..in the various rooms. We highly recommended this for those who have discovered works from Denmark, Sweden...with the more known NORDIC NOIR list like Borgen, Beck, Dragon, and Wallanders. Enjoy. Our box set got from Amazon.uk with the full 22 episodes plus Danish only bonus material...still hoping for some translations hints on that stuff. User ratings show only a few have discovered this....may have something to do with being Region 2 disks..we just bought a code free machine for like 50 bucks. Whoo Hoo!

Even though Denmark has won two consecutive Emmy's for best non American TV series Krøniken is a much better drama series. The family saga covering a period of +30 years of Danish modern history (1949-1970) is taking up politics family values and all the relevant moral and ethic issues of the time.

If you get the chance you should see this spellbinding piece of work.

One of the finest facets of Krøniken is its authenticity. Every detail is authentic and original and you really feel like being at the exact place at that exact time. Amazing.

Actress Anne Louise Hassing (Ida) got her national breakthrough playing next to Anders W. Bertelsen (Palle) who has already established his position as one of the most popular younger Danish actors after a series of sympathetic roles in films and TV-series. Next to them a lot of popular names appear in the series in minor roles.

Why, why why?

The concept is great, the acting decent. Even the cinematography works. But the scriptwriting is so sickening that it the whole series deteriorates into a painful farce of both glorifying and gratifying tributes to the great achievements of the Danish Social Democrats and an almost obsessive description of the moral decadence, corruption and demise of the "upper" classes.

Had this production come out of North Korea, the DDR or even the Soviet Union, I could have lived with it. Had it been a 90 minute film, I could have forgiven the producers, but this is 22 torturous episodes of badly scripted, incredible and immature propaganda that is unlikely to have exceeded even Stalin's or Goebbels' quality bars.

My advice is fairly clear: Unless you are either very bored or very brainwashed, don't bother with it. Re-arranging your sock draw is more thrilling!

Danish Television and cinema can do and has done far better than this. Why did they ever produce Kroniken with such a cheesy message?