The Green Butchers

One of the recent American television cult favorites has been Hannibal. Mads Mikkelsen has brought a new look and style to the show as the title character—and he and the TV series are a bit different in style and tone than the films. This isn't at all a bad thing…and Influx has been following the show for some time. While I am NOT a die-hard fan of the show, my daughters are and insist on watching it and wonder why I am not equally excited about the show. As for me, I like Mikkelsen—but I prefer him in films. He's done quite a few brilliant and highly inventive Danish films, such as After the Wedding, A Royal Affair and The Hunt (all of which were nominated for Oscars for Best Foreign Language film). However, I finally found something unusual—a movie with Mikkelsen that is sort of like a warm-up for his later role as Hannibal Lecter. And, it seems like a natural for fans of the TV series to watch.

The Green Butchers is a very, very strange film that I did enjoy. It's about two rather asocial guys who work at a local butcher shop. They hate their boss and decide to go into business for themselves. Svend (Mikkelsen) is the 'front man'—the guy who usually greets customers and sells them their meat. In contrast, Bjarne (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), prefers to work in the back—butchering the meat and avoiding people as much as possible. Bjarne is a complicated and sad man—late in the film you learn why he is so withdrawn. Svend, on the other hand, just wants to be a success and for people to like him. In the meantime, however, their business appears to be failing—and their grand opening is a catastrophe.

An unexpected death turns out to be just what the boys needed! When their electrician accidentally freezes himself to death in their walk-in freezer, Svend panics and tries to hide the evidence. He is worried this accidental death would be bad for business and decides to get rid of the body in an unconventional way—he butchers him, marinates the meat and sells it to customers. And, the meat is a HUGE hit—such a bit hit that all evidence of the accidental death is soon consumed. But, with the prospect of losing all these new customers, Svend makes the practical, yet nasty decision to procure another body….and so on and so on.

The strangest part about this film is that it's really NOT a comedy. I had just assumed it was a dark comedy like Eating Raoul but instead found that it was a drama….and a very light drama at that. While you'd think that the film would be disgusting and bloody, it actually isn't and the two murderers (especially Bjarne) are rather likable anti- heroes. In fact this is the most amazing thing about the film—it's about cannibalism but is neither a comedy nor a horror film. On top of that, the ending is very, very strange…and a bit funny in a very off- beat sort of way. Not a brilliant film but very inventive and strangely likable. Plus, if you cannot get enough of Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal, perhaps this will help feed your need for more.

Svend and Bjarne are friends and butchers in a small village in Denmark. Eccentric characters both, they grow irritated with the tactics of their smarmy boss, Holger, deciding to establish their own meat emporium. On opening day, a freak accident involving an electrician leads to the birth of Svend's new delicacy, 'Chickie-Wickies.' The mysterious marinaded meat proves immensely popular, and the business thrives. However, the machinations of their former employer- as well as the arrival of Bjarne's twin brother Eigil- complicates matters, threatening to shutter the shop forevermore, in Anders Thomas Jensen's 'The Green Butchers.'

A raucous black comedy grounded in realism, 'The Green Butchers' is original, clever and wildly enjoyable. Jensen's second feature film, the story is unpredictable and darkly humorous, featuring much sharp dialogue and witty banter. Jensen's characters are majoritively finely drawn and believable, with Svend and Bjarne being especially well-rounded. Admittedly, some of the supporting ones dwell in the realm of caricature, most notably the cartoonishly fiendish Holger and Bjarne's brother Eigil. On the whole though, the narrative is bursting at the seams with originality and dark humor which will leave one amused; if not oft convulsed with laughter.

The film features cinematography from Sebastian Blenkov, whose work is striking and naturalistic. Blenkov and Jensen have worked together numerous times, and the results of their collaborations are always visually interesting. The utilization of lighting and color in 'The Green Butchers' is especially notable and effective, lending to the film an aura of unreality despite the grounded nature of Blenkov's approach. In conjunction with Mia Stensgaard's arresting production design and Jacob Wirth Carlsen's detailed set decoration, Blenkov's visuals have impact that will be felt long after the credits have rolled.

Another frequent collaborator of Jensen, editor Anders Villadsen's work on 'The Green Butchers' is consummate and swift. Running at a little over an hour and a half, the film has a steady pace that doesn't falter or drag, even in its' quieter moments- a testament to Villadsen's impressive efforts. Additionally, Jeppe Kaas's soundtrack is atmospheric, making productive use of pieces by Wagner and Kai Normann Andersen, among others. Kaas's original score is muted and melodic, giving the film supplementary power and tone. Also of note is Malin Birch-Jensen, Morten Jacobsen and Charlotte Laustsen's work involving makeup (and relative effects), which is of a particularly high quality.

'The Green Butchers' stars Mads Mikkelsen as Svend and Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Bjarne and his brother Eigil, respectively; and each turn in a strong performance. Both Mikkelsen and Lie Kass have appeared in every one of Jensen's feature length directorial efforts, and the three obviously have a great working relationship; as their collaborations always make for worthwhile viewing. Here, Lie Kaas shows off his range, both as a straight man- Bjarne- and as a comedic foil- Eigil- impressing with his composure and depth. In fact, one might have assumed that it was two actors playing the roles and not just Lie Kass; so different does he make the twins from one another.

One of the most versatile actors of his generation, Mikkelsen once again impresses here as the neurotic, slightly seedy and thoroughly strange Svend. He is an actor without pretension and of great sagacity and ability, one who transforms himself completely for roles, and always convinces. In 'The Green Butchers' he plays the arrogant but introverted character expertly, coming across as utterly believable, somewhat pitiful and oddly sympathetic. It is a role few could pull off as effortlessly as Mikkelsen; nor could many make it as affecting or as entertaining.

In short, Anders Thomas Jensen's 'The Green Butchers' is a fine, funny and dark comedy that has a lot to offer viewers. Boasting a sharp screenplay full of witty, amusing dialogue and offbeat sequences, the film rockets along at a steady pace, providing many laughs along the way. Featuring two terrific central performances from Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Lie Kaas, strong visuals from Sebastian Blenkov and an emotive Jeppe Kaas score; 'The Green Butchers' is a marvelous movie about mystery meats, murders and marinades that will leave viewers hungry for more.

The art of the absurd is alive and thriving in current Danish cinema! Well, at least it is in this movie. Nobody in this movie are amused. They are all either annoyed or shocked, and if they aren't yet, they soon will be! It is a story of screw-ups, murder, embarrassment, dignity, and, in the end, love and redemption. The chilling, awkward humorous style is idiomatic and won't appeal to everyone, but personally I found it to have just the right fascinating mix of the bizarre and the absurd. You pity the characters from a distance, even as you dislike them up close and personal. But their story is so tragic that you find it in yourself to forgive them and be happy for them, even when they get away with murder.

This is, in my judgment, definitely the best Danish movie of the last few years.

9 out of 10.

Not entirely sure how I stumbled upon this movie, but I'm so glad I did. Initially, we were put off by the fact that it was subtitled, but even my dyslexic brother who hates to read (especially at the weekend) enjoyed this film. I found the script fantastic and the way it was delivered in such a dead-pan manner only added to the puddles of pee on my sofa. Not entirely sure whether it's quite so funny to the native Danish as the comedy seems to be enhanced by the tonelessness of the subtitles and the ambiguity of the translation. I haven't watched many Danish films (or any for that matter), but judging by this film I'm guessing they're not constrained by the same political correctness as elsewhere (gawd bless 'em) making the character of Eigel a breath of fresh air, because let's face it special needs are funny. There are so many great one-liners in this film it puts American sitcoms to shame.

'Taste this marinade' 'No' 'Smell the marinade' 'I smoke 20 joints a day. I wouldn't smell my hair if it was on fire'

This is the kind of humour you are up against with this movie and I love it. The Green Butchers is a wry, dark but well executed movie that doesn't act like a brash, puke 'em up, farty yank movie would with the same subject matter. Oh no sir. None of that old rubbish here. Scandinavia wins again and this time it's a Danish offering. Two butchers work for a man who is less than impressed by their efforts so they go it alone and open their own butchers shop to escape his scathing criticisms and earn some self respect. The opening doesn't go well. Then there is an accident. Then there is a modicum of success. Then there is a lot of success, But, because of this there has to be another accident to keep up with supply and demand. People disappear. But the meat is so good. Do you see where I'm going with this.? Not one spoiler will there be in this review. I gave this movie 9/10. Why not the full 10? I hear you ask. Nothing is perfect in this world that's why. But The Green Butchers comes mighty close in my humble opinion. Get it people and enjoy. Oh by the way CANNIBLISM is a part of this movie. Even if it is by default. =-)