Det andet offer

***Watched at Scandinavian Film Festival***

Zinnini Elkington's directorial debut "Det andet offer" ("Second Victims") emerges as one of 2025's most emotionally devastating character studies, a film that strips away any romanticism from the medical profession to reveal the profound psychological toll of life-and-death decisions. Set within the claustrophobic confines of an understaffed Danish hospital, this 92-minute tour de force transforms a single, catastrophic shift into a masterclass of sustained tension and moral complexity.

The film follows Alexandra, a skilled neurologist whose unwavering confidence becomes her greatest liability when a routine case spirals into tragedy. Elkington's screenplay, inspired by the real-life psychological syndrome affecting healthcare workers after traumatic patient care events, steers clear of medical procedural conventions in favour of intimate psychological portraiture. The opening sequence-a remarkable long take tracing Alexandra through her morning routine-immediately establishes both her competence and the institutional pressures that will ultimately compromise her judgement.

Özlem Saglanmak delivers a powerhouse performance, anchoring the film's emotional heft. Her portrayal of Alexandra's gradual descent from professional confidence to paralysing self-doubt feels authentically lived-in, never tipping into melodramatic excess. Particularly effective is her interplay with Trine Dyrholm, whose grieving mother becomes both antagonist and mirror for Alexandra's guilt. The supporting ensemble convincingly creates an ecosystem of overworked professionals making split-second decisions under relentless pressure.

Elkington's direction demonstrates remarkable restraint and precision. The filmmaker uses the hospital's sterile corridors and fluorescent lighting to create an atmosphere of mounting dread, while the documentary-like cinematography heightens the raw authenticity of every encounter. Filming on location at an active hospital lends proceedings an unsettling realism that feels uncomfortably immediate.

Where the film truly excels is in its unflinching examination of systemic healthcare failures. Rather than scapegoating individuals, Elkington offers a nuanced critique of understaffing, time pressures, and institutional indifference-a message resonating well beyond Denmark's borders. A staff meeting scene, in which administrators allocate mere minutes to address harrowing events, quietly encapsulates the dehumanising side of efficiency.

"Second Victims" stands as a vital new entry in the genre of medical drama, refusing the easy comforts and neat resolutions typical of hospital stories. Instead, Elkington presents healthcare as a fundamentally human-and thus fallible-endeavour, asking confronting questions about blame, responsibility and the structures that shape both suffering and survival.

Medical drama, medical tragedy, ho hum, how can you possibly make it new again.

Other correspondent is right, "Second Victims" is inapt, "Secondary Victims" is closer to the true sense in English.

Who cares. The point is, the director has done all this serious research with real people who've suffered real heartbreak, and brought it to life with a fine movie that makes few missteps.

The cast, the script, the production, the length, are all apt. When the emotional dilemmas arrive, they are real, heartfelt, and carry you along, instead of you rolling your eyes, boring, another medical-drama trope.

Even the senior surgeon who is the neurologist's nemesis, but also helps her get through it, is a nice role, with neat lines. That "guilty" red staircase the neurologist walks up and down, up and down, you remember it.

Still not sure, about the very final scene. Again, who cares, it's a success for Elkington.

"Det andet offer" (Second Victims) by Zinnini Elkington is a gripping Danish medical drama that delves into the profound emotional toll of medical misjudgment. Critics praise its intense, nerve-wracking atmosphere, particularly highlighting its effective use of long takes to immerse the viewer in the high-pressure hospital environment. Özlem Saglanmak delivers a compelling performance as the neurologist grappling with guilt, supported by a strong cast including Trine Dyrholm. While some find the core concept straightforward, the film's strength lies in its raw portrayal of human fallibility and the complex ripple effects of a single mistake.

Is it worth watching? Yes, if you appreciate intense, character-driven dramas with a strong emotional core and a realistic portrayal of a challenging profession. It's a powerful debut from Elkington.

Well, I hope I don't end up there. It's a terrible thing to know, but also know it's inevitable and it's scary as a patient to know it too. To know that medicine isn't an exact science, and that doctors are very much imperfect. And that they cannot do more. And those are the good ones.

Alexandra (they go by first names in hospitals in Sweden apparently) crumbles before our very eyes. From the ever confident doctor patrolling hospital corridors with a permanent semi-smile almost etched on her face to effectively collapsing in agony. And she almost takes a few people with her. It's surprising and touching that they can get past her defensive outbursts because they see her pain. Maybe they all go through that at some point in their careers.

Well, I hope she doesn't end up like that Christian guy. Cool ending though.

Two medical dramas today, back to back, I must be out of my mind, but I am very familiar with the genre. And I love it when it's done right. You feel it when it's fake, when it's glossing over things or overdramatizing. I thought this was a German language movie too. Cause Trine can play any language, right? Lately she's been playing mothers of dead sons though. Maybe it's a coincidence.

From Denmark comes this intense drama by Danish director Zinnini Elkington starring Özlem Saglanmak and Trine Dyrholm.

The film tells the story of Dr. Alex's shattered trust when a routine case turns tragic. This intense and gripping drama immerses us in layers of frustration and anguish as we unravel the coldness that often surrounds doctors and their patients.

Its director, with daring and astuteness, captivates us with a drama that at times becomes an anguished thriller about guilt and regret. A drama that simmers slowly and precisely so that no interruption allows us to lose the thread of a story constructed to portray the humanity hidden behind the difficult decisions that come with holding someone's life in your hands.

It's a film full of symbolism and dramatic intensity. It immerses you in a personal drama to the point where you see a person's purest confidence and stability crumble. It's also a macabre play on how much life weighs at certain moments and how much fulfilling a profession is worth.

One of the film's greatest strengths is its performances, where Özlem Saglanmak shoulders the full dramatic weight of anguish and despair, even to the point of guilt. Trine Dyrholm, for her part, balances the drama from a different perspective, one that her director masterfully masters. We also add to the entire cast, who also excel.

An intense film with truly harrowing moments, delivered by superb direction by Elkington, who demonstrates her talent and a director to watch. It must also be said that some points in the script are better achieved than others, but they never detract enough to detract from a truly satisfying film.

A brilliant dramatic offering from a Danish filmmaker who continues to demonstrate his talents and abilities. A film that deserves to be seen and enjoyed without a doubt.