Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf is an 8 part Danish drama. The premise is a teacher makes a report to the authorities about possible child abuse, based in an essay submitted by a 14 year old student. The student and her half brother are removed from the family home, placed with foster carers, and an investigation is undertaken.

This series had me totally transfixed. I couldn't wait to watch the next episode. It's really a mystery as it's difficult to know who is telling the truth, and what has gone on in the home. Each episode slowly reveals another perspective.

The acting is just amazing particularly Flora Ofelia Hofman Lindahl, who plays the teenage girl. The investigating social worker is played by the awesome Bjarne Henriksen. He was the father in season 1 of The Killing (Forbrydelsen). All supporting actors are also great and well cast.

This production had me hooked from early on and just got better and better. Terrific acting, a compelling story that is both frightening and moving, but very believable. A credit to all involved.

This is a beautifully rendered, controlled dramatisation of the complexities and confusions that inhabit DV situations. Great performances with a knock out from the girl who portrays Holly, every screen of her face tells us the immense fear and conflict she has been silently enduring. Lars also terrific, loved Theo and Simon as well, good direction pacing and editing, well written. Not for the impatient action hounds, no doubt we will get the whiners on here grumbling about watching paint dry and "nothing happens". Ignore such vapid reviews if you have any interest in human psychology, family dynamics, human suffering. EDIT: to the person commenting that the mother wouldn't have been in denial ( for the children's sake ) knows nothing about the confusing nature of denial in DV situations or indeed...marriage

I will say this, after working the same job as Bjarne Henriksen in this series, I understand the situation very well. It's very difficult for the parents and for the kids. I have just seen 3 episodes so far and looking forward to the rest.

I will update my review after the seeing the complete first season. I think it looks good, the young girl plays her part perfect, I can feel her fears and pain. I can also see it in her eyes, Great talent.

This should be seen by most people, it can learn you to have a different perspective on things in the future. Great work to all involved.

A good 8/10

Well, I have to declare an interest here - I did. I worked for about 15 years in childcare services dealing with deprived, refugee or abused adolescents. This series really hit home to me, even though it was set in Denmark and the procedures are different from those of the UK. What was not different was the blanket policy that was beginning to be applied during my time in Social Services in the UK and obviously pertains in Denmark too, that a "victim" must be listened to and believed. It's a policy that I always had qualms about and I personally saw several instances of false accusations affecting (fortunately not destroying) lives. Unfortunately, such credulity leads to the most dreadful results on occasion as in the case of Carl Beech who ruined the lives and reputations of prominent people because he was "believed".

So, "Ulven Kommer". The title "Cry Wolf" must have been chosen so that we would, unike family unit representative Lars Madsen, look at Holly's allegations with a critical eye. Plot devices lead us further along this path - we see how Holly is manipulative, that Lars breaks the rules, that little Theo calls his sister a liar.

But there is something wrong in that family. What is it? We get a hint in episode four and by episode six, we are sure, as is Lars. The overhearing of a conversation imputing a pecuniary motive for the foster placement leads to a family reunion after the case conference. However, events lead to a grisly conclusion and Lars is vindicated after his transfer to desk duties.

This series really played with my emotions. I was cross that so much credence was given to the allegations, I was upset that the abuse could have happened, I was devastated at the enforced break up of the family. I really didn't know whom to believe for the first few episodes until we saw the scene when the family's problem was revealed.

I must say I was not impressed by the Danish system. It only worked here in the series because of a maverick social worker cum family counsellor. However, to hear that over 98% of cases are won by the municipality and children are removed even after a police exoneration and no criminal charges was a shocker to me. If the scenes at the family court were true and the judge was really so pressed for time that late documents could only be examined by the family lawyer with the family for 5 minutes , then that is pretty scandalous. The system looked impressive with its multidisciplinary meetings, but if the results are preordained in favour of removal so overwhelmingly then the case conferences that included the judge are simply a rubber stamp. Things are quite different in the UK where there is more emphasis on reconciliation, supervision and support while having regard to the paramount interests of the child.

From the other reviews here, I guess one doesn't have to have a social work background to like this excellent series. I think I looked at it differently from the way a lay viewer might do. I would recommend it to anyone at all. I'm so glad I saw it.