Ulven kommer

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 is why I could never be a social worker espicially in the family unit. It must be one of the toughest jobs. I would constantly be beating myself up wondering if I made the right choice no matter what choice I made. "No one get's it right every time" they say, but could you live with the consequence of a wrong choice?

Watching this series is a good choice though.

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.

Well, the approach and events described are intrinsic to developed countries where long documents form the basis of child welfare and people are encouraged to "detect and identify any signs of possible abuse". I am sure that in most cases the intervention from outside is needed and due, but here, in Ulven kommer, the events spin and roll in sprite of slow pace at times. The final episode is realistic as well, but seemingly contradicting the total run of events.

This above-trivial narration is elevated by strong performances of all cast, starting with Bjarne Henriksen as Lars (he is a fine actor, just remember Forbrydelsen) and Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl as Holly (a pleasant teen surprise). Their dialogues, yet not long, are very intense and heartrending, and although viewers obtain clarity what was really going on, it is still intriguing to follow how the things develop and what is the result. True, the final solution is not satisfactory to everyone.

Another fine Danish series!

A marvelous story that really has a grip on the viewer.

A child writes a concerning story and her teacher contacts the state that is removing the children from home. Bjarne Henriksen as the social worker is brilliant and the girl Holly (Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl) is very trustworthy but it is the same with all the actors. It's high quality.

I doubt how much rewatching value it has and if you are not living in a country the has the same system as Denmark it might seem strange(?).